XMAS TIDINGS: “A Very Special Christmas II”...

XMAS TIDINGS: “A Very Special Christmas II” is shaping up to be at least as star-studded as its acclaimed predecessor--the 1987 holiday blockbuster that featured Christmas songs sung by Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Sting, Chrissie Hynde, Jon Bon Jovi, Run-DMC and a host of others.

Bon Jovi is already set for a return appearance in “II,” along with first-timers Sinead O’Connor, Tom Petty, Gloria Estefan and Tevin Campbell. George Michael and several other major figures are also being courted. A coup is the duet by Darlene Love and Ronnie Spector on “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” They were both on Phil Spector’s 1962 Christmas album, Pop Eye’s choice for the greatest pop Christmas album ever.

The original “Special Christmas” raised $17 million for the Special Olympics, said Vicki Iovine, executive producer and wife of producer and Interscope Records head Jimmy Iovine.

“When we made the first album, we thought that would be the only one,” she says. “We said, ‘What if we made $1 million? That would be great.’ But we made $17 million, so we couldn’t resist the opportunity to do it again.”