Jingle Bell Bash, with all 10 acts, will rock on and on

KISS-FM has outdone itself with the fifth edition of its "Jingle Bell Bash." It's by far the best lineup the Top 40 station has compiled for its annual Christmastime treat. The exciting and well-balanced bill — from R&B titans Destiny's Child to hip-hop sex queen Eve to the hottest new rock star of the year, Avril Lavigne, to teeny-bop heartthrob Nick Carter, and more — should guarantee the biggest Bash audience ever.

And bonus points for landing Kelly Osbourne, from the media-saturated Ozzy Osbourne clan. Not quite yet overexposed, the 18-year-old scenester is still a kick, as shown by her new album, "Shut Up," the follow-up to her smash cover of Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach."

With 10 acts, the Bash will be a marathon event that tests concertgoers' patience and stamina. It will require subsisting on concession food and dancing (if you can find room) on a concrete floor. The show will last seven to eight hours. At least there are places to sit in the T-Dome, which wasn't true of last year's seven-hour Bash at the Stadium Exhibition Center.

The nature of these radio-station-sponsored grab-bag events, which are heavily supported by their stars' record labels, is that some acts do short sets (usually with taped-music backgrounds), and others get to do full-fledged ones. The top three on the Bash bill will probably get an hour or so, with the others performing from 15 to 45 minutes. Here are thumbnail sketches of the performers:

Destiny's Child — The three members have concentrated on their solo careers this year, and the show here is one of a few they're doing this month, almost all of them similar radio-station-sponsored events.

To do the tour, Beyoncé Knowles is taking time off from filming "The Fighting Temptations" with Cuba Gooding Jr. — her second film role after co-starring with Mike Myers in "Austin Powers in Goldmember" — and from putting the finishing touches on her solo album.

Kelly Rowland had a big hit with Nelly, "Dilemma," and released a solo album, "Simply Deep." Michelle Williams put out a successful gospel CD, "Heart to Yours."

All three will highlight their solo careers in the show. Featuring dancers and special effects, the bulk of the set will concentrate on the hits, like "Survivor," "Bootylicious" and "Say My Name."

Eve — Known for those tattooed claws on her chest and her flashy fashion sense, "the hottest woman in hip-hop" (according to Rolling Stone) branched out into movies this year with a highly praised part in "Barbershop." Her third solo CD, "Eve-olution," hasn't been the blockbuster it was expected to be, but her collaboration with Alicia Keys on "Gangsta Lovin'," in which she brags about her clothes, hair and body, is a hip-hop hit.

Avril Lavigne — The most refreshing new artist in years, Lavigne (pronounced La-VEEN) is a rocking 18-year-old from Canada with a smart songwriting sense ("Complicated," "Sk8er Boi") and a streetwise fashion style that has suddenly made painted, teased-hair, underdressed pop divas like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera look silly. Lavigne and her young band have been together less than a year but are tight. Her debut "Let Go" album has sold more than 4 million copies and is still going strong. No flash in the pan, Lavigne has the talent and drive for the long haul.

Kylie Minogue — A major recording and movie star in her native Australia, Minogue has struggled for years to crack the U.S. market. She's trying again with the sexy single "Come Into My World," which is just beginning to get radio airplay.

Lifehouse — The grunge-lite band from L.A. had the most-played song on radio two years ago with "Hanging By a Moment," but its career has stalled since then.

Default — The Vancouver, B.C., band in the Creed mode has just broken into the charts with the single "Live A Lie."

Nick Carter — The blond, blue-eyed and youngest member of the Backstreet Boys released a solo album last month, "Now or Never," which so far has failed to stir much excitement.

Simple Plan — The newest names on the list, the band is just starting to get noticed, via its rocking single "I'll Do Anything."

Daniel Bedingfield — An inspiration to bedroom-music producers everywhere, he has an international hit with the pop single "Gotta Get Thru This," which he crafted at home with synthesizers and a computer.

Kelly Osbourne — It'll probably be worth the ticket price just to see her do "Papa Don't Preach" live.

Patrick MacDonald: pmacdonald@seattletimes.com.