| BRAD | With 59-Down, star of the work revealed by the first letters of the Across clues, which hint at this |
| WHISTLEDOWN | Anonymous gossip columnist on "Bridgerton" whose real identity can be found by reading the first letters of the Across clues ... and a hint to the grid's circled letters |
| ABE | Lincoln who gave the "House Divided" speech, which hints at this puzzle's theme |
| SATISFACTORY | Posed with one's works, revealed as adequate (12) |
| ROUNDBRACKETS | In which (hint) you will find a clue (5,8) |
| THISLITTLELIGHTOFMINE | Gospel song whose title is a hint to seven squares in this puzzle (the first letters of seven Across entries, followed by the first letters of seven Down entries, will spell the opening of another apt |
| NOEL | Holiday tune, and a synonym of the word spelled by the first letters of the bands circling Christmas trees in this puzzle |
| GETAROOM | "Whoa! Do that somewhere else!" ... which hints at what can be shared by the beginning and end of the answers to starred clues |
| ORGAN | Vital thing in the body, an example of which is spelled out by the first letters of this puzzle's tripled words |
| BEFRIEND | Get on a first-name basis with, and what's spelled by the first letters of eight first names in this puzzle |
| CHRISTMASEVE | Apt phrase spelled out by the first letters of the answers to the starred clues |
| FRESHMEN | New college students, and what's spelled out by the first letters of the people admitted to this puzzle's colleges |
| SSS | Sizzling sound spelled with the first letters of the first three words in this hint |
| DISUNION | State of division, and what the first letters of the states divided across black squares in this puzzle spell out |
| WRAPPINGGIFTS | Holiday season task, and a theme hint (Note what the first letters of the starred clues' answers spell) |
| SCIENTIST | Person who would wear the article of clothing spelled out in the first letters of the starred answers |
| NOTETOSELF | Personal reminder ... or a hint to how the first letters of the starred clues' answers change |
| BEATLES | Band whose song "Revolution 9," when played backward, supposedly contained the message spelled out by the first letters of this puzzle's songs |
| PHENOM | Rising star, and what's spelled out by the first letters of this puzzle's rising stars |
| SUNRISESUNSET | Classic Broadway show tune, or a hint to the word ladder revealed by the answers to the eight starre |
