New York City officially welcomed the holiday season on Wednesday night with the spectacular Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony, featuring performances from a host of top musical celebrities.
The annual event marked the moment the city’s world-famous Norway spruce was illuminated, kicking off two hours of star-studded performances and special moments.
The Star-Studded Lineup
The 93rd annual ceremony was hosted by country music icon Reba McEntire, who opened the show with a lively rendition of the holiday classic “Run Rudolph Run.” The performances that followed added their own sparkle to the chilly December evening:
- Gwen Stefani warmed up the packed crowd in Rockefeller Plaza with a cozy performance of her holiday track “Hot Cocoa,” from her 2017 album You Make It Feel Like Christmas.
- Marc Anthony took the stage shortly after, delivering a festive, salsa-infused rendition of the classic “Feliz Navidad.”
- Michael Bublé, often dubbed “the King of Christmas,” joined Carly Pearce for a heartfelt duet of their 2024 hit, “Maybe This Christmas.”
The ceremony also featured performances from a diverse lineup of artists, including:
- Halle Bailey
- Kristin Chenoweth
- Laufey
- New Edition
- Brad Paisley
- The Radio City Rockettes
The Iconic Christmas Tree
Towering over Rockefeller Plaza, this year’s Norway spruce is truly a holiday marvel. The tree is wrapped in over 50,000 multicolored LED lights and topped with a dazzling, 900-pound star made from 3 million Swarovski crystals.
Continuing a long-standing tradition of giving back, the iconic spruce will remain on display through January before being milled into lumber to be used for Habitat for Humanity.