Kelly Clarkson is set to host the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony for the second consecutive year on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. The two-hour spectacular will begin at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised live by NBC and streamed on Peacock. The event marks the official start of Christmas celebrations and is expected to draw in hundreds of thousands of people at the venue and millions of virtual attendees.
Star-Studded Lineup
Joining Kelly Clarkson during the festive evening will be TODAY‘s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, and Craig Melvin. Kelly Clarkson expressed her excitement about returning as host, saying, “I’m very excited. I’m going to dress warm again,” according to Collider. She is set to perform Christmas hits on stage during the event.
The ceremony will feature a star-studded lineup of performers, including the Backstreet Boys, Dan + Shay, Jennifer Hudson, Little Big Town, RAYE, Thalia, Coco Jones, and the legendary Radio City Rockettes, as reported by the New York Post. The event promises heartwarming holiday magic and will get viewers into the Christmas spirit.
For the first time, Spanish-speaking viewers can tune in for a simulcast called “Navidades en Rockefeller Center,” which airs live at 9 p.m. ET on Telemundo, according to Collider. This inclusion allows more audiences to experience the festive occasion.
A Very Special Tree
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is adorned with over 50,000 multi-colored LED lights connected by approximately five miles of cable, making the lighting ceremony a spectacular event, as stated by CBS News. The tree features a stunning 900-pound Swarovski star topper, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, which is nine feet tall and covered in three million crystals.
This year’s Christmas tree is special because it is the first tree from Massachusetts since 1959. The 74-foot tall, 43-foot wide Norway Spruce weighs approximately 11 tons and will be on display until mid-January. Erik Pauze, the head gardener for Rockefeller Center, said, “[This year’s tree] is perfect all around. It has that wonderful Christmas Tree shape all the way to the top,” according to the New York Post.
Kelly Clarkson will be performing during the ceremony, showcasing songs from her two Christmas albums and her repertoire of holiday classics. Known for belting out incredible “Kellyoke” covers on The Kelly Clarkson Show, she adds to the evening’s excitement.
“Christmas in Rockefeller Center” is rooted in the spirit of community. The tradition of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony started in the 1930s. In December 1931, during the Great Depression, workers at Rockefeller Center pooled their money to buy a 20-foot balsam fir decorated with handmade garlands crafted by their families, as recounted by CBS News. By 1933, Rockefeller Center acknowledged the workers’ initiative and turned it into a yearly tradition.
Over the years, the tree has grown taller and the ceremony has become more spectacular. In 1999, the Plaza had its tallest tree yet, standing at 100 feet tall, commemorating the turn of the millennium, according to CBS News.
For those unable to attend the event in person, watching the live broadcast on NBC or streaming it via Peacock ensures viewers won’t miss a moment of the celebration. Peacock’s Premium plan starts at $7.99 a month plus tax or $79.99 per year plus tax, while the ad-free Premium Plus plan costs $14 per month, according to Digital Trends.
Viewers can also watch the event for free on NBC with a five-day free trial to DirecTV Stream. DirecTV Stream offers more than 90 channels, including ABC, CNN, CBS, Disney Channel, E!, MSNBC, Nickelodeon, and HGTV.
The tree will be lit up from 5 a.m. to midnight through mid-January, and on Christmas Eve, it will be lit for a full 24 hours, as stated by CBS News. After the festivities end in January, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will be converted to lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity to build homes.
Visitors traveling by mass transit to the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree can use the 47th-50th Streets-Rockefeller Center stop on the B, D, F, and M lines. Certain streets will be closed to traffic in downtown Manhattan due to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, including 46th Street to 52nd Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue, and Rockefeller Plaza between 48th Street and 51st Street, according to the New York Post.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is considered the most famous and photographed Christmas tree in the world and has become a symbol of the Christmas season. The event is a cherished tradition that helps people get into the holiday spirit. Prepare to enjoy a night full of joy, sparkle, and Christmas spirit that will kick off the most wonderful holidays of the year, promising heartwarming holiday magic for viewers at home and those attending in person.
