What to know
- For the 91st time, the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was lit Wednesday.
- Kelly Clarkson, who has never been shy about proclaiming her love for the season, hosted and performed.
- NBC's "TODAY" show’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin joined in the celebration.
- Cher, Barry Manilow, Keke Palmer and others provided the festive soundtrack, and the Radio City Rockettes helped kick off the holiday season.
It's officially Christmas at Rockefeller Center
And just like that, after 91 years of tradition, the massive and iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been lit, officially ringing in the Christmas spirit from New York and around the world.
The 80-foot Norwegian spruce is adorned with about 50,000 lights, which totals about 5 miles of wire.
On top, a 3D Swarovski star covered in 30 million crystals twinkled in the night as the Christmas special came to a close.
New York Mayor Eric Adams helped flip the switch that illuminates the tree while the Young People's Chorus from New York City sang "Joy to the World."
The tree hails from New York and stands 80 feet tall
This year's iconic tree is an 80-foot-tall Norway spruce that measures 43 feet wide and weighs 12 tons.
It's somewhere between 80 and 85 years old and hails from Vestal, New York, near Binghamton.
There are about 50,000 lights — which means about 5 miles of wire — on the tree.
And on top? A 3D Swarovski star that weighs 900 pounds and features 70 spikes covered in 3 million crystals.
Cher, Darlene Love duet 60 years after Cher sang backup for her
When Darlene Love first recorded "Christmas, Baby," Cher sang backup vocals for her.
So when Cher decided to include a cover of the hit on her own Christmas album, she asked Love to return the favor.
Tonight, the pair got to perform the song live together for the first time.
The Rockettes help kick off the holiday season
It’s not Christmas until the Rockettes bring their high kicks to the plaza.
The Rockettes journeyed down the block to join the Christmas tree lighting and perform a number from their famed "Christmas Spectacular."
They were wrapped up in candy cane-inspired costumes for the performance.
One man has been sourcing Rockefeller Center's Christmas trees for the past 30 years
Erik Pauze, Rockefeller Center’s head gardener since 1995, is tasked every year with picking out the perfect tree for the plaza.
He scopes out the entire northeast, which he told the "TODAY" show last year is like "a massive tree lot."
Pauze has high criteria for the perfect tree: It has to be a Norway spruce that is at least 70 feet tall and 40 to 42 feet wide, he told TODAY.com last year. It also has to be big and stable enough to support the weight of the wires, cables and lights and, of course, the star atop the tree.
"I look for that big, beautiful shape, nice and green, nice and full, a tree that you would want in your living room for Christmas," he said in 2022.
This year, he saw the spruce towering over the upstate New York home of Matt and Jackie McGinley, who later decided to donate their tree to Rockefeller Center in spirit of the holidays, TODAY.com reported.
The tree was then carted almost 200 miles by truck to arrive at 30 Rock on Nov. 11.
Keke Palmer goes classic for a classic
Keke Palmer comes back with a second performance — and a wardrobe change. She went with a classic white, beaded gown to sing "The Christmas Song," the classic from 1945.
Accompanying her was Adam Blackstone on the upright bass.
Earlier in the night, Palmer wore a furry red getup while she and Blackstone performed "Christmas Kisses."
Chloe Bailey is giving 'Santa Baby'
Chloe Bailey was dressed for the season while performing Wham's "Last Christmas" in a pared-down Santa Claus outfit that made her look like a "Santa Baby."
Bailey turned the oversized red-and-white getup into a little red dress featuring white fur trimmings — and even white fur hoop earrings.
Cher's backup dancers are ready for New Year's Eve
In sparkling silver dresses and matching knee-high boots, Cher's backup dancers looked like they were ready to ring in the New Year rather than decorate the Christmas tree.
Host Kelly Clarkson jammed out while Cher took the stage to perform her new Christmas single, "DJ Play a Christmas Song."
"She put out a Christmas jam!" Clarkson exclaimed. "That is my favorite song in a very long time."
First lady is in the holiday spirit, too
First lady Jill Biden is feeling festive.
She opened the White House skating rink, ringing in holiday cheer as a series of entertainers performed on the rink. She officially opened the rink by dropping a puck alongside Olympic ice skater Brian Boitano.
During the program, the first lady reflected on her memories of ice skating on river canals in Delaware with her sisters, according to a pool report.
"That’s how children often see the world this time of year: with magic, wonder, and joy," she said. "And that’s what inspired our White House holiday theme."
"What’s more magical, wonderful, and joyful than an ice rink on the South Lawn of the White House?"
Boitano emceed the event, also skating to the song "Christmastime is Here." The beloved Peanuts character Snoopy also made an appearance on the rink, according to a pool report.
A mini 'American Idol' reunion
Katharine McPhee performed tonight, joining host and fellow "American Idol" alum Kelly Clarkson.
McPhee and Clarkson both got their starts on the famed singing competition, but not in the same season.
Singing a rendition of "Santa Baby," McPhee was accompanied by her husband, David Foster, on the piano.