NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – With the flip of a switch the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will illuminate Midtown Manhattan with 50,000 multicolored lights at the 91st annual tree lighting Wednesday night.
Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the tree lighting live and on the ground at 45 Rockefeller Plaza.
1010 WINS/WCBS 880 covered the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting from start to finish:
1010 WINS/WCBS 880 reporter Carol D'Auria was on the ground at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting from start to finish. She interviewed spectators, narrated the program and spoke with Erik Pauze, Head Gardener for Rockefeller Center and the person who selects and cares for the tree each year.
Cher performs new song on roof of Radio City Music Hall:
Cher sang an electrifying performance of her new release "DJ Play a Christmas Song" as part of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting programming, atop the lit-up and decorated Radio City Music Hall Roof for an excited audience.
New artists perform, others re-take the stage performing festive Christmas favorites:
Adam Blackstone and Keke Palmer took the stage for the first time Wednesday night and performed their song "Christmas Kisses."
Seth Macfarlane and Liz Gillies returned to the Rockefeller Plaza stage for a second duet, singing "That Holiday Feeling" with loud brass accompaniment.
Colombian singer Manuel Turizo sang a rendition of the classic "Feliz Navidad" in his second performance of the night.
"TODAY" show hosts at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting, per tradition:
Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb make an appearance during the lighting ceremony, helping to host and introduce performers like the iconic Barry Manilow.
Kelly Clarkson begins 8 p.m. show with rendition of "Underneath the Tree":
Kelly Clarkson began "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" with an energetic performance of "Underneath the Tree," which comes from her own holiday album, "Wrapped in Red."
Clarkson's hosting and performance comes 20 years after her first performance at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting in 2003.
Performances continue at Rockefeller Plaza:
Musical performances by Manuel Turizo, Rob Thomas, Darlene Love and The Rockettes engaged the crowd at the tree lighting ceremony.
Turizo, Thomas and Love sang renditions of classic Christmas favorites, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Marshmallow World," respectively.
The Rockettes, the iconic group that performs at Radio City Music Hall, performed to a medley of Christmas favorites.
Carly Pearce brings a country spin to her performance of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree":
Barry Manilow performs to kick off the tree lighting ceremony:
Mario Lopez, one of three hosts of the 7 p.m. broadcast:
Preview and Background:
Those in the crowd should bundle up in some festive winter gear as the event will have brisk yet dry weather, with temperatures in the 30s and RealFeels in the 20s, according to AccuWeather.
Pro-Palestinian protests are anticipated to be held at the event, with the NYPD preparing New Year’s Eve-level security and restricting demonstrations to designated areas, or pens.
The actual tree lighting is expected to occur just before 10 p.m., with the tree lights popping on and the crystal-encrusted Swarovski tree topper shining atop the 80 foot Norway spruce – but that is far from the beginning of Rockefeller Center’s annual program.
The star-studded event will have a 7 p.m. local broadcast on NBC 4, hosted by News 4’s Natalie Pasquarella, David Ushery and Mario Lopez, host of “ACCESS Hollywood.” Some aspects of the broadcast shows will be live, while others were pre-taped Tuesday.
The 8 p.m. national broadcast, dubbed “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” will be shown on NBC and Peacock.
Cher, Chloe Bailey, the Radio City Rockettes and other big stars will hit the stage at Rockefeller Plaza, with Kelly Clarkson set to host and perform. “Today” show hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin will also be making an appearance
“I’m so excited to consider this city and Rockefeller Center my new home, and I can’t imagine a better way to kick off Christmas this year than to be a part of this beautiful New York tradition with the lighting of the tree,” Clarkson said in a statement from the new 30 Rock studio for “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
The beloved 91-year-old NYC tradition began in 1931, when the construction workers building Rockefeller Center put up the first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
The first formal Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony came two years later in 1933, when the tree was adorned with 700 lights.