The 96th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting has announced its lineup of talent, including a couple of reality star alums. Co-presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the event will feature special performances and the official lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in President’s Park (White House).
2018 performers include American Idol season 17 alum Gabby Barrett, The Voice season 14 finalist Spensha Baker, along with Abby Anderson, Anthony Kearns, Dominican Sisters of Mary a.k.a. “Caroling Angels,” LOCASH, Matthew West, Paul Cardall, Thompson Square, and the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.”
Spensha writes on Instagram that she’ll be “performing with the The U.S. Army Blues a special Christmas classic I’ve arranged exclusively for this concert with the assistance of Shane Mickelsen.”
The event will broadcast on cable TV channels Ovation and REELZ on Sunday, December 2 at 10 p.m. EST thanks to a partnership with the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service.
The National Christmas Tree is a living Colorado blue spruce from Virginia, which can be seen year-round in President’s Park. Thanks to a partnership with the National Park Foundation, GE Lighting is celebrating its 56th year of decorating the National Christmas Tree.
Fifty-six smaller trees surrounding the National Christmas Tree will feature one-of-a-kind ornaments, representing every U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia.
Once upon a time, the National Christmas Tree Lighting event featured A list talent. For instance, the 2016 event during the last year of the Obama administration, featured the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Chance the Rapper, James Taylor, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. With the controversy the current Trump regime brings, A listers tend to keep a wide berth.
