Kelly Clarkson will host and perform on Christmas at Rockefeller Center 2023
This year, for the first time, American Idol OG winner Kelly Clarkson will pull double duty at the annual two-hour Christmas in Rockefeller Center live on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and simulcast on Peacock. The broadcast, which celebrates the lighting of of the tree at Rockefeller Center, is a tradition that spans over nine decades.
Kelly will not only host NBC’s iconic Christmas special, but also perform several festive tunes–all from the historic NYC spot that is now also home to her eponymous talk show The Kelly Clarkson Show. This year marks the 20th anniversary of her first Christmas in Rockefeller Center performance, and she has performed a handful of times since. NBC’s “ Today anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin will once again join the tree lighting for a special appearance.
The two-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has released multiple holiday albums, including When Christmas Comes Around … in 2021 and Wrapped in Red in 2013.
“I’m so excited to consider this city and Rockefeller Center my new home”
Kelly said in a press statement: “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!”
“The lighting of that magnificent tree at Rockefeller Center is one of the true joys of the holiday season and to have Kelly both host and perform feels like we’re getting our Christmas presents early this year,” said Jen Neal, Executive Vice President, Live Events and Specials, NBCUniversal Media Group.
Prior to the primetime telecast, an additional live hour of the special will be broadcast on all NBC Owned Television Stations and on numerous NBC affiliates nationwide starting at 7 p.m. ET. Check local listings. This special live hour will be led by “ACCESS Hollywood” host Mario Lopez as well as WNBC news anchors Natalie Pasquarella and David Ushery.
A tradition that dates back more than 90 years
The tradition of the Rockefeller Christmas tree dates back more than 90 years to 1931 during the Great Depression. The first official tree-lighting ceremony occurred two years later in 1933 in front of the then eight-month-old RCA Building (the current Comcast Building). The Christmas tree gathering was enhanced in 1936 with the opening of the Rockefeller Plaza outdoor ice-skating rink. NBC-TV televised the tree lighting for the first time in 1951 on The Kate Smith Show and as part of the nationwide Howdy Doody television show from 1953-55.
Kelly Clarkson has garnererd sales of more than 25 million albums and 40 million singles. Her multi-Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show is currently in its 5th season and has moved to New York from Los Angeles (the show has already been picked up through 2025). Additionally, she was the winning coach on seasons 14, 15, 17, and 21 of The Voice. The Texas-born singer-songwriter first came to fame in 2002 as the winner of the inaugural season of American Idol and quickly became one of pop’s top singles artists. chemistry marks Kelly’s tenth studio album and third full-length release with Atlantic Records.
She recently announced a return to her Las Vegas Residency, chemistry An Intimate Night with Kelly Clarkson at the Bakkt Theater at Plant Hollywood. The new dates include December 30, 31, Feb 9, 10. Find ticket information HERE.
