Kelly Clarkson to Host ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’ Special on NBC

It’s official! Emmy and Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson will host and perform during NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center special.

The tradition that spans over nine decades will continue with a two-hour live special on Wednesday, November 29, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and will be simulcast on Peacock.

Clarkson will pull double duty for the first time, hosting the event and delivering festive performances — all from the historic NYC location. Rockefeller Center is also the home to The Kelly Clarkson Show, which debuted in 2019.

The host and performer announced the news on the talk show on Thursday, October 26. “I’m very excited. I love Christmas so much. It’s so magical. My whole family’s gonna be there. We are very excited about Christmas in New York,” Clarkson said on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

“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.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Clarkson’s first Christmas in Rockefeller Center performance, “O Holy Night.” She has performed multiple times on the special since. Clarkson is all about spreading holiday cheer, as heard in her albums Wrapped in Red (2013) and When Christmas Comes Around… (2021).

This year, NBC’s TODAY anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, and Craig Melvin will again join the tree lighting for a special appearance.

 

“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,” Jen Neal, Executive Vice President, Live Events and Specials, NBCUniversal Media Group, said in a statement. 

All NBC Owned Television Stations and numerous NBC affiliates nationwide will air an additional live hour of the special before Christmas in Rockefeller, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. ACCESS Hollywood host Mario Lopez and WNBC news anchors Natalie Pasquarella and David Ushery.

The tradition of the Rockefeller Christmas tree dates back to 1931, but the first official tree-lighting occurred in 1933 in front of the RCA Building (now the Comcast Building). By 1936, the Rockefeller Plaza outdoor ice-skating rink enhanced the gathering in 1936.

The Kate Smith Show marks the first time NBC-TV televised the tree lighting in 1951, followed by it on Howdy Doody from 1953 to 1955.

NBCUniversal will continue its partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation for the 15th year in a row with this year’s Christmas in Rockefeller. The tree will be donated to Habitat for Humanity and milled into lumber for sustainable home building after it leaves Rockefeller Center. 

The entire NBC broadcast will have live audio description on the Secondary Audio Program channel (SAP), provided by Descriptive Video Works, and the availability of additional audio narration describing the rich visuals.

The opportunity to donate to the Red Nose Day Campaign will be available at different moments throughout the night to “support critical programs that ensure children and families have the access they need to comprehensive health services, nutritious food, quality education, and safe spaces to live, learn, work and play.”

Brad Lachman Productions produces Christmas in Rockefeller Center, with Brad Lachman and Bill Bracken executive producing and Glenn Weiss directing.

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Christmas in Rockefeller Center airs on Wednesday, November 29, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

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