With Christmas decorations going up and the countdown starting, Christmas is officially here. And it wouldn’t be a Christmas without the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. Dating back to 1931, citizens of New York gathered together to kick off the Christmas season with a spectacular display and massive tree. Although going back to the 1930s, the ceremony wasn’t televised until 1997 thanks to NBC. And keeping the tradition going, the production decided to call on Kelly Clarkson to not only host the event but also perform.
While growing a career out in California, Clarkson decided she wanted a change of scenery back in 2022 after divorcing Brandon Blackstock. Moving her show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, across the United States, the singer found herself walking the streets of New York. Wasting no time, Clarkson continued her hit show and has embraced the chaotic lifestyle of a New Yorker. And besides hosting the event, fans loved watching Clarkson take the stage to perform “You For Christmas.”
Kicking off at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, Clarkson wasted no time entertaining viewers as the Norway spruce behind her stood over 70 feet tall. Fashioned with over 50,000 LED lights, the tree appeared to flood the streets with Christmas cheer. Even with the tree not lit for the majority of the event, it still stole the spotlight as it weighed over 11 tons.
Kelly Clarkson Gains High Praise For Rockefeller Center Performance
As for Clarkson’s performance, fans couldn’t get enough of the Grammy winner as comments read, “Kelly, you embody Christmas! You should definitely do this every year. Last year it was already magical. To experience in New York. That’s unbelievable. I wanted it so much and can’t believe that this dream came true️. Our queen of Christmas !” Another person added, “You are absolutely an amazing and, adorable queen of music! Beautiful outfit!”
Outside of the fans sharing their love for Clarkson, the Executive Vice President of live events at NBCUniversal Entertainment, Jen Neal, also praised the historic event, writing, “There is truly no tradition like watching that gorgeous tree sparkle and transforming Rockefeller Center into the epicenter of the holiday season in New York. With Kelly at the helm, we can’t wait to share this wonderful special and celebrate with the entire country.”
