Photo: NBCUniversal

The holidays are filled with tradition, and one of the biggest annual events during the season is when the giant Christmas tree lights up for the first time at Rockefeller Center in New York City! NBC revealed a star-studded slate of celebs that will take part in the beloved “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special this year, and I have the scoop for you below!

Audiences will be treated to cheerful performances from some of the biggest names in music, including: Chicago, Brett Eldredge, Derek & Julianne Hough, Jordan Fisher, John Legend, Idina Menzel, Lea Michele, Ne-Yo, Gwen Stefani and Straight No Chaser.

Skylar Astin and Alex Newell of NBC’s midseason drama “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”, Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin, and the iconic Radio City Rockettes will also join in on the festive fun.

Hosted by NBC’s “Today” anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin, Al Roker, “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” will air on Wednesday, December 4th from 6-10 p.m. ET/PT!

“NBC is proud to be the home to the most iconic tree-lighting ceremony in the country,” said Doug Vaughan, Executive Vice President, Special Programs, NBC Entertainment. “We are thrilled to have an incredible lineup of performers, along with our hosts, as we kick off the holiday season.”

Update 12/3/19: Saturday Night Live‘s Kenan Thompson, Aidy Bryant, Michael Che and Colin Jost were just announced to join the annual tree lighting event!

Except from NBCUniversal’s Press Release:

Prior to the primetime telecast, an additional live hour of the special will be broadcast on all NBC Owned Television Stations as well as many of the NBC affiliates (7-8 p.m. ET. Check local listings). The regional hour will be co-hosted by “Access Hollywood’s” Mario Lopez along with NBC 4 New York’s Stefan Holt and Natalie Pasquarella. Check local listings.

The tradition of the Rockefeller Christmas tree dates back 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 pond. 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.

The 87th annual holiday special will celebrate the lighting of a 77-foot tall, 46-foot wide Norway Spruce from Village of Florida in Orange County, N.Y. The tree weighs approximately 12 tons and is approximately 70-75 years old. It will be adorned with more than 50,000 multi-colored LEDs and will be topped with a stunning Swarovski star.

After the tree leaves Rockefeller Center, it will be milled into lumber for donation to Habitat for Humanity and used to build homes in the region.

NBCUniversal is celebrating the 11th year of our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, kicking off with “Christmas in Rockefeller Center.” The campaign will support tree-planting efforts to promote recovery in disaster-stricken areas. NBCUniversal’s $25,000 donation will restore communities across the United States that have been destroyed by recent wildfires, hurricanes and other natural disasters. The more than 100,000 trees planted since the partnership’s inception have helped to rebuild forests and communities for future generations to enjoy.

Stay merry!