Photos and Key Art: NBCUniversal

The time-honored tradition of lighting the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will take place tonight during the NBC special, “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,“ with a live telecast hosted by “TODAY” show co-anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Al Roker.

The iconic special will feature performances from top names in the business like Kelly Clarkson, Goo Goo Dolls, Earth, Wind & Fire, Brett Eldredge, Jimmy Fallon, Tori Kelly, Dolly Parton, Pentatonix, Dan + Shay, Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor, as well as the cast of Broadway’s “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations” and the legendary Radio City Rockettes.

Due to public health and safety, there will be no public access to the tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center. The public is invited stay home and tune into NBC tonight from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT!

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Tori Kelly

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Meghan Trainor

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Radio City Rockettes

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Radio City Rockettes

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Dan + Shay

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

"Ain't Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations" Cast.

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

"Ain't Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations" Cast.

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

"Ain't Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations" Cast.

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Gwen Stefani

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Kelly Clarkson

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Goo Goo Dolls

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Matthew Morrison

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Gwen Stefani

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldredge

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Pentatonix

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Pentatonix

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Pentatonix

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Pentatonix

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Pentatonix

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Pentatonix

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Photo: NBCUniversal

NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2020

Photo: NBCUniversal

Excerpts 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 NBC4 New York’s Natalie Pasquarella and David Ushery. Check local listings.

“Every year our viewers look forward to NBC’s iconic tree-lighting ceremony,” said Doug Vaughan, Executive Vice President, Special Programs, NBC Entertainment. “There’s something special about kicking off the holiday season with such an awe-inspiring event.”

The 88th annual holiday special will celebrate the lighting of a 75-foot tall, 45-foot wide Norway Spruce from Oneonta, N.Y. The tree weighs approximately 11 tons. It will be adorned with more than 50,000 multi-colored LEDs and will be topped with a stunning Swarovski star.

NBCUniversal will continue its partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation for the 12th year in a row to support tree-planting efforts across the United States. For each of the 50,000 bulbs decorating the Spruce, NBCUniversal will plant a tree in areas that have been affected by wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. This ongoing partnership is an important annual tradition that has helped to restore forests for future generations to enjoy.

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.

While the holidays are a time of celebration, there are also many families who are facing extraordinary challenges. At key moments throughout the night, viewers will have the opportunity to donate to Red Nose Day in support of children and families facing hunger and food insecurity this holiday season. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 1 in 4 children in the U.S., or around 18 million, have faced food insecurity in 2020 and may not know where their next meal will come from – a critical issue that has been significantly worsened by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Money raised during the broadcast will support programs providing meals to children and families as well as helping to address child hunger and long-term food insecurity both domestically and internationally.

Stay merry!