Kelly Clarkson will host and perform on Christmas at Rockefeller Center 2023
For the first time, American Idol original season winner Kelly Clarkson will both host and perform during NBC’s annual two-hour special Christmas at Rockefeller Center. The live broadcast airs Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and will be simulcast on Peacock. The program celebrates the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting, a holiday tradition that has endured for more than nine decades.
Clarkson will lead the evening’s festivities from Rockefeller Center in New York City, the landmark location that also serves as the new home of her daytime program, The Kelly Clarkson Show. In addition to hosting, she will perform several holiday songs during the telecast. This appearance marks the 20th anniversary of her first performance at Rockefeller Center, and she has returned to the tree lighting several times over the years.
Joining the celebration will be familiar faces from NBC’s morning lineup: Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin will make special appearances during the tree lighting portion of the special.
“I’m so excited to consider this city and Rockefeller Center my new home”
In a statement announcing her involvement, Kelly Clarkson said, “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!”
Jen Neal, Executive Vice President of Live Events and Specials for NBCUniversal Media Group, commented, “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.”
Ahead of the primetime telecast, an additional live hour will air on NBC Owned Television Stations and numerous NBC affiliates nationwide beginning at 7 p.m. ET. That earlier hour will be led by “ACCESS Hollywood” host Mario Lopez, along with WNBC news anchors Natalie Pasquarella and David Ushery. Viewers should check local listings for affiliate scheduling.
A tradition that dates back more than 90 years
The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition began during the difficult years of the Great Depression. A holiday tree was first displayed in 1931, and the first official tree-lighting ceremony took place in 1933 in front of the then-new RCA Building, now known as the Comcast Building. The festive gathering gained further prominence with the opening of the Rockefeller Plaza ice-skating rink in 1936, and the annual lighting has since become a beloved seasonal event. NBC first televised the tree lighting in 1951 on The Kate Smith Show, and it later appeared as part of the nationwide Howdy Doody broadcasts in the 1950s.
Kelly Clarkson’s career spans pop hits, television success and holiday recordings. She has garnered sales exceeding 25 million albums and 40 million singles worldwide. Her multi-Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, is currently in its fifth season and has moved production to New York. The program has been renewed through 2025. Clarkson has also found success as a coach on The Voice, where she was the winning coach on seasons 14, 15, 17 and 21. She first rose to fame in 2002 as the winner of the inaugural season of American Idol, launching a career that established her as one of pop music’s most recognizable voices.
On the recording side, Clarkson has released multiple holiday albums, including When Christmas Comes Around … (2021) and Wrapped in Red (2013). Her album chemistry is noted as her tenth studio project and her third full-length release with Atlantic Records.
In addition to television and recording projects, Clarkson has announced a return to her Las Vegas residency, titled chemistry: An Intimate Night with Kelly Clarkson, at the Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood. New residency dates include end-of-year and winter performances. Ticket information is available through her official website and authorized ticketing outlets.