The crowd returned with flashing Santa hats and flashing candy canes as the 89th annual lighting of the world’s most famous Christmas tree resumed its usual ceremony.
On Wednesday night at Rockefeller Center in New York City, a 79-foot-tall, 12-ton Norwegian spruce top was finally the centerpiece of a two-hour wind-up that included performances by Harry Connick Jr., Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and other artists.
As usual, “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” was hosted by NBC News “Today” co-hosts Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin and Al Rocker, lightly bundled up in 46 degree weather. .
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The festive event – some of which were pre-taped – attempted to display normalcy, with unmasked fans seen crowded around various stages near the iconic building in midtown Manhattan (attendees had to be fully vaccinated). Last year, the public was unable to attend the lighting ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s 85-year-old tree was adorned with more than 50,000 multi-colored LED lights strung five miles of wire. Hundreds of solar panels atop one of the Rockefeller Center buildings will help power the lights throughout the season.
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During the broadcast on NBC, celebrities including Paul Rudd donated prerecorded tracks to solicit donations for Red Nose Day, which raises money to end child poverty, while musical guests shared good vacation memories.
In keeping with tradition, the iconic Radio City Rockettes kicked high with dazzling poise and ushered in the brightness shift.
Here are some musical moments from the annual celebration.
Brad Paisley
The gregarious country star tore up a speckled violin rendition of Buck Owens’ 1965 country classic, “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy.” Paisley added a few of his electric guitar licks to the song, including a transition to “Jingle Bells” during his solo.
Pentatonix
The ace a capella group, who have found a solid niche in Christmas music, delivered a playful “We Need a Little Christmas” from last year’s holiday album of the same name. Showcasing their usual vocal magic, the song was led by the bass vocals of Matt Sallee and the mellow tones of Kirstin Maldonado. The quintet also performed Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” from their latest vacation offering, “Evergreen”.
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Harry Connick Jr.
With a knit beanie on their heads, Connick and his big band walked through “(It Must’ve Been Ol ‘) Santa Claus,” a fan favorite from his 1993 Christmas debut album. Connick took care of the chores of piano while his band – all donning Santa hats and red scarves – added brass and swing. The singer – who stars as Daddy Warbucks on NBC’s “Annie Live” on Thursday – later returned to the show for a brass-laden “Silent Night,” in which he also played a harpjji.
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Rob thomas
Bouncing in his red plaid jacket, Thomas made his “Small Town Christmas” debut from his new Christmas album, “Something About Christmas Time”. In the innocuous pop-rock song, the frontman of Matchbox Twenty expressed his opinion on the pleasures of “driving on the long roads” where “anything is possible” and recalled that “we all need comfort right now”.
“Be kind to each other,” he told the crowd at the end of the song. Returning later for a second song, Thomas was joined by Paisley for “Santa Don’t Come Here Anymore” which was a bit more honky tonk than what we’re used to hearing from the guy behind “Smooth” .
Carrie Underwood
Transmitted for a prerecorded Nashville performance, the ever-stylish Underwood rolled out “Let There Be Peace,” her original calling-for-unity anthem from her 2020 Christmas album, “My Gift”. A backdrop of a crackling fireplace and a farmhouse with lighted pine trees was shared by a gospel choir spread over a double-sided staircase. Their presence added weight to Underwood’s growing voice as she fervently plunged into the lyrics. For his second song, Underwood opted for a hushed simplicity with a sufficiently contemplative “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”.
Mickey guyton
The breakthrough country star continued her well-deserved moment – she recently paid tribute to Tina Turner at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and is nominated for three Grammys in January – with a faithfully funny version of ” Rockin ‘Around the Christmas Tree. ”Knee-length red boots topped Guyton’s party look, as his voice soared. His version of “O Holy Night” was equally powerful and filled with impressive vocal tracks.
José Feliciano and CNCO
Assuming his perch on a stool, acoustic guitar resting on his lap, Feliciano released his 51-year-old Christmas carol. Sadly, the young men at CNCO seemed to have a hard time getting along and weren’t always in tune with Feliciano – or with each other, leading to a painful childbirth that was at least luckily short.