Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting 2021 LIVE
THE holidays are about to officially get underway in New York City, with the lighting of the world-famous Rockefeller Christmas tree.
The 79-foot, 12-ton tree arrived in Manhattan last month, and will be adorned with more than 50,000 multicolored lights and topped with a 900-pound star with 70 spikes covered in 3 million crystals before tonight’s event.
The annual Christmas event is airing on NBC on Wednesday at 8pm ET, with Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin, and Al Roker hosting.
During the event, The Rockettes, Carrie Underwood, Harry Connick Jr., Brad Paisley, Norah Jones, Alessia Cara, Mickey Guyton, Rob Thomas, and the Broadway stars of Come From Away are also performing.
The spruce, about 85 years old, had stood near the Price family’s house in Maryland before being cut down last month.
Devon and Julie Price told NBC’s “Today” that they had worried about it falling down during a storm.
“So we’re very excited to have it go to New York City,” Devon Price said.
Read our Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting live blog for the latest news and updates…
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WATCH THE TREE GET REMOVED
Rockefeller Center shared footage of this year’s Christmas tree being cut down in Maryland.
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MEER ERIC PAUZE
Pauze is in charge of selecting the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, and he has done so for 30 years.
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WHO PICKS THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER TREE?
Erik Pauze, the Rockefeller Center lead gardener, has been selecting the Christmas trees for the past 30 years.
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CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING WAS CLOSED LAST YEAR
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony was closed to the public last year.
This year, the tree lighting ceremony will be open.
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OWL FOUND IN LAST YEAR’S TREE
During the installation of last year’s Christmas tree, workers discovered a dehydrated northern saw-whet owl.
The female adult owl was brought in to a rehabilitation facility and nursed back to health, before being released in upstate New York.
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HOW OLD IS THE TREE?
The Rockefeller Christmas tree is an estimated 85 years old.
It traveled 145 miles from Maryland to Rockefeller Center, on a 115-foot trailer.
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WHERE IS THIS YEAR’S TREE FROM?
This year’s Rockefeller Christmas tree is from Elkton, Maryland.
It is New York City’s first Christmas tree from Maryland.
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THE TREE’S DECORATIONS
The tree is dressed up in 50,000 multicolored lights and topped with a 900-pound star with 70 spikes covered in 3 million crystals.
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HOW BIG IS THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER TREE?
The tree is 79-foot tall and weighs an impressive 12 tons.
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WHEN DID THE TREE GET TO NEW YORK CITY?
The tree arrived in Manhattan last month.
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WHERE IS ROCKEFELLER CENTER?
Rockefeller Center is in New York City.
It’s the site of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
The tree was lit in a dazzling ceremony featuring several performances on Wednesday night.
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WHO PERFORMED AT THE TREE LIGHTING?
The Rockefeller Center tree lighting featured several special performances.
The Rockettes, Carrie Underwood, Harry Connick Jr., Brad Paisley, Norah Jones, Alessia Cara, Mickey Guyton, Rob Thomas, and the Broadway stars of Come From Away all performed.
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WHO HOSTED THE TREE LIGHTING THIS YEAR?
Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin, and Al Roker all hosted the special event, which aired on NBC.
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AMERICANS CELEBRATE THE TREE LIGHTING
After the Rockefeller Tree was lit on Wednesday, many took to Twitter to celebrate the official start of the holiday season.
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THE TREE LIGHTING
Finally, the legendary Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center has been lit.
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio joined the show to press the button that would light up the tree.
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FINAL PERFORMANCE OF THE NIGHT
The Radio City Rockettes took the stage at Rockefeller center for the last performance before the tree lighting.
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CARRIE UNDERWOOD IS BACK
The singer performed from Nashville.
She sang her version of “Have Yourself a Little Merry Christmas” from her holiday album My Gift.
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ALESSIA CARA PERFORMS JINGLE BELL ROCK
The singer promoted her new album In The Meantime during the broadcast.
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FANS COMPLAIN THE TREE LIGHTING IS ‘TOO LONG’
After more than an hour since the broadcast began, some viewers have taken to social media to say the show has gone on too long.
The broadcast is scheduled end at 10pm EST.
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MICHAEL BUBLE SENDS A MESSAGE
The singer appeared on the broadcast to wish viewers a Merry Christmas.
He also teased his own upcoming Holiday special.
“I can’t wait to see you on NBC Monday,” he said.
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MICKEY GUYTON SINGS ‘O HOLY NIGHT’
The R&B singer took the stage dressed in a red coat, shoes and gloves as she performed her own version of the classic Christmas song.
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ROB THOMAS AND BRAD PAISLEY TOGETHER
The stars sang their song “Santa Don’t Come Here Anymore” from the album Something About Christmas Time.
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NORA JONES PERFORMS
The singer took the stage to sing “Run Rudolph Run” from her album I Dream of Christmas.
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A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE FIRST LADY
President Biden recorded a message for the occasion, and spoke about the history of the Rockefeller Center Tree.
“From all of the Bidens, we wish you a holiday full of laughter, peace, and joy,” said Dr Biden.
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JOSE FELICIANO PERFORMS
The iconic Puerto Rican singer joined the broadcast to perform his classic hit “Feliz Navidad.”
