Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting: Harry Connick Jr., Carrie Underwood burn bright
The crowds returned with blinking Santa hats and flashing candy canes as the 89th annual lighting of the worldâs most famous Christmas tree returned to its usual ceremony.
At Rockefeller Center in New York City Wednesday night, a 79-foot-tall, 12-ton Norway spruce was eventually the centerpiece of a two-hour windup that included performances from Harry Connick Jr., Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and other artists.
As usual, âChristmas in Rockefeller Centerâ was hosted by NBC Newsâ âTodayâ show co-anchors Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin and Al Rocker, lightly bundled in the 46-degree weather.
The festive event â some of it pre-recorded â attempted to display normalcy, with unmasked fans seen crowded around various stages near the landmark building in midtown Manhattan (attendees were required to be fully vaccinated). Last year, the public could not attend the lighting ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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This year's 85-year-old tree was adorned with more than 50,000 multi-colored LED lights strung over five miles of wire. Hundreds of solar panels atop one of the Rockefeller Center buildings will help power the lights throughout the season.
During the NBC broadcast, celebrities including Paul Rudd offered pre-taped bits to solicit donations for Red Nose Day, which raises money to end child poverty, while the musical guests shared fond holiday memories.
In keeping with tradition, the iconic Radio City Rockettes high-kicked with dazzling poise and ushered in the switch flip of brightness.
Here are some musical moments from the annual celebration.
Brad Paisley
The gregarious country star ripped through a fiddle-flecked rendition of the 1965 Buck Owens country classic, âSanta Looked a Lot Like Daddy.â Paisley spiked the song with a few of his trademark electric guitar licks, including a segue into âJingle Bellsâ during his solo.
Pentatonix
The ace a capella group, which has found a solid niche in Christmas music, offered a sprightly âWe Need a Little Christmasâ from last yearâs holiday album of the same name. Showcasing their usual vocal magic, the song was steered by Matt Salleeâs bass vocals and Kirstin Maldonadoâs sweet tones. The quintet also performed Paul McCartneyâs âWonderful Christmastimeâ from their latest holiday offering, âEvergreen.â
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Harry Connick Jr.
With a jaunty knit cap on his head, Connick and his big band rolled through â(It Mustâve Been Olâ) Santa Claus,â a fan favorite from his first Christmas album in 1993. Connick handled piano duties while his band â all donning Santa hats and red scarves â added brass and swing. The singer â who happens to be starring as Daddy Warbucks in NBCâs âAnnie Liveâ on Thursday â returned later in the show for a brass-laden âSilent Night,â which also featured him playing a harpejji.
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Rob Thomas
Bouncing in his red plaid jacket, Thomas debuted âSmall Town Christmasâ from his new Christmas album, âSomething About Christmas Time.â In the innocuous pop-rock song, the Matchbox Twenty frontman opined about the pleasures of âdrivin' down the long roads" where âanything is possibleâ and reminded that âwe all need some comfort right now.â
âBe good to each other,â he told the crowd at songâs end. Returning later for a second song, Thomas was joined by Paisley for âSanta Donât Come Here Anymore,â which was a bit more honky tonk than weâre used to hearing from the guy behind âSmooth.â
Carrie Underwood
Beamed in for a pre-recorded performance from Nashville, the ever-elegant Underwood unfurled âLet There Be Peace,â her original anthem calling for unity from her 2020 Christmas album, âMy Gift.â A backdrop of a crackling fireplace and a tree farm worth of lighted pines was shared by a gospel choir spread across a double-sided staircase. Their presence added heft to Underwoodâs escalating vocals as she dove into the lyrics with fervor. For her second song, Underwood opted for hushed simplicity with an appropriately contemplative âHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.â
Mickey Guyton
The breakthrough country star continued her well-deserved moment â 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 â with a faithfully fun version of âRockin' Around the Christmas Tree.â Knee-high red boots capped off Guytonâs festive look, while her voice soared. Her version of âO Holy Nightâ was equally potent and filled with impressive vocal runs.
JoseÌ Feliciano and CNCO
Assuming his perch on a stool, acoustic guitar cradled on his knee, Feliciano rolled out his 51-year-old Christmas singalong. Unfortunately, the young men of CNCO looked as if they were having a hard time hearing themselves and werenât always in sync with Feliciano â or each other, leading to a painful delivery that was at least mercifully short.