'Christmas in Rockefeller Center' Tree Lighting Live Updates

Who doesn't love this performer?

If you don't know Darlene Love's name, you certainly know her amazing voice from hits like "(Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry" and "He's A Rebel."

Her big belt is perfectly suited to "Marshmallow World," and you can feel her energy from every corner of the Plaza.

New York's own Rob Thomas appeared on stage at Rockefeller Plaza to sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

The temperatures are getting colder, but the crowd is just warming up in New York's midtown Manhattan.

Formerly of the band Matchbox Twenty, Thomas is certainly a adds a spark to the festivities.

Manuel Turizo treated the audience to his smooth version of "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas."

The Columbian singer is known for his 2016 hit “Una Lady Como Tú” and his 2022 single “La Bachata."

Carly Pearce sang a twangy version of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" to a cheering crowd at the Rockefeller tree lighting.

Singer-songwriter Carly Pearce left high school for a job at Dollywood when she was 16 years old. The Grammy Award-winner has released three studio albums and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Throngs of people lined up for hours in the cold to secure a prime spot to watch "Christmas in Rockefeller Center." But not one particular line of viewers who gathered on 49th Street.

They won their priority viewing passes in a lottery run by a company called 1iota.

The winners TODAY.com talked to live in the New York City area.

"We got lucky!" they cheered.

With David Foster at the piano, Katharine McPhee sang a lush, moving rendition of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" as a huge crowd anticipated the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting in New York City.David Foster, songwriter and record producer, and Katharine McPhee, singer and actress, are parents to 2-year-old son Rennie, who seems to have inherited musical talent of his own.

The pair released an album called "Christmas Songs" in 2022.

Seth MacFarlane and Liz Gillies took to the stage to perform "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" from their new holiday album titled, “We Wish You the Merriest.”

Most people likely know MacFarlane as the creator of "Family Guy," but families may know him as Mike, the little mouse who sings "My Way" in the animated movie "Sing."

Liz Gillies may be familiar to television audiences for her acting roles in the CW's "Dynasty" and Nickelodeon's "Victorious," but she made her Broadway debut in the musical "13" alongside Ariana Grande.

Chlöe Bailey sang "Winter Wonderland," as she and her backup dancers pranced around the stage in costumes that seemed to nod in reference to the iconic Christmas performance in the "Mean Girls" movie.

Sleigh all day.

Bailey and her sister (Halle Bailey from "The Little Mermaid") grew up singing in their grandmother's church.

Music legend Barry Manilow sang a buoyant rendition "Happy Holiday" to kick off the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting.

Host Mario Lopez declared himself an official fan(ilow)!

Manilow has more than 30 years of hit songs to his name. And now he helped create a new Broadway musical, "Harmony," and he's headlining "A Very Barry Christmas" on NBC on Monday, December 11.

"We danced with the Rockettes this morning," Kim Murgo tells TODAY.com, as she waits with her family for the Rockefeller tree lighting in New York.

She and her daughters, Cadence and Layla, traveled from Maine to New York for that very special dance lesson at Radio City Music Hall. And they will be seeing the Rockettes perform on the Plaza tonight. They got in line around 3:30 p.m. in midtown Manhattan and are passing the time by chatting with the people near them in line.

As for the other dancers from their dance studio, Kim says, "I'm sure they're here somewhere. There were three buses of us, so we're all over the place."

Lisa Arriaga traveled from Houston, Texas with her daughters, Katherine and Amanda, to experience the holiday season in New York City  — and, hopefully, a new season of joy after a loss.

"We always wanted to do that with my husband. He always wanted to do that," says Lisa. "But he passed away two years ago, so I said, 'Okay, let's do a trip together to get away and do something for us together.'"

They got in line at 3 p.m., and are keeping warm with coffee and hot chocolate while they wait for the festivities to begin.

Dressed in hand-knit, light-up Christmas tree hats, friends Kelly Anderson of North Carolina and Laurel Schaffer of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania tell TODAY.com their current trip to New York City is "a bucket list item."

With their 11-year-old niece and her mother, the ladies attended the Toy Drive Spectacular at the TODAY Show this morning and went to Santaland at Macy's. Tomorrow, they're seeing the Radio City Rockettes perform, they have tickets to "& Juliet" on Broadway and they hope to squeeze in a visit to see the uber-decorated Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn.

They even have "passports" to commemorate their adventures. "We take little pictures and put them in there with stickers," Anderson says.

There's a biting chill in the air, but that hasn't stopped the crowd from amassing on the blocks surrounding Rockefeller Plaza.

People started gathering as early as 10 a.m. to ensure that they could nab a front row spot to watch the iconic Christmas tree light up the night. Currently waiting in long lines before entering the Plaza, visitors are keeping warm by sipping coffee and making friends with those waiting in line around them.

One New York police officer likened the event to New Year's Eve in Times Square. Tonight is his fourth time manning the event. He said, "It's amazing that people turn up just to see the lights turn on."

While we wait for the many live performances and the Rockefeller tree lighting itself, what's ahead for your holidays?

If the mischievous little Elf on the Shelf is on YOUR shelf, take a look at this article for plenty of inspiration: 77 ideas, to be exact. This week is officially Elf Scout Return Week, FYI.

If you're looking to add a meaningful tradition to your Christmas tree, Parents editor Kavita Varma-White wrote about the sweet Christmas ornament tradition that her family has carried through the years.

If your kids' wish lists are getting a little out of hand — or if you just want to help them learn some valuable business presentation skills along with their yearly missives to Santa — consider what some parents have been doing, asking their kids to make PowerPoint presentations for their wish lists.

And whether you are freezing your jingle bells off in Rockefeller Plaza tonight or watching at home, pass the time with these fun Christmas trivia questions!

Singer and daytime talk show star Kelly Clarkson will host the annual tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center on Nov. 29.

Musical performances are planned by Cher, Barry Manilow, Chloe Bailey, Adam Blackstone, David Foster, Liz Gillies, Darlene Love, Seth MacFarlane, Katharine McPhee, Keke Palmer, Carly Pearce and Manuel Turizo.

TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin are also slated to take part in the special.

The two-hour live show will air on both NBC and Peacock on Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. (Peacock is owned by TODAY.com’s parent company, NBCUniversal.)

Erik Pauze, the head gardener for Rockefeller Center since 1995, travels all over the country, scouting out dozens of potential trees each year. He also receives photo submissions from people willing to donate their trees.

Pauze doesn't consider just any tree, he told TODAY.com in 2022. It must be a Norway Spruce that is at least 70 feet tall and 40 to 42 feet wide. The tree must be large and sturdy enough to support the weight of the wires and cables and lights used to decorate it.

Once the tree has been selected, it travels on a very special trailer reserved specifically for this purpose. Pauze said that onlookers often photograph the tree on its journey to New York City.

Brand-new Rockefeller Center resident Kelly Clarkson will host this year's tree lighting celebration.

In June, the singer announced that she would be moving the studio for "The Kelly Clarkson Show" from Los Angeles to New York City so that she and her children (River Rose, 9, and Remy, 7) could be closer to her family on the east coast.

Joining Clarkson on stage to announce the musical guests will be TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin.

“Access Hollywood” host Mario Lopez and NBC New York anchors Natalie Pasquarella and David Ushery will host a 7 p.m. special live hour.

“Christmas in Rockefeller Center” will air on NBC stations across the country and live-stream on Peacock on Nov. 29 starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is dressed up for the holidays — with 50,000 multicolored lights and a Swarovski crystal star, all of which will be shining brightly tonight.

A tree has towered over the legendary New York City plaza for almost 100 years. Hailing from the upstate town of Vestal, New York, this year's tree is an 80-foot-tall Norway Spruce that weighs about 12 tons. It traveled almost 200 miles by truck to reach 30 Rock in midtown Manhattan.

“On its side, when it takes up half a city block in New York, you realize just how big that thing is,” Peter Alexander said.

The “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” tree lighting ceremony will air on both NBC and Peacock Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. E.T./P.T. (Peacock is owned by TODAY.com’s parent company, NBCUniversal.)