Kelly Clarkson, Cher, Barry Manilow perform at the 2023 Rockefeller tree lighting: See all the best moments

In case you missed it, a group of high school students had all their Christmas wishes come true — they were selected to sing at the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting.

Students from High-Tech High School in northern New Jersey won the NBC Star Choir Singing competition and belted out a very enthusiastic version of "Jingle Bells" in front of the giant Rockefeller tree.

You can see their adorable Instagram video of the event below.

P.S. One of the students happens to be this author's babysitter. Talented AND great with kids.

At long last, the 2023 Rockefeller Christmas tree is shining bright.

"We're so glad you made our tree lighting event part of your holiday tradition," said Kelly Clarkson.

Enjoy these fun facts about this evening's events:

• A tree has towered over the legendary New York City plaza during the Christmas season for almost 100 years.
• This year’s tree is an 80-foot-tall Norway Spruce that weighs about 12 tons.
• It traveled almost 200 miles by truck from Vestal, New York to 30 Rock in midtown Manhattan.
• The tree is decorated with 50,000 multicolored lights and a Swarovski crystal star.
• There are at least 60 stagehands who work on prepping this broadcast for four days from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Hundreds of New York police officers are on hand to make sure everyone stays safe.
• Many of the behind-the-scenes staff return to work on "Christmas in Rockefeller Plaza" year after year.

These two icons shared the stage to treat audiences to their rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” at the Rockefeller tree lighting.

Kelly Clarkson told the audience a fun fact: Cher sang backup for Love on Love’s recording of this same song 60 years ago.

"I did not know that!" Clarkson exclaimed.

Oscar, Grammy and Emmy-winning Cher just released a holiday album titled simply, "Christmas," and Love is in the middle of an East Coast tour. Audiences may also know Love, a legendary singer, from her role as Daniel Glover's wife in the "Lethal Weapon" movies.

Acknowledging the heaviness of events in the world, Rockefeller tree lighting host Kelly Clarkson introduced New Yorker Rob Thomas, who sang a sincere song he wrote: "A New York Christmas." In it, he urges listeners to "call on their angels" to "come down to the city."

Originally written in December 2001, the song seemed especially appropriate on the night of the 2023 Christmas tree lighting.

Appearing relaxed, excited and completely in her element, Clarkson has truly shone throughout the broadcast.

She sang "Glow," a song she recorded with Chris Stapleton on her second Christmas album, to an adoring crowd in Rockefeller Center for the tree-lighting.

Nothing can compete with your glow, Kelly!

Rockefeller tree lighting host Kelly Clarkson asked musical icon Barry Manilow what he would be doing for the holidays this year, and Manilow replied that he would be home playing with his dogs.

Clarkson, clearly a huge dog person, responded with a genuine, "I love dogs! We should be roommates!"

The Manilow and Clarkson puppy play center? We can see it!

Manilow sang the sentimental "Because It's Christmas" with the inspiring Young People's Chorus of New York City.

"We love being next door to you," TODAY's Savannah Guthrie told Rockefeller tree lighting host Kelly Clarkson about her talk show's move to Rockefeller Center in New York, right next to TODAY's Studio 1A.

Savannah, Al Roker, Craig Melvin and Hoda Hotb were all on hand to help Clarkson light up the night with the annual Christmas tree lighting.

"This is always the most fun party of the holiday season," Hoda shared with Kelly, as the crowd roared with approval.

As Adam Blackstone played the stand-up bass, Keke Palmer channeled her soulful side as she lovingly sang "The Christmas Song" at the annual Rockefeller tree lighting in New York City.

That's the one that goes, "Although it's been said, many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you." (Yes, we had to look that one up. We're not only being entertained, we are learning together.)

Even if it's been sung many times and many ways, we'd love an encore!

Kelly Clarkson confessed her love of Christmas, saying, "I love Christmas! I love it so much!" She was definitely in the right place, as the host of the annual Rockefeller tree lighting in New York City.

And that's why she recorded two Christmas albums with a handful of original holiday songs.

She was radiant as she sang "Santa, Can't You Hear Me," a song she originally recorded with Ariana Grande.

"What a performance!" declared TODAY's Al Roker.

She treated fans to a little behind-the-scenes glimpse of the magic on her Instagram before the big show.

Who is Cher's number one fan?

Kelly Clarkson!

The host of "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" gushed over Cher's new song, "DJ Play a Christmas Song."

"This song is so good," she enthused at the annual Rockefeller tree lighting.

Could some Cher-themed Kellyoke be in her future? Santa baby, please.

The one and only Cher electrified the crowd with her new song, "DJ Play a Christmas Song."

The 77-year-old Oscar, Emmy and Grammy-winner just released her first Christmas album, fittingly titled "Christmas."

Will it be a hit?

Yes, Cher. We believe.

With a blinged-out mic and cozy winter wear, country star Carly Pearce made "this December one to remember" as she jauntily sang "Man With the Bag" to a cold but enthusiastic crowd at the Rockefeller tree lighting.

And changing tone later on, she sang a beautifully spare version of "O Holy Night."

Colombian singer Manuel Turizo added a Latin swing to Rockefeller Plaza with his rendition of "Feliz Navidad," featuring a brassy trumpet solo. Later, he cooled things down (while staying warm in his oversized red coat with big polka dots) with a smooth rendition of "Under the Mistletoe."

And from the bottom of our hearts, we wish you a merry Christmas, Manuel!

Fanilows, brace yourself.

The Manilow himself is tackling the Mariah Carey modern classic, "All I Want for Christmas is You." Well, Barry, there is just one thing we need: more Manilow!

Spoiler alert: we're getting more Manilow.

Watch “Barry Manilow’s A Very Barry Christmas” on Monday, December 11 at 10 p.m.

Katharine McPhee urged Santa to hurry down the chimney tonight in her relaxed and sultry version of "Santa Baby." Husband David Foster accompanied her on the piano, and he occasionally joined in the fun by bantering with his wife as she sang.

The pair returned with a jaunty version of "Jingle Bell Rock." Both the performers and the audience looked like they were having a ball on the Rockefeller rooftop.

Move over Bing Crosby and Tony Bennett — the talented Seth MacFarlane and Liz Gillies returned to the Rockefeller tree lighting stage to sing "That Holiday Feeling," which gives us all the holiday feelings, and "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer," which will definitely go down in history.

Together, Adam Blackstone and Keke Palmer gave us a bop at the Rockefeller tree lighting with their song, "Christmas Kisses."

Emmy Award-winning musical director Adam Blackstone has served as the musical director for major acts like Rihanna, Janet Jackson and Eminem.

Keke Palmer is a singer, actress and host who first attracted attention when she played the title character in "Akeelah and the Bee" in 2006.

Nothing says Christmas like the Radio City Rockettes.

For the Rockefeller Center tree lighting, the Rockettes performed a medley of Christmas favorites.

The Rockettes rehearse for six hours a day, six days a week for the six weeks leading up to the opening of the "Christmas Spectacular," which they perform right across the Plaza at the iconic Radio City Music Hall.

Each of the Rockettes change costume eight times during each show, typically with only a couple of minutes in between numbers. In one of the changeovers, they have only 78 seconds to change their costumes.

In all, the Rockettes kick nearly 200 times per show! So, it's only natural they kicked off this tree lighting (sorry, couldn't resist).

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 could feel her energy from every corner of the Plaza during her performance at the Rockefeller tree lighting.

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

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

Formerly of the band Matchbox Twenty, Thomas is certainly added 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 Colombian 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 to the Christmas tree lighting 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 gave a 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. He helped create a new Broadway musical, "Harmony," and he's headlining "A Very Barry Christmas" on NBC on Monday, December 11.

"The atmosphere here is absolutely electric," said “Access Hollywood” host Mario Lopez as he welcomed everyone to the Rockefeller tree lighting in New York City.

He was joined by NBC New York anchors Natalie Pasquarella and David Ushery on this very cold evening celebration. The biting cold in the air could not dampen the spirits of thousands of revelers who came to celebrate the tree lighting with Kelly Clarkson, Savannah Guthrie and many more.

"We danced with the Rockettes this morning," Kim Murgo told TODAY.com, as she waited 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 were passing the time by chatting with the people near them in line.

As for the other dancers from their dance studio, Murgo said, "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," Arriaga said. "But he passed away two years ago, so I said, 'OK, let's do a trip together to get away and do something for us together.'"

They got in line at 3 p.m., and were keeping warm with coffee and hot chocolate while they waited 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 told 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 said.

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.)