NEW YORK, NY – As the first snowflakes of December 2025 dust the bustling streets of Manhattan, the iconic glow of Rockefeller Center beckons like a beacon of yuletide cheer. This year, NBC has pulled out all the stops for its beloved “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special, airing live on Wednesday, December 3, at 8 p.m. ET, with a twist that feels straight out of a country ballad: George Strait, the undisputed “King of Country,” stepping in as co-host to infuse the evening with his timeless baritone, unassuming charm, and that rare ability to make a crowd of thousands feel like family gathered ’round a crackling fire. While Reba McEntire takes the lead as the first-time solo host—following in the footsteps of legends like Kelly Clarkson—this duet of hosting duties promises a night where Southern soul meets New York sparkle, transforming the plaza’s legendary Norway spruce into the heartbeat of holiday magic. With a lineup boasting over a dozen stars, heartfelt tributes, and the ceremonial tree-lighting that has captivated the world for over nine decades, Strait’s involvement isn’t just a booking—it’s a homecoming for fans who’ve longed for the King’s voice to wrap them in Christmas comfort.

Born on May 18, 1952, in Poteet, Texas—a speck of a town south of San Antonio where the horizon stretches wide and the air smells of mesquite—George Strait grew up in the kind of rural simplicity that would later fuel his music. The son of a junior high school math teacher and rancher, young George spent summers baling hay and dreaming under endless skies, his first guitar a Christmas gift that sparked a lifelong romance with melody. By his teens, he was fronting a rock band in high school, but it was the Army—stationed in Hawaii during the early ’70s—that steered him toward country. There, inspired by the likes of Merle Haggard and George Jones, he traded electric riffs for steel guitars, forming the Ace in the Hole Band upon his return. A brief stint studying agriculture at Southwest Texas State University gave way to bar gigs across central Texas, where his deadpan delivery and honky-tonk authenticity caught the ear of MCA Records scout Blake Mevis. Strait’s self-titled 1981 debut album birthed “Unwound,” a No. 6 hit that announced a new traditionalist to Nashville’s neon jungle.

Over four decades, Strait has etched his name into the pantheon: 33 studio albums, 60 No. 1 singles (more than any artist in any genre), and over 120 million records sold worldwide. He’s the only country act with a Top 10 hit every year for over 30 years, snagging three ACM Entertainer of the Year awards and a 2006 CMA Lifetime Achievement honor. Yet, for all his accolades, Strait remains the anti-star—eschewing limos for pickups, feigning discomfort with fame in that signature Texas drawl. “I just sing the songs,” he’s fond of saying, but his voice, a warm baritone that can whisper a lover’s regret or belt a boot-stompin’ anthem, tells a deeper story. Tracks like “Amarillo by Morning” (a rodeo rider’s lament) and “The Chair” (a shy pickup line at a bar) capture the poetry of everyday heartache, while “Check Yes or No” adds a playful wink. His 2024 release, Cowboys and Dreamers, a soulful nod to his troubadour roots, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, proving the King hasn’t lost his crown at 73.

Strait’s forays into the holidays have always been understated gems, like his 1986 album Merry Christmas Strait to You!—a collection of chestnuts roasted with Western swing flair, including the jaunty “Jingle Bell Rock” and a poignant “We Three Kings.” Tracks from it still soundtrack Texas Christmases, evoking family gatherings with tamales and tam o’ shanters. More recently, he’s lent his gravelly warmth to H-E-B holiday ads, crooning originals over scenes of hay-bale snowmen and gingerbread ranches, reminding folks that joy doesn’t need a white blanket to feel magical. But co-hosting “Christmas in Rockefeller Center”? That’s uncharted territory for Strait, a man who’s headlined stadiums (drawing a record 110,905 to Texas A&M’s Kyle Field in June 2024) yet shies from spotlights that aren’t earned. “It’s an honor to share this stage with Reba and all these fine folks,” Strait said in a rare pre-taping interview, his voice crackling over a satellite line from his San Antonio ranch. “Christmas is about the simple things—good music, good company, and a tree that lights up more than just the night.”

The special, a Rockefeller staple since 1953, unfolds against the plaza’s 75-foot-tall, 45-foot-wide Norway spruce from East Greenbush, New York—harvested on November 6 and trucked in under cover of dawn on the 8th. Adorned with 50,000 energy-efficient LED lights (powered partly by rooftop solar panels, sipping just 1,297 kWh daily) and crowned by Daniel Libeskind’s 900-pound Swarovski star (gleaming with 3 million crystals across 70 spikes), the tree stands as a symbol of resilience, donated post-season to Habitat for Humanity for milling into homes. This 93rd lighting isn’t just illumination; it’s a spectacle, with NBC’s cameras capturing every gasp as anchors Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, and Al Roker mingle amid the throng of 10,000 ticketed fans (apply via 1iota.com for a shot at entry).

Strait and McEntire, both Texas titans who’ve shared bills since the ’80s (including Strait’s Cowboy Rides Away Tour finale in 2014, where Reba joined for a tear-jerking “The Chair”), make a dream team. McEntire, 70, the fiery redhead with 75 million albums sold and a resume spanning Broadway to The Voice, brings her infectious energy—think high-kicks and heartfelt toasts—while Strait anchors with quiet gravitas, perhaps strumming an acoustic “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” under the tree’s glow. Their banter? Expect gentle ribbing: Reba teasing Strait’s aversion to selfies, him countering with tales of her early rodeo days. “George is the steady hand we need,” McEntire gushed to People. “He’s got that voice that makes you believe in miracles.”

The performers read like a holiday playlist on shuffle: Latin sensation Marc Anthony unleashing salsa-infused “Feliz Navidad”; Disney darling Halle Bailey, fresh from The Little Mermaid, channeling Ariel’s whimsy into a ethereal “O Holy Night”; crooner Michael Bublé, 50, swinging “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” with his velvet pipes; Broadway belter Kristin Chenoweth, all five feet of firecracker, twinkling through “Carol of the Bells”; Icelandic jazz phenom Laufey, 26, blending neo-soul with “Winter Wonderland”; R&B legends New Edition, marking 40 years, harmonizing a funky “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”; fellow country king Brad Paisley, 53, picking “Blue Christmas” with cheeky flair; rising star Carly Pearce, 35, belting “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with raw emotion; pop icon Gwen Stefani, 56, channeling No Doubt’s ska edge into a festive mashup; and the Radio City Rockettes, celebrating their centennial with precision kicks that could sync a metronome. Strait might join Paisley for an impromptu twang-off or duet Stefani on a surprise “You Make It Feel Like Christmas,” his baritone grounding her sparkle.

Beyond the music, the special weaves in stories that tug at heartstrings: families who’ve weathered storms sharing toasts by the ice rink (opened in 1936, now a twinkling oval under the tree); kids from local shelters wide-eyed at the lights; and a nod to Rockefeller’s Depression-era origins, when the 1933 lighting lifted spirits amid breadlines. Strait, a philanthropist who’s raised millions via his Vaqueros del Mar golf classic for children’s hospitals, will spotlight a beneficiary family, his understated delivery making the moment land like a soft snowfall. “These nights remind us why we sing,” he’ll likely say, echoing his own holiday ethos.

As the clock strikes 10 p.m., the plaza holds its breath: fireworks crackle, the Rockettes form a star, and with a collective flip of the switch—joined by dignitaries and kids from the crowd—the tree blazes to life. Over five miles of wiring hums, casting a kaleidoscope across the art deco facades, while the Swarovski star pulses like a diamond heartbeat. The crowd roars, confetti swirls, and Strait, arm around McEntire, leads a plaza-wide “Silent Night,” his voice cutting through the chill like a warm cocoa.

For fans tuning in from Lubbock to London—via NBC or Peacock—the special streams seamlessly, with AR filters for virtual tree selfies and a post-show Christmas in Nashville hosted by Trisha Yearwood (featuring Lauren Alaina and Ne-Yo). Strait’s touch elevates it all: a reminder that amid the glamour, Christmas thrives in the authentic—the shared glance, the off-key carol, the quiet gratitude. As the King croons into the night, one truth resonates: in a world spinning too fast, some voices—and some traditions—slow it down, wrapping us all in the simple, sparkling joy of the season.