New York City will get even cheerier on Wednesday night as the giant tree in the middle of the Rockefeller Center officially gets lit. The tree lighting has been a tradition in the Big Apple since a 20-foot balsam fir took the spot in 1931. Things have changed a little since then -- including the tree lighting being streamed on the internet -- but the vibes are the same.

This year, the centerpiece hails from East Greenbush in Rensselaer County, which sits just outside Albany, New York. The 75-foot Norway spruce has been in the backyard of Judy Russ and her family for an estimated 75 years. It's an emotional experience for the 37-year-old Russ, who donated the giant conifer in honor of her late husband, Dan.

Dan, who passed in 2020, had dreamt of this tree earning a spot at Rockefeller.

"What really made me decide is just finally seeing how big it is, how grand it is," Russ said of the donation. "We talked about renting a crane to decorate it and that’s when I realized that this is bigger than your usual tree in your backyard."

You can watch the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting -- which is being hosted by country music icon Reba McEntire -- at 8 p.m. ET on NBC or stream on Peacock.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: The touching story behind the 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree

Reporting by Caroline Darney, For The Win / For The Win

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