NEW YORK (AP) — The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, an icon of New York City’s holiday season, was lit up Wednesday night in midtown Manhattan as crowds of people wearing Santa hats and Christmas light necklaces cheered.

This year’s towering evergreen is illuminated by more than 50,000 multicolored LED lights and topped by a Swarovski star weighing 900 pounds (408 kilograms).

Country music star Reba McEntire hosted NBC’s live broadcast of the tree-lighting ceremony, taking over from singer Kelly Clarkson, who did it in recent years. Famed dance troupe the Radio City Rockettes, who are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, were among the performers. Singers Michael Bublé, Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Gwen Stefani and Kristin Chenoweth also performed.

The 75-foot (23-meter) N

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