Country music legend Reba McEntire is set to sprinkle some Oklahoma sparkle on one of New York’s most cherished holiday traditions. In an exclusive announcement Thursday, October 23, 2025, NBC revealed that the 70-year-old Grammy winner will take the reins as host for “Christmas in Rockefeller Center,” the network’s annual two-hour extravaganza that culminates in the lighting of the world-famous 75-foot Norway spruce. Airing live on Wednesday, December 3, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock, the special marks McEntire’s debut in the role – a bucket-list milestone for the “Fancy” singer who’s traded stage lights for sitcom sets and “The Voice” coaching gigs. “I’ve never been to New York City in December,” McEntire told PEOPLE, her voice bubbling with excitement. “To see all the Christmas decorations and be part of the tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center – it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m honored they asked me.”

The gig isn’t just a hosting nod; McEntire will perform throughout the night, belting out holiday classics from her vast catalog, including tracks from her 2017 album My Kind of Christmas, which went gold with festive cuts like “Winter Wonderland.” Additional musical guests and surprise appearances are slated for reveal in the coming weeks, promising a lineup that blends pop, country, and Broadway flair – think past stars like Idina Menzel, pentatonix, and the Jonas Brothers who’ve lit up the plaza before. Produced by Universal Television and Jesse Collins Entertainment, with Emmy-winning director Glenn Weiss at the helm, the special will capture the magic of the 94-year-old tradition: ice skaters twirling under the golden Prometheus statue, carolers in Dickensian garb, and the grand tree reveal that draws millions to Midtown Manhattan’s frozen wonderland.

McEntire’s selection feels like a natural fit for a woman who’s made a career out of blending heartfelt storytelling with showbiz dazzle. The Oklahoma native, inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011, has sold over 75 million albums worldwide, starred in Broadway’s Annie Get Your Gun revival, and earned three Golden Globes for her role in the 1990 TV movie The Gambler. More recently, she’s juggled coaching duties on season 28 of NBC’s The Voice – where she recently fought back tears saving a contestant – and headlining the sitcom Happy’s Place, whose second season kicks off November 7 on the network. Her holiday cred runs deep too: She’s hosted the CMA Country Christmas specials in 2017 and 2018, turning them into yuletide juggernauts with guests like Trisha Yearwood and Little Big Town. “Reba’s the perfect embodiment of holiday joy – warm, witty, and wickedly talented,” said executive producer Dionne Harmon in a statement. “We’re thrilled to have her lead this year’s celebration.”

The timing couldn’t be sweeter for McEntire, who’s riding a wave of personal highs. Just days before the announcement, she revealed to PEOPLE that she and fiancé Rex Linn – her Happy’s Place co-star and longtime beau – got engaged last Christmas Eve, a romantic twist that adds extra tinsel to her Rockefeller debut. “It was on Christmas Eve that Rex proposed,” she shared, recounting the intimate moment at their Nashville home. The couple, who went public in 2020 amid the pandemic, have kept their romance refreshingly low-key, but McEntire’s no stranger to blending love and lights – her 1987 holiday album Merry Christmas to You remains a perennial favorite, featuring duets with Vince Gill that still air on SiriusXM’s holiday channels.

Rockefeller Center’s tree-lighting has been a New York staple since 1933, transforming the art deco plaza into a global symbol of cheer. This year’s spruce, a towering 12-ton behemoth sourced from a yet-to-be-named farm (traditionally upstate New York or Canada), will be adorned with 50,000 multicolored LED lights and a 900-pound Swarovski crystal star. Past hosts like Kelly Clarkson (2023 and 2024), Dolly Parton, and John Legend have elevated the event into a ratings powerhouse, drawing 10-15 million viewers annually. McEntire steps in post-Clarkson, whose tenure featured powerhouse performances and feel-good segments like toy drives for Toys for Tots. Fans are already buzzing on X, with #RebaAtRockefeller trending Thursday evening: “Finally! Reba’s voice under those lights? Pure magic,” one user posted, while another quipped, “She’ll have us all ugly-crying to ‘O Holy Night’ – pass the tissues!”

For McEntire, the December jaunt to the Big Apple is uncharted territory – she’s performed at Madison Square Garden and the Beacon Theatre, but never braved the winter chill. “I’m going to bundle up – triple, quadruple layer!” she laughed to NBC Insider, envisioning a cozy ensemble of cashmere scarves and Ugg boots beneath her signature sequins. The forecast for December 3 calls for crisp 40-degree temps with a chance of flurries, the kind of bite that amps up the hot cocoa stands and the skaters’ rosy cheeks. “It’s going to be cold, but that’s part of the charm,” she added. “I can’t wait to feel that holiday buzz – the crowds, the carols, the tree lighting like fireworks in the sky.”

The special isn’t just entertainment; it’s a fundraiser heartstring. Proceeds from Rockefeller Center’s holiday village – with its artisan markets and Santa visits – support causes like the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and local food banks, a tradition McEntire champions through her Reba’s Place restaurant in Atoka, Oklahoma, which hosts annual toy drives. Her involvement could spotlight country-flavored philanthropy, perhaps featuring a performance with emerging Nashville talents or a nod to her late stepson Brandon Blackstock, whom she remembered fondly in a recent PEOPLE interview as “sorely missed” during family gatherings.

As the countdown to December ticks on, McEntire’s hosting turn underscores her enduring appeal: a bridge between Nashville’s twang and New York’s glamour, with a voice that’s comforted millions through divorce anthems like “Whoever’s in New England” and uplifted with gospel-tinged ballads. “This is a full-circle moment,” she reflected. “From honky-tonks to the Plaza – who knew?” For viewers tuning in from living rooms to watch parties, it’ll be a chance to bask in that glow: Reba under the lights, turning a chilly night into pure, unfiltered joy. With the tree’s sparkle and her sequins, Rockefeller’s about to get a whole lot brighter.