No One Saw It Coming—George Strait Is Bringing His Texas Charm to Rockefeller Center This Christmas. ML
This December, The King of Country Music will take the holiday stage in a way no one saw coming. George Strait has been announced as the host and headliner of the 2025 “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” broadcast — an extraordinary event fans are already calling “a gift from the heart of America.”
Under the sparkle of 50,000 holiday lights and the towering Rockefeller Christmas Tree, Strait will bring his signature warmth and grace to one of television’s most cherished celebrations. Now 73, the Texan legend is preparing a show that fuses tradition and tenderness — a musical embrace for a world in need of hope.
A Star-Studded Celebration
NBC producers confirmed that this year’s lineup will unite stars from country, gospel, and pop, including several of Strait’s longtime collaborators. Together they’ll deliver enduring favorites — “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night,” and “The Christmas Song” — alongside surprise duets that promise to become instant classics.
Strait emphasized that the night is about heart more than spectacle. “Christmas has always been my favorite season,” he said in a statement. “It’s about family, faith, and the kind of love that connects people no matter where they come from. I want this show to feel like a homecoming.”
Remembering the Legends
In addition to festive performances, the program will feature a moving tribute segment honoring late artists who shaped country music’s soul — a personal request from Strait. Insiders describe it as “a moment of remembrance and grace,” echoing themes that have guided much of his recent work.
A Season of Gratitude
The network will also air behind-the-scenes footage of Strait rehearsing and reflecting on Christmases past — from his Texas childhood to present-day family traditions. Fans from Texas to Tennessee are already planning viewing parties, calling it “a once-in-a-generation celebration.”
For a performer who has conquered stadiums and award stages, this December night will stand apart — not as a farewell, but as a thank-you to the fans who have followed him through decades of music.
“When the lights come on and that first snow starts to fall,” Strait said, “I hope people feel what I feel — that music still brings us together.”
