Ariana Grande lit up the stage as New York City prepared to light the iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on Wednesday night.

The 20-year-old artist provided a respite from the traditional holiday songs as she performed her new single, Love Is Everything. Backed by a chorus clad in festive winter jackets, Grande looked the picture of December.

Now in its 81st year, the yearly lighting of the tree has become a nationally televised event. This year's conifer comes from the Vargoshe family of Shelton, Conn. At 76 feet tall, the 75-year-old Norway Spruce weighs in at 12 tons and has a 47-foot diameter, according to Today.

Bedecked with 45,000 multi-colored LED lights, the towering spruce is capped off with a 9.5-foot Swarovski crystal star. With 3,000 feet of wire, the star powers 720 energy-efficient LED lights that are reflected by its 25,000 crystals, NBC reports.

The ceremony took place from 7 to 9 p.m. ET and could be seen on television from 8 to 9 p.m. during the NBC Christmas in Rockefeller Center special. Artists from across the genres joined in on the celebration and viewers were be able to see performances from the Goo Goo Dolls, Mary J. Blige, and Mariah Carey.

Tags: Ariana Grande