The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, an icon of New York City's holiday season, lights up Wednesday night in a festive ceremony in midtown Manhattan.

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

Country music star Reba McEntire is on hosting duty for 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, are among the performers.

The 75-foot (23-meter) Norway spruce was cut down at a home in the Albany suburbs, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of Manhattan.

Homeowner Judy Russ said the family donated it i

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