NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: With glittering performances by Chloe Bailey, Cher, Kelly Clarkson, Barry Manilow, and many more, the Rockefeller tree lighting in New York City on Tuesday, November 29, 2023, brought joy to the Christmas season.
Sporting her Santa-inspired attire, Chloe Bailey performed a breathy rendition of the Wham holiday song 'Last Christmas' at the Rockefeller tree lighting event, however, social media users were not so pleased with her overtly sensual red outfit.
Meanwhile, except for the adored holiday legend Kelly Clarkson, viewers of the 91st annual Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting criticized this year's singers, accusing them all of "lip-syncing" while performing.
Chloe Bailey gives 'Santa Baby' vibes
This year, hundreds of people braved the bitter cold to line the streets of New York City in the hopes of catching sight of the gifted performers who will take the stage to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season.
This year's festival featured 14 outstanding performers, ranging from emerging stars to legendary musicians, who illuminated the stage with their exceptional talent.
Bailey looked like a 'Santa Baby' in her scaled-down Santa Claus costume as she performed Wham's 'Last Christmas' in true holiday style.
The 'Have Mercy' singer transformed the huge red-and-white ensemble into a little red gown adorned with white fur accents, including hoop earrings.
Social media users fume over Chloe Bailey's sensual red attire
Instead of praising Bailey's 'Last Christmas' rendition at the Rockefeller tree lighting event, social media users took to X (formerly Twitter) to bash the singer for her minimal sexy attire at the supposed "family show".
One such user condemned the singer and wrote, "Why must we see @ChloeBailey a** on the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lightening show?!?!? This is supposed to be a family show!"
A second user agreed and added, "Chloe and her group of bumping and Grinding girls need to take classes with the Rockettes and learn how to dance gracefully for a family program."
"Chloe Bailey said Omg im performing at the Rockefeller Center for Christmas. Let me wear this bondage Mrs Claus costume," mocked a third user.
Sneak peek at Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting 2023
The enormous and iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been lit, ushering in the holiday season from New York to all around the world after 91 years of tradition.
There are over 50,000 lights on the 80-foot Norwegian spruce, covered with roughly 5 miles of cable. The Christmas show concluded with a 3D Swarovski star covered in 30 million crystals twinkling in the darkness.
According to NBC News, the Rockettes made their way across the neighborhood to participate in the lighting of the Christmas tree and to perform a piece from their well-known 'Christmas Spectacular'. For the performance, they were dressed in costumes reminiscent of candy canes.
The Radio City Rockettes, Adam Blackstone, Rob Thomas, Liz Gillies, David Foster, Darlene Love, Katharine McPhee, Seth MacFarlane, Manuel Turizo, Carly Pearce, and Keke Palmer performed along with Clarkson, Cher, Bailey, and Manilow.
Barry Manilow took over Mariah Carey's role as the holiday star at the tree lighting ceremony by singing her beloved song 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'.
Cher's backup dancers appeared more prepared to ring in the New Year than decorate the Christmas tree, dressed in glistening silver skirts and matching knee-high boots.
Keke Palmer reappeared with a new outfit for her second performance. She sang the beloved song from 1945, 'The Christmas Song', wearing a traditional white gown with beads.
Host Kelly Clarkson was having a great time while Cher sang her new Christmas single titled 'DJ Play a Christmas Song'.
Katharine McPhee sang a version of 'Santa Baby', with her husband David Foster providing piano accompaniment.
