BREAKING — Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters to HOST 2025 Christmas in Rockefeller Center
A Rock & Roll Holiday Takeover Set to Redefine NYC’s Most Magical Night
In a move no one saw coming — but somehow feels absolutely perfect — NBC has officially announced that Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters will host the 2025 “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” celebration, marking the first time in the event’s 93-year history that a rock band will serve as full hosts for the iconic tree-lighting spectacular. And if early reports are anything to go by, this year’s show is shaping up to be the most electrifying, unpredictable, and joy-filled holiday broadcast the Big Apple has ever witnessed.
The annual ceremony, which draws thousands to Midtown Manhattan and tens of millions watching from their living rooms, has long been a blend of classic holiday elegance and family-friendly musical moments. But 2025 is different. It’s bolder. Louder. And infused with the kind of unfiltered spirit only Dave Grohl — rock’s unofficial ambassador of good vibes — could bring.
NBC’s announcement hit social media early Monday morning, accompanied by a 20-second teaser featuring the Foo Fighters rehearsing a crunchy, guitar-soaked rendition of “Jingle Bell Rock” inside an empty Rockefeller Plaza. Grohl, mischievous grin and all, looks into the camera and says: “New York… let’s make this Christmas one to remember.”
A FIRST FOR THE EVENT — AND A NATURAL FIT
“Christmas in Rockefeller Center” has hosted big names before — Michael Bublé, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Dolly Parton — but handing over full hosting duties to one of the biggest rock bands on earth marks uncharted territory.
But for NBC executives, it was a no-brainer.
“Dave Grohl represents everything the holidays should feel like: warmth, generosity, community, and pure joy,” said an NBC spokesperson. “He’s beloved across generations. And the Foo Fighters bring a spirit of celebration that’s exactly what we wanted for 2025.”
The choice makes even more sense given the Foo Fighters’ recent run of visibility. After a powerhouse 2024–2025 global tour, a string of award-winning documentaries, and a renewed wave of cultural love following the band’s 30th anniversary, Grohl and company are experiencing one of the biggest resurgences in their history.
WHAT TO EXPECT: CLASSICS, COLLABS & CHAOS (THE GOOD KIND)
While details of the full lineup are still emerging, insiders say viewers should brace for:
⭐ Multiple Performances by Foo Fighters
Rumor has it they’ll open the show with a roaring holiday medley arranged specifically for the Rockefeller broadcast — blending holiday tradition with the band’s signature power-chord punch.
Expect stripped-down acoustic moments too, reminiscent of their Skin and Bones era.
⭐ A Huge All-Star Finale
NBC is reportedly building a massive multi-artist performance to close the night, with Grohl serving as ringmaster. Names being whispered behind the scenes include Miley Cyrus, Brandi Carlile, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, and even a possible appearance from Paul McCartney — a longtime friend of the band.
Comedy & Chaos, Grohl Style
Producers say Grohl will be heavily involved in skits, crowd interactions, and spontaneous ad-lib segments.
“He told us, ‘Let’s have fun with it.’ And when Dave Grohl says that, you know something magical — and slightly wild — is coming,” one staffer joked.
THE TREE, THE TRADITION, THE ROCK ’N’ ROLL TWIST
This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, a spectacular 84-foot Norway spruce from upstate New York, will be illuminated with more than 50,000 LED lights — but for the first time, the ceremonial plug-in will be performed by a full band.
In classic Foo Fighters fashion, reports say they plan to flip the switch using a custom-built red-and-green guitar pedal linked to the lighting system. The moment the pedal is hit, the tree will explode into color as the band launches into a roaring holiday anthem.
“You’ve never seen a tree lighting like this,” one producer said. “It’s going to be pure rock-and-roll magic.”
DAVE GROHL: HOLIDAY ICON?
It may surprise some — but Dave Grohl has a long history with the holidays.
Fans still share clips of his 2007 Christmas drum performance with Jimmy Kimmel, his surprise visit to children’s hospitals in L.A., and the now-famous photo of him dressed as Santa while grilling food for firefighters on Christmas Eve. The man loves December almost as much as he loves guitars.
“Christmas is about community, lifting people up, and playing music loud enough that your neighbors hear it,” Grohl joked in a recent interview. “So yeah — this feels right.”
A NIGHT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Despite the rock-star presence, NBC emphasizes that the broadcast will retain all the warmth, sentiment, and family-friendly energy that have made it a beloved December tradition since 1933.
The Foo Fighters will simply add a fresh layer — one that appeals to parents, teens, kids, and lifelong fans alike.
Expect humor. Expect heart. Expect maybe a Santa hat or two on the drum kit.
THE SHOW GOES LIVE DECEMBER 3, 2025
The 2025 “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” broadcast will air live on NBC and Peacock at 8/7c. Crowds are expected to be enormous, with New York City already preparing for one of the largest holiday turnouts in years.
Hotels around Midtown have begun reporting early bookings from fans traveling in to witness the spectacle firsthand.
“A lot of people come every year,” said a hotel manager near Times Square. “But this time? This is different. The Foo Fighters have people flying in from everywhere.”
A HOLIDAY MOMENT FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS
With Dave Grohl at the helm, a legendary band onstage, and a production team ready to push the boundaries of holiday television, 2025 is shaping up to deliver the most unforgettable Rockefeller Christmas celebration in living memory.
Prepare for lights. For laughter. For guitars. For surprises.
And most of all — prepare for a holiday night filled with the kind of joy only live music can deliver.
This December, New York City will ring not just with jingle bells…
but with the unmistakable thunder of Foo Fighters energy.
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