It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas — and this year, it’s bringing a whole lot more grit, guitars, and whiskey than jingle bells.

NBC has officially confirmed that Kid Rock and Jelly Roll will co-host the 2025 “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” celebration, marking one of the most unexpected and talked-about collaborations in holiday television history.

The announcement alone has already sent shockwaves across both the country music and rock worlds — and left traditionalists clutching their eggnog.

Producers are calling it “the boldest, most badass Christmas special in decades.” Fans are calling it something else entirely: a miracle they didn’t know they needed.

A New Kind of Christmas Classic

Set beneath the glittering Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, shimmering with over 50,000 golden lights, the event will see Kid Rock and Jelly Roll take the stage together for the first time — not just as performers, but as co-hosts.

It’s a pairing that feels both wild and perfectly inevitable.

Kid Rock, the Detroit-born outlaw known for his rebellious mix of rock, rap, and country, has long embodied the unapologetic spirit of blue-collar America. Jelly Roll, the Nashville singer-songwriter who’s redefined redemption through his raw, emotional storytelling, has become one of country music’s most relatable new icons.

Together, they’ll blend rebellion and redemption into a Christmas celebration that feels less like a TV special and more like a revival for the soul.

“New York in December is pure grit,” Kid Rock told NBC. “And getting to throw down with Jelly — that’s what Christmas is really about. Real talk, cold beer, and raising hell for the right reasons.”

The Spirit of Redemption Meets the Sound of Freedom

Both artists have walked their share of hard roads — and both have turned pain into purpose.

Kid Rock’s Foundation, launched over a decade ago, supports veterans, first responders, and families hit hardest by economic hardship. Jelly Roll, a former inmate turned Grammy-winning artist, has become one of the most powerful advocates for addiction recovery and second chances, using his fame to fund youth programs and mental health initiatives across the South.

Their decision to co-host the Rockefeller special isn’t just about entertainment — it’s about rewriting what the season stands for.

“Hope doesn’t always wear a suit and tie,” Jelly Roll said in a recent interview. “Sometimes it’s got tattoos, a busted guitar, and a story to tell. That’s Christmas to me — when people who’ve fallen down still stand up to give.”

NBC insiders say this year’s program will spotlight real stories of redemption from across America: a Detroit mechanic who feeds the homeless every December, a group of Nashville ex-cons who started a community bakery, and a Louisiana single mom who built a toy drive from her garage.

“These aren’t just stories,” said executive producer Angela Russo. “They’re proof that grace is louder than despair — and that this year’s Christmas special is about faith in all its messy, human beauty.”

From Detroit to Nashville — and Straight Into Rockefeller History

For decades, “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” has been one of America’s most beloved holiday broadcasts, featuring legends from Bing Crosby to Mariah Carey.

But this year’s show promises something entirely different — a collision of tradition and rebellion.

The performance lineup (kept mostly secret) will reportedly include a mix of holiday classics and original songs, with Kid Rock and Jelly Roll performing a brand-new duet titled “Second Chances (Under the Tree).”

Leaked rehearsal details describe the song as “a blues-driven prayer wrapped in distortion and grit,” with lyrics that pay tribute to the everyday heroes who “make miracles with nothing but faith and a paycheck away from broke.”

Fans can also expect collaborations with guest artists across genres — country legends, gospel choirs, and even a few rock icons from Kid Rock’s early touring days.

“We’re bringing everyone together,” said Jelly Roll. “Because Christmas doesn’t belong to one kind of person. It belongs to everybody who’s still fighting to make it to next year.”

A Christmas Party With Purpose

Behind the spectacle, NBC has confirmed that this year’s broadcast will serve a larger mission.

A portion of all proceeds and advertising revenue will go directly to the Hope Over Hype Fund, a new joint initiative by the Kid Rock Foundation and Jelly Roll’s Impact Program, aimed at supporting youth reentry programs, food banks, and veterans’ housing projects across the U.S.

NBC Entertainment Chair Dana Walden described it as “a Christmas show that doesn’t just entertain — it heals.”

“We wanted to create something that feels both rebellious and redemptive,” Walden said. “When you put Kid Rock and Jelly Roll on the same stage, you get authenticity — and this country is hungry for that.”

The Visual Spectacle: Lights, Legacy, and Loud Guitars

Visually, Christmas in Rockefeller Center 2025 will look unlike anything in its long-running history.

Producers have hinted at custom lighting sequences synchronized with live guitar solos, pyrotechnic snowfall, and even a “sky projection” finale where lyrics and imagery will illuminate the New York skyline in real time.

“It’s going to be part concert, part confessional, part Christmas miracle,” said lead stage designer Matthew Cole, who previously worked on the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

The night will also feature performances from Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, and Post Malone, alongside gospel and military choirs.

But the emotional core of the night will belong to the hosts — two men who have lived their songs and earned their redemption the hard way.

A Holiday America Can Believe In Again

As the December 3rd broadcast approaches, anticipation is skyrocketing. Social media has already dubbed the event “Christmas for the People”, with fans praising NBC for “finally putting real Americans at the mic.”

“This isn’t a Hallmark Christmas,” one viral tweet read. “It’s a Kid Rock Christmas — loud, messy, and real.”

Industry analysts predict record-breaking viewership for NBC, driven by the hosts’ crossover appeal and the country’s hunger for authenticity.

And while the combination of tattoos, twang, and tinsel might seem unconventional, it’s exactly what makes this year’s show so uniquely American.

When the lights go up in Rockefeller Plaza — and two outlaws-turned-icons strum beneath a 90-foot Norway spruce — millions will be watching. Not just for the spectacle, but for the soul behind it.

“Christmas isn’t about being perfect,” Kid Rock said during rehearsals. “It’s about being real — and still finding a way to love, even when life’s knocked you down.”

And in that moment — beneath 50,000 golden lights, guitars wailing, and snow drifting across the city that never sleeps — the true spirit of Christmas might just sound a little louder than ever before.

“Christmas in Rockefeller Center” airs live Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.