NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center special airs Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. ET and all the action can be seen online.

The network will celebrate the lighting of the world's most famous Christmas tree with a live broadcast from Rockefeller Center in New York City from 8-9 p.m. ET. Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Natalie Morales will co-host.

The ceremony will include performances by Leona Lewis, Ashanti, Audra McDonald, Alauren Alaina, Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds, Goo Goo Dolls, Ariana Grande, Jewel and The Rockettes. The actual tree lighting will take place at 8:55 p.m.

Watch the live action online here

After the lighting ceremony, the tree will remain lit between 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and for all 24 hours on Christmas Day. The last chance to view the Norway Spruce will be Jan. 7, 2014 at 11 p.m. The tree will then be milled into lumber that will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.

The 81st annual holiday event will feature a 76-foot Norway Spruce that is 47 feet in diameter and weighs approximately 12 tons. The tree is estimated to be about 75 years old. More than 45,000 energy-efficient multi-colored LED lights will be strung to decorate the tree, topped with a 9 ½ foot wide LED-lit Swarovski crystal.

Watch the Christmas lighting online here.

For the second time in six years, the city of Shelton, Conn., supplied the tree to Rockefeller Center for the holiday display. The annual lighting ceremony is always a star-studded event and performers who have taken the stage in past years include Shakira, Barry Manilow and Alicia Keys.