Patti LaBelle Performs at the 2021 National Christmas Tree Lighting

This photograph of American singer and actress Patti LaBelle performing at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse was taken by Thomas Goertel on December 2, 2021. LaBelle performed a soulful rendition of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," accompanied by the Howard Gospel Choir and the United States Army Band Downrange. The event was hosted by rapper and actor LL Cool J and also featured performances of holiday classics by Billy Porter, Chris Stapleton, H.E.R., Juanes, Keb Mo, Kristin Chenoweth, and Maren Morris. The lighting of the National Christmas Tree is a cherished holiday tradition in Washington, D.C. When President Calvin Coolidge lit the first tree in 1923, the celebration attracted more than 6,000 spectators. The opening ceremony and nightly holiday concerts have annually drawn hundreds of attendees.