Gwen Stefani’s fans are telling Mariah Carey to “look out” as they dub her the new “Queen of Christmas” after her performance at NBC’s 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting celebration.

On Wednesday, December 3, the news channel marked the start of the holiday season with several festive performances, including one from host Reba McEntire, before lighting a 75-foot Norway spruce from East Greenbush, New York, dressed in 50,000 multicolored lights and a 900-pound Swarovski star.

Halfway through the special’s first hour, the 56-year-old Voice judge took to the stage to perform her new Christmas song, Hot Cocoa, from the 2025 deluxe edition of her fourth studio album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas. The song was released on November 14, 2025.

Viewers at home were so impressed with Stefani’s performance that they took to X, formerly Twitter, to praise her.

One person even dubbed her the new “Queen of Christmas,” a title that Mariah Carey has long held with her Christmas hit, All I Want for Christmas Is You.

Gwen Stefani wowed viewers of NBC’s Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting special (Image: NBC)

The fan wrote, “Gwen Stefani is the new ‘Queen of Christmas.’ Look out, Mariah!!!” Another added, “Gwen Stefani is working hard this Christmas.”

A third praised, “Gwen Stefani is totally a vision—beautiful, sparkling, enchanting and serving vocals while performing her new Christmas song ‘HOT COCOA’ at the 2026 Rockefeller Center tree lighting in NYC.”

A fourth said, “Gwen Stefani still looks great!” as a fifth complimented the singer, “Gwen Stefani is 56 years sexy.”

Yet another commented, “Love this song, Gwen Stefani.” However, not everyone found the festive tune catchy.

One bashed, “This new gwen stefani christmas song …. wrap it up baby.”

Another criticized, “Gwen stefani used to be sooooo cool. i hate when cool girls get a loser boring boyfriend / husband and get their whole personality zapped.”

Gwen Stefani sang Hot Cocoa during NBC’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony (Image: NBC)

Along with McEntire and Stefani, Marc Anthony, Kristin Chenoweth, Brad Paisley, Michael Bublé, and the Radio City Rockettes sang seasonal hits from Rockefeller Center’s ice skating rink in front of the Prometheus statue.

Country star Brad Paisley belted out A Marshmallow World, a cover part of his recently released holiday album.

The Christmas hit was previously sung by holiday legends Bing Crosby and Dean Martin.

The six members of the iconic R&B group New Edition sang It’s Christmas (All Over The World), sharing the magic of Santa’s journey delivering gifts on Christmas Eve.

Elsewhere in the special, Olympic speedskater Kristen Santos-Griswold and Paralympic snowboarders Noah Elliott and Brenna Huckaby made an appearance at the tree lighting ceremony.

They’re set to compete for Team USA at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy, in February and March.

Earlier in the celebration, Marc Anthony dazzled with a holiday classic — Feliz Navidad.