Kylie Minogue the snow queen performs in New York as the Rockefeller Center is transformed into a winter wonderland

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Festive : Kylie Minogue wore a huge white coat and leather knee high boots for the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center in New York

New York's Rockefeller Center looked like a true winter wonderland, and pop star Kylie Mingoue fitted right in with her snow queen inspired outfit.

The singer was among a host of stars who turned out for the annual lighting of the Christmas Christmas tree in the Big Apple.

Mariah Carey, Jessica Simpson, Sheryl Crow, Katherine Jenkins, and Susan Boyle all performed at the event.

Holiday spirit: The singer performed Santa Baby at the ceremony, which was watched by 50,000 people live in New York City

Mariah Carey kicked off the show singing Oh Santa while Kylie performed Santa Baby and Let It Snow in front of more than 50,000 people who watched the event live.

Jessica Simpson sang I'll Be Home For Christmas and Britain's Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle performed a haunting version of Away In A Manger backed by a children's choir.

Classical singer Katherine Jenkins appeared to put glamour ahead of warmth, choosing a sleeveless black satin frock while the other performers wrapped up warm.

Christmas carols: Sheryl Crow and Jessica Simpson were among the performers

Snow angel: Mother-to-be Mariah Carey, who famously adores the Christmas season, belted out Oh Santa

Sheryl Crow, Boyz II Men and Josh Grobin also kept the crowds entertained at the ceremony.

Philippines singer Charice, who recently guest starred in Glee, performed uptempo Jingle Bell Rock.

The 12-ton, 74-foot Norway Spruce is illuminated by 30,000 environmentally-friendly LED lights strung together using five miles of wire, and topped with a Swarovski crystal star.

Haunting: Britain's Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle performed Away In A Manger with the backing of a children's choir

Songbird: Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins chose glamour over warmth in a sleeveless black dress

Gleeful: Charice, who recently starred in Glee, sang the Jingle Bell Rock

This year's tree, which is about 75 years old, came from the yard of Peter Acton, a New York City firefighter and September 11th first responder.

'Over the years, people would say to us that the tree belonged at Rockefeller Center, but we never really paid much attention,' said Acton, who lives in Mahopac, New York, about 50 miles north of New York City.

'Even now, my wife is disbelieving that our tree is really going to be this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.'

High note: Kylie met up with fellow singer Jessica Simpson backstage

Acton was one of the firefighters first dispatched to downtown Manhattan on the morning two hijacked jets struck the World Trade Center.

The tree will remain lit from 5.30am to 11.30pm, through early January. It will stay lit for 24 hours on Christmas Day.

Thousands of people traditionally attend the annual tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan, where police issued a gridlock alert, and millions of other people watch the event on NBC television.