Sheryl Crow, Common and Ray LaMontagne to Perform at National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 3rd

The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation announced today that Sheryl Crow, Common and Ray LaMontagne will perform at the 2009 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The annual holiday event will be streamed live at www.thenationaltree.org on Dec. 3rd at 5:00 EST/2:00 PST, and will be broadcast nationwide beginning Dec. 4th, on public broadcasting stations in partnership with WETA, Washington, D.C.’s flagship public broadcasting station (check local listings).

Sheryl Crow is a nine-time Grammy Award winning, multi-platinum singer-song writer. Her many other honors include three American Music Awards, a People’s Choice Award, and a spot on VH1′s “100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll.”

Common is a Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum selling recording artist who has collaborated with hip-hop producers Kanye West, Will.i.am, Pharell and many more. Common has also built a career as an entrepreneur, film actor and author of children’s books.

Ray LaMontagne is a singer and songwriter, whose third and most recent album, “Gossip in the Grain” debuted at number three on the Billboard Charts. Rolling Stone magazine has described his voice as “full of the warm yearning of a young Van Morrison.”

Additional performers will be announced next week.

The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is presented by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service. Underwriters Laboratories is the premier sponsor of the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2009. Alex Coletti Productions will produce the ceremony. Additional support comes from General Electric, Guest Services Inc., Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Washington, D.C., Hudler Carolina Tree Farms, Santa’s Best, the W Hotel Washington, and the Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C.

For more information visit www.thenationaltree.org.

For Broadcast Inquiries please contact Suzanne Masri, WETA, (703) 998-2686 smasri@weta.org