It Was a Famous Upstate New York Musician Who Donated the Rockefeller Christmas Tree
“Take a look at my Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree. It's the only one I've got (ba ba da da)....”
No, that's not how the lyrics to the Gym Class Heroes song “Cupid's Chokehold” go but that's where our brain went as soon as we heard the news about who donated the 2023 Christmas Tree to Rockefeller Center in New York City.
Most people know that this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree hails from Vestal, New York, and was donated by the McGinley family. Still, few people realize that the tree that now stands in Rockefeller Center once graced the yard of Gym Class Heroes drummer, Matt McGinley and his wife, Jackie.
If the name “Matt McGinley” rolled through your brain when you first heard the name of the family who donated this year's tree and you wondered if it was THE Matt McGinley from Gym Class Heroes, yes it is!
Matt and his wife Jackie own the Vestal home where one of the most beautiful Christmas Trees we've seen at Rockefeller Center in recent years was sourced. Matt and Jackie generously donated the stunning 80-foot-tall Christmas tree to Rockefeller Center Plaza in New York City.
The magnificent Norway Spruce, weighing approximately 12 tons, was carefully selected from the couple's property in Vestal. Since it arrived in New York City on November 11, the tree has been on the lips of the world because of its sheer beauty.
Beyond being a visually stunning sight, this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree holds special significance to Gym Class Heroes fans, known for their hit songs like "Cupid's Chokehold" and "Stereo Hearts" which features Adam Levine from Maroon 5, as the group has recently reunited after a four-year hiatus.
Originally hailing from Geneva, New York, Gym Class Heroes is a rap-rock band that came together in 1997 when Travie McCoy crossed paths with drummer Matt McGinley during their high school gym class. The group has been nominated for several Teen Choice and MTV Video Music Awards, winning “Best New Artist” at the 2007 VMAs.
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Gallery Credit: Erin Joslyn
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