EVENTS: In the ‘Jingle Ball’ Spirit

The iHeartRadio HOT 99.5 Jingle Ball 2023 at Capital One Arena

by Dara Klatt

Throngs of music fans descended on Monday into downtown D.C. at the Capitol One Arena to celebrate the season’s biggest annual holiday music event with some of today’s biggest artists including OneRepublic, Jelly Roll, Big Time Rush, Doechii, Flo Rida, Melanie Martinez, David Kushner, NCT DREAM and (G)I-DLE. With light-up reindeer antlers glowing throughout the stadium, along with Christmas sweaters, sequined outfits and festive accessories, thousands of audience members from the floor to the second balcony danced, sang, and squealed with holiday glee all night long.

(G)I-DLE, the South Korean girl group, kicked off the show with high-energy choreography and vocals, performing the songs “Tomboy,” “I Want That,” “Queen Card,” and more.

(G)I-DLE at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2023. Photo by Adrianna Casiano.

Moody soul-pop singer David Kushner debuted a teaser of his new song, “Skin and Bones” and wrapped his set with his viral ballad “Daylight.”

David Kushner at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2023. Photo by Adrianna Casiano.

The arty folk and electronica singer Melanie Martinez, dressed as her cosmic alter ego Cry Baby, performed “Void,”  “Battle of the Larynx” and “Evil.” Big Time Rush, the pop music boy band formed back in 2009, worked the crowd with their throwbacks, “Windows Down,” “Music Sounds Better,” “Learn to Love” and “Boyfriend,” plus their new song “Weekends.”

Big Time Rush performs at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2023. Photo by Adrianna Casiano.

OneRepublic rocked the stage with classic songs “Secrets,” “I Ain’t Worried” from “Top Gun: Maverick” fame, and “Apologize,” plus a medley of hits written by Ryan Tedder, including Beyonce’s “Halo.”

ONEREPUBLIC’s lead vocalist Ryan Tedder at iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2023. Photo by Adrianna Casiano.

The South Korean boy band NCT Dream had the crowd erupting with giddy screams as they took the stage to sing “Broken Melodies,” “Hot Sauce,” “Beatbox” and more.

NCT at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2023. Photo by Adrianna Casiano.

Rapper Flo Rida brought the beats with renditions of his hits “Right Round,” “Low,” “Club Can’t Handle Me.”

Flo Rida at the Hot 99.5 Jingle Ball. Photo by Adrianna Casiano.

iHeartRadio Jingle Ball tour stops will be part of an ABC network special, airing Dec. 21 at (8:00-10:00 p.m. EST/PST) and on demand and on Hulu the following day.

 

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