A Holiday Homecoming in Red Bank as Darlene Love Brings Her Legendary Christmas Show to the Jersey Shore

The arrival of the holiday season in New Jersey takes on added meaning this December when Darlene Love returns to Red Bank with her celebrated concert event, Love for the Holidays. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee will light up the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Basie Center Campus on Friday, December 19, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the performance beginning promptly at 7:30 p.m. For generations of music fans, this annual tour has become as essential to the season as twinkling lights and winter classics on the radio.

Few voices are as deeply woven into the fabric of American Christmas music as Love’s. Her unmistakable performances on Phil Spector’s famed holiday recordings helped define the sound of the season, with songs like “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” “White Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Marshmallow World” remaining staples decade after decade. Those recordings continue to resonate not simply as nostalgia, but as living, breathing works that still feel vital each December.

Love’s influence extends far beyond the studio. Her voice has been a familiar presence in countless films, television shows, and commercials, becoming synonymous with warmth, celebration, and emotional connection. From major motion pictures to classic holiday broadcasts, her sound has quietly underscored some of the most memorable moments in pop culture, cementing her status as one of the most recognizable vocalists of her era.

Her journey began in the early 1960s, emerging from the famed “Wall of Sound” sessions as one of the era’s most powerful singers. That early work quickly led to collaborations with a remarkable range of artists, including Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, and Bruce Springsteen. Over time, her career evolved into something rare: a voice that bridges generations while remaining instantly identifiable. Accolades followed naturally, including recognition by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest singers of all time, a distinction widely echoed by fans and fellow musicians alike.

Holiday performances have become a defining chapter of Love’s career. For nearly three decades, she delivered a show-stopping rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” on The Late Show with David Letterman, turning the appearance into one of late night television’s most beloved traditions. Letterman famously described her voice as the sound of Christmas itself, a sentiment that has only grown stronger over time. More recently, her high-profile appearances alongside artists such as Cher, Steven Van Zandt, and Paul Shaffer have reaffirmed her enduring relevance and star power.

Now in her mid-80s, Love continues to tour with remarkable vitality, bringing both joy and authenticity to every performance. Her upcoming New Jersey stop offers audiences a rare chance to experience a living legend in an intimate, acoustically rich setting. The Red Bank engagement also reinforces the state’s ongoing role as a cornerstone of live performance and seasonal celebrations within the broader New Jersey music scene, a tradition highlighted year-round across Explore New Jersey’s coverage of live music and cultural events.

Beyond the stage, Love’s story is still unfolding. She has recently completed filming on a new docuseries slated for release in 2026, promising an in-depth look at her extraordinary life, career, and influence. It is yet another reminder that her impact reaches far beyond a single season, even as her holiday concerts remain a cherished annual ritual.

As Love for the Holidays arrives in Red Bank, audiences can expect more than a concert. What unfolds is a shared celebration of memory, music, and the unmistakable power of a voice that continues to define the season for millions.