# Ariana Grande, Robert De Niro, and Ben Stiller Perform Christmas Carol The Focker-in-Law cast joins Jimmy Fallon for a special Sunday night musical performance. - **Source:** [Billboard](https://www.billboard.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [entertainment](https://brifing.si/c/entertainment) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/2011460f-e16a-4425-aa0c-ea90e9baf0aa ## Surprise Musical Collaboration Ariana Grande, Robert De Niro, and Ben Stiller appeared together on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The trio performed a rendition of the traditional song O Christmas Tree. This segment serves as a festive preview ahead of the show's special Sunday night broadcast scheduled for November 8 at 11:35 p.m. ET. ## Promoting Focker-in-Law Release The stars are currently engaged in a promotional cycle for their upcoming film, Focker-in-Law. The movie is the latest installment in the Meet the Parents franchise and is set for a theatrical release on November 25. Grande plays Olivia Jones, the partner of Henry Focker, portrayed by actor Skyler Gisondo. ## Special Sunday Night Programming This episode is part of a series of four special broadcasts airing after NBC's Sunday Night Football. The first special aired on September 27 featuring Sylvester Stallone and Luke Bryan. Tonight's episode follows the Buccaneers versus Bears game, highlighting the network's strategy to leverage sports viewership for late-night entertainment show promotion. ## Vocal Performance Dynamics Ariana Grande leads the vocal performance, showcasing her signature range during the carol. Ben Stiller participates with a valiant effort, while Robert De Niro's contribution remains a highlight for viewers to discover in the clip. The audience responded with applause as the stars engaged in this lighthearted, festive musical surprise. ## Full Episode Guest Lineup Beyond the caroling trio, the November 8 episode features rapper Lil Baby as the musical guest. The stars will also participate in a conversation with Jimmy Fallon throughout the broadcast. This combination of film promotion and musical performance aims to capture a broad audience following the conclusion of the NFL game. ## Future Special Episodes Scheduled The Tonight Show will continue its post-football special series on November 15. That episode is slated to feature Jennifer Lopez and Anthony Mackie, with a musical performance by Quavo. A final scheduled special broadcast is currently set for January 10, though the guest list for that specific date remains to be announced. ## Rockefeller Center Tree Arrival The Tonight Show episode coincides with the arrival of the 2026 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Jimmy Fallon uses the broadcast to celebrate this seasonal event alongside his guests. The inclusion of the tree arrival adds a thematic layer to the show, aligning with the festive nature of the caroling performance segment. ## Franchise Expansion Context The Focker-in-Law film represents a significant expansion of the long-running Meet the Parents franchise. By integrating new cast members like Grande alongside veterans De Niro and Stiller, the production seeks to bridge generational gaps in the audience. This Tonight Show appearance is a key component of their broader marketing strategy. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/ariana-grande-o-christmas-tree-robert-de-niro-ben-stiller-1236377155/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._