The Outlets at Anthem will light the tallest Christmas tree in the nation on Saturday, November 19 with their annual free gala event from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Standing at 114 feet, the tallest tree harvested from California will be decorated with three miles of LED lights, more than 6,000 ornaments and bows and a 3-foot-tall copper star tree topper hand wrought by Outlets staff. But the event topper, the headlining star of the evening, performing a selection of her hits and new songs, will be Sedona-native Michelle Branch.

Branch, in town this weekend to kick-off the tree lighting as well as her own Thanksgiving holiday, chats with us about her hometown holiday fun and the not-s0-fun break up of her Grammy and CMA nominated duo, The Wreckers and more after the jump:

We chatted with the endearing Branch yesterday who’s excited to be back in Arizona, on her way home for Thanksgiving. “We spend Thanksgiving in Arizona and Christmas with my husband’s family in Los Angeles,” said the Grammy-winning singer songwriter. It’s been awhile since we’ve heard a full album from Branch since splitting with her former partner of The Wreckers in 2008. “We didn’t have any expectations,” Branch said of The Wreckers. “We just had fun and made a record that blew up.” Branch described the breakup to DLT as “like a divorce” and “the hardest conversation” she ever had. But as a solo artist once again, Branch moved on to release a six-track extended play album titled Everything Comes and Goes of what included some unfinished Wreckers material in 2010.

With all her experience as a solo artist and duo, Branch said she finally feels more confidence in herself, no longer yearning to prove herself to others, and is comfortable making records that she likes (and obviously her fans do too!). We assume her Grammy nods and win with superstar Santana have helped boost her confidence as well.

So back in Arizona for the holiday this weekend, we asked Branch what’s on her to-d0 and to-eat list. She said she’ll visit Tee-Pee Mexican Food in Phoenix for an authentic cheese crisp. Branch laughingly said she can’t find a proper cheese crisp anywhere else! And back in her hometown, she plans to stop in to the Sedona Memories sandwich shop for a “fantastic sandwich.” Finally, Branch mentioned her family-focused Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete for the one-time wannabe pastry chef without a friendly holiday baking competition, where the singer will show off her dessert-making skills for her family.

Branch’s latest solo album, which the mother of one calls her latest “baby,” West Coast Time is set to be released sometime in 2012.

See Michelle Branch live this Saturday at the family friendly event with an opening performance by Shane Harper of The Disney Channel’s “Good Luck Charlie,” performing songs from his recently released self-titled debut album. Also performing, Harlem Globetrotter Slick Willie Shaw (#40) will demo some fancy basketball-handling tricks, and of course, the 7:00 p.m. tree lighting with Santa Claus and snow fall in the shopping center’s center court.

The Outlets at Anthem are located just off the I-17 at Anthem Way, exit 229. For more information, visit www.outletsanthem.com or call (623) 465-9500.

Images courtesy of Artists’. Tree image via Travel&Leisure.

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