Darlene Love would like it known that she is available at the holiday season to perform “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” under certain conditions.

“It’s still a Christmas song till Jan. 1,” said Ms. Love, the rock, soul and gospel singer, as she sat in a Midtown Manhattan bistro on Thursday afternoon.

But she has vowed not to sing it for any other TV talk-show hosts after David Letterman, the man who gave her an on-air platform to perform it for nearly 30 years.

“People say, ‘He can’t demand that,’” Ms. Love explained, sweeping back her curly platinum hair. “I say, ‘He’s not demanding.’ I made a point myself, and I want to do it just for David.”

Television is rich with year-end traditions, whether it’s Rudolph’s resplendent nose or Charlie Brown’s defeated Christmas tree. But now one of these enduring institutions is about to fade out like so many Yule logs.

A few hours after this interview, Ms. Love, 73, stepped onto the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater and sang this signature song on Mr. Letterman’s “Late Show” for the final time….

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