Ring in 2024 with Variety‘s list of New Year’s Eve specials to watch, including performances by stars like NewJeans, Ivy Queen, Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Cardi B and Maroon 5.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest”
The most-watched annual New Year’s Eve special, “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” returns with a global twist: K-pop girl group NewJeans will perform their hit song “Super Shy” live in South Korea, the first-ever performance on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” from that country.
Ryan Seacrest will serve as host for his 19th year and will lead the live countdown with pop star Rita Ora in Times Square. Performers in New York include LL Cool J, Megan Thee Stallion, Jelly Roll with Jessie Murph, Sabrina Carpenter and Tyla.
Other “Rockin’ Eve” performers include Post Malone in Las Vegas, Cardi B in Miami, “Queen of Reggaeton” Ivy Queen in Puerto Rico, Ellie Goulding, Doechii, Renée Rapp with Coco Jones, Green Day and Aqua, among others. Comedians Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Matt Friend, Ms. Pat and Sebastian Maniscalco will provide commentary on the past year, while content creator Airrack will attempt to achieve a Guinness World Record for visiting the most fast food restaurants in 24 hours.
Previously, Variety learned that ABC and Dick Clark extended their deal for the New Year’s Eve Show until Jan. 1, 2029. Michael Dempsey and Barry Adelman serve as executive producers for “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” which is produced by Seacrest and Dick Clark Productions. The program will air live on ABC on Dec. 31 beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
CBS’ “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash”
Country music star Morgan Wallen will perform in this five-hour CBS special, as will Old Dominion, Elle King, Thomas Rhett, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Lainey Wilson are Trace Adkins, Grace Bowers, Kane Brown, Jackson Dean, Hardy, Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, Brothers Osborne, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Blake Shelton, Trombone Shorty, Morgan Wallen and Bailey Zimmerman.
“Entertainment Tonight” personality Rachel Smith and singer Elle King will co-host the program live from Nashville. CMT television and radio host Cody Alan and CBS anchor Lonnie Quinn will report from New York City’s Times Square, along with Dustin Lynch, who will also be performing live.
Sandra Restrepo directs for the third year. Robert Deaton and Mary Hilliard Harrington executive produce.
“New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash” will air in two parts, from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET and then other from 10:30 p.m to 1:05 a.m ET. The program will be available to stream both live and on-demand for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers and on-demand the following day for Paramount+ Essential subscribers.
CNN’s “New Year’s Eve Live”
Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen return as hosts of the CNN special, although it’s unclear if they’ll resume the drunken antics that have characterized the special in the past. Last year, the network announced that on-camera drinking would no longer be allowed for correspondents, although Cohen was quick to clarify that he and Cooper were not correspondents, but hosts, and therefore not subject to the limitation.
With Cooper and Cohen the main hosts, CNN correspondents will once again report live from New Year’s Eve celebrations across the country. In one major change, Sara Sidner and Cari Champion will take over Don Lemon’s broadcast spot in Texas.
Musical performers slated to perform include Enrique Iglesias, Maroon 5, the Jonas Brothers, Flo Rida, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker and Rod Stewart. There will also be live interviews with Patti Labelle, Jeremy Renner, Neil Patrick Harris, Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers. The show will stream live on CNN Max.
Fox News Channel’s “Who Can Forget 2023” and “A New Year with Tyrus”
Fox News Channel will host two New Year’s Eve specials this year: “Who Can Forget 2023” and “A New Year with Cyrus.”
The former will feature correspondents from Fox News outlets speaking about 2023’s biggest topics of discussion, such as the “Barbenheimer” cultural phenomenon and ChatGPT. The latter will be hosted by “Gutfeld!” co-host and wrestler Cyrus talking about 2023 with reporter Michele Tafoya, “The Bottom Line” co-host Sean Duffy and comedian Tyler Fischer.
These two one-hour New Year’s Eve specials will run on Fox News Channel on Dec. 31 from 10 p.m. to midnight ET.
Ninja’s NYE
Social media personality Tyler “Ninja” Blevins is set to host his first-ever New Year’s Eve special, “Ninja’s NYE.”
As per the special’s description, “Ninja’s NYE” is “a unique alternative live entertainment option geared toward gaming and digitally native audiences for New Year’s Eve.” Audiences can expect to see Blevins, who is a professional gamer, playing Fortnite and other games like pong and marbles with creator friends TimTheTatman, SypherPK, DrLupo, BasicallyIDoWrk and LEGIQN.
“Ninja’s NYE” will stream on YouTube, Twitch and TikTok starting Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. ET.