New Year's Eve specials to watch, from 'Nashville's Big Bash' to Miley Cyrus' Miami party – USA TODAY
As 2021 gives way to 2022, it’s starting to look like 2020 all over again.
The surging omicron COVID-19 variant is taking its toll on New Year’s Eve celebrations around the country, with major events canceled from Los Angeles to Miami.
Even with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio allowing a scaled-back Times Square celebration, Fox has canceled its planned offering, “New Year’s Eve Toast & Roast” hosted by Ken Jeong and Joel McHale last week.
LL Cool J pulled out of his performance in “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” Dec. 29 after testing positive for COVID-19.
“I know it’s disappointing to the millions of fans but my test came back positive for COVID, which means I’ll no longer be able to perform as scheduled at NYRE, ” LL Cool J said in a statement obtained by USA TODAY. “We were ready and I was really looking forward to ringing in 2022 in my hometown in a special way, but for now I wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year. The best is yet to come!“
Here are the major televised events still rolling on New Year’s Eve.
Ryan Seacrestis ready for any emergency hosting ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ 50th-anniversary show
New Year’s Eve plans canceled? Here are some fun ways to celebrate the holiday at home
Where to watch: ABC 8 p.m. EST/PST
The celebration: For the 17th time, Seacrest hosts the top-rated, gold-standard New Year’s Eve show, celebrating its 50th year. Seacrest will share duties with co-host Liza Koshy in Times Square along with Ciara in Los Angeles and Billy Porter in New Orleans. Roselyn Sánchez will join in as co-host live from Puerto Rico, along with performer Daddy Yankee, for the first-ever Spanish-language countdown.
Musical guests include: Journey; AJR with Daisy the Great, Avril Lavigne and Travis Barker (in Los Angeles).
Where to watch: NBC 10:30 p.m. EST/7:30 PST, streaming on the Peacock app.
The celebration: Cyrus and “Saturday Night Live” star Pete Davidson will give a youthful twist to the celebration from Miami, executive produced by “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels.
Musical guests include: Cyrus (duh), Brandi Carlile, Billie Joe Armstrong, Saweetie, Anitta, Jack Harlow, 24kGoldn, Kitty Ca$h.
How to watch: CBS and streaming on Paramount+ from 8 p.m. EST/PST then again at 11:30 p.m. EST/PST.
The celebration: So country big, it’s airing twice over five hours, counting down the East Coast midnight and returning to count down at the show’s Nashville base. More than 50 country music live acts will be hosted by Bobby Bones and “Entertainment Tonight” correspondent Rachel Smith.
Musical guests include: Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Lady A. The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation, which is organizing the show, said in a statement that Sam Hunt, the Zac and Brown Band and Elle King will not be performing Friday night. Zac Brown tested positive for COVID, he announced on Twitter. Neither Hunt nor King immediately released a statement explaining their absences.
How to watch: CNN and streaming on CNNGo app at 8 p.m. EST/5 PST.
The celebration: For the fifth year, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen host the fully irreverent, increasingly inebriated, celebration from Times Square. At 12:30 a.m. EST/ 9:30 p.m. PST the duo hand over to CNN’s Don Lemon and Alisyn Camerota, as well as comedian Dulce Sloan, who continue the party in New Orleans to ring in the Central Time Zone.
Musical guests include: Katy Perry headlines from her new “Play” Las Vegas residency along with guest stars including William Shatner, Patti LaBelle, Earth, Wind & Fire and Duran Duran.
Where to watch: Univision starting at 11:00 p.m. EST/PST.
The celebration: Univision’s popular entertainment news show “El Gordo y La Flaca” ends the year with a special program featuring show hosts Lili Estefan and Raúl de Molina. “Feliz 2022” goes coast-to-coast with show personality Tanya Charry (Los Angeles), reporter Gelena Solano (New York) and reporter Elizabeth Curiel (Mexico).
Musical guests include: Nacho, Calibre 50, Gloria Estefan, Guaynaa, Farruko, CNCO and Carlos Vives.
How to watch: Fox News Channel (10 p.m. EST/PST)
The celebration: Fox News Channel rings in 2022 with special New Year’s Eve coverage live from the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee, helmed by “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-hosts Will Cain, Rachel Campos-Duffy, and Pete Hegseth.
Musical acts include: Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry, John Elefante (former lead singer of Kansas), Ken Block and Drew Copeland of Sister Hazel.
Omicron effect:NYC Ballet cancels remaining shows amid omicron surge: Here’s what else is canceled, postponed
More:Rethink your resolutions for the new year by making intentions instead
