The star-studded special airs on December 31st
CBS has announced that Elle King and Entertainment Tonight‘s Rachel Smith will host New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash. Additionally, King joins the performance lineup and will play her hits live from the Bicentennial Mall stage. The five-hour star-studded celebration to ring in the new year will air live from Music City on Sunday, December 31st from 7:30-10 pm ET/PT and 10:30 pm-1:05 am ET/PT on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs).
“New Year’s Eve is the one party we celebrate all over the world,” states King. “I wouldn’t want to spend it any other place than Music City! I’m so excited to get to host another beautiful night of music, friends, love, and joy. I can’t wait to celebrate an incredible year and welcome a new one together.”
“Being back in Nashville co-hosting with my girl Elle is something I look forward to every year,” adds Smith. “We’re gonna put on one heck of a show from Music City, and Nashville’s Big Bash will be the perfect soundtrack to ring in another year with family and friends.”
As previously announced, the star-studded entertainment special will feature nearly 50 high-energy performances by country music’s hottest superstars, including Thomas Rhett, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lainey Wilson and more. The five-hour broadcast will cross multiple time zones, with the traditional countdown at midnight, ET, culminating with the renowned Nashville music note drop and fireworks at midnight CT.
Additional performers and information will be announced at a later date. The concert is free and open to the public.
Ahead of the televised show, Music City will pay homage to hip-hop’s 50th anniversary with a family-friendly 50-minute tribute. Music City Hip-Hop 50 will conclude with a guest DJ set by Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, who has a degree in music and did a DJ set at Grimey’s record store during his campaign.
The segment will be curated by Eric Holt, managing partner of The Lovenoise Group and assistant professor of Music Business at Belmont University, and Nashville artist Jason Eskridge, along with guest appearances by artists Tim Gent and Daisha McBride. Eskridge will DJ the segment. Kenny Smoov of 92Q will emcee.
The hip-hop segment will kick off at 5:15 pm and will conclude with remarks from Mayor O’Connell, as well as a 10-minute DJ set that he will play and mix. Gates open at 4:30 pm, and the program is free and open to the public. The early-evening segment gives families a way to celebrate the free Big Bash event with children of all ages.
The tribute will also help mark the 20th anniversary of The Lovenoise Group, an urban promoter that provides performance platforms for local urban artists and a community hub where black music lovers can come together to experience the power of culture.
This will be the 15th annual concert and seventh year at Bicentennial Park. The event will include the famed red Music Note, which will be dropped on a 138-foot tower at midnight to ring in the new year. As a live event, the Big Bash generates as much as $38 million in direct visitor spending and attendance of 200,000, with more than half being local residents.
Big Bash is partnering with the HERO (Homeless Education Resource Office) Program of Metro Nashville Public Schools to support students and their families who are experiencing homelessness.
