New York’s iconic ball drop shares New Year’s spotlight with country music celebration at Nashville’s Music City
Coast-to-Coast New Year Celebrations
While Times Square remained America’s most iconic New Year’s Eve destination, the nation’s celebration spanned multiple major cities with distinct entertainment offerings. CBS’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash provided viewers with country music entertainment as an alternative to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve from Times Square. The dual programming allowed audiences to choose their preferred entertainment experience as the clock struck midnight nationwide.
Nashville Country Music Tradition
Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, and CeCe Winans headlined the Nashville celebration, with special guests including Brooks and Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Riley Green, Marcus King, Megan Moroney, Zach Top, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr., and Dwight Yoakam. The Fisk Jubilee Singers provided gospel vocal traditions alongside contemporary country performances. Comedian and country music artist Hardy served as co-host alongside comedian Bert Kreischer.
Music City Traditions
Nashville’s celebration included a countdown at midnight followed by the city’s traditional Music Note Drop and fireworks display. Five hours of festivities aired from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. ET on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, reaching audiences nationwide.
Broadcasting Multiple Celebrations
CNN provided additional New Year’s coverage featuring international and diverse entertainment options. Swedish pop star Robyn performed her 2010 hits “Dancing on My Own” and “Call Your Girlfriend,” alongside her new single “Dopamine.” This multi-platform approach to New Year’s broadcasting reflected how Americans consumed entertainment across diverse preferences and mediums.
Streaming and Digital Options
The Times Square Alliance provided a free live webcast beginning at 6 p.m. ET and continuing through 12:30 a.m., featuring behind-the-scenes stories and hourly countdowns. Actor Jonathan Bennett and Jeremy Hassell co-hosted the Times Square webcast, providing commentary and analysis alongside live performances. For information on Times Square celebrations and coverage, see the Times Square Alliance official website. For more on national celebrations, see the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve official website.
