Some years, New Year’s Eve TV is background noise. Other years, it feels like a multi-city music festival you can attend from the couch. This year is the second kind: pop icons, dance-floor legends, country hitmakers, hip-hop favorites, and a few left-field surprises that make channel-surfing feel like building your own dream setlist.
This guide is built for music people. We are spotlighting artists first (not the shows), and we are only mentioning performances you can watch from home. For each artist, we note when the broadcast window begins and what network to turn on. Exact segment times can shift, so think of the times below as your starting gates.
Quick at-home viewing windows (Eastern Time):
- ABC: 8:00 PM ET through 4:00 AM ET (live), plus next-day streaming on Hulu.
- CBS: 8:00-10:00 PM ET and 10:30 PM-1:30 AM ET (live), also streaming on Paramount+.
- CNN: coverage starts 7:00 AM ET; primetime show begins 8:00 PM ET; an additional late-night handoff begins 12:30 AM ET.
Bell & Field note: We are a piano-forward, crowd-first kind of band. So when an artist brings big singalong hooks, timeless chord changes, or a vocal moment that can stop a room mid-conversation, we get extra excited. We call those out along the way.
Diana Ross: the Times Square headliner moment (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
If your ideal New Year’s Eve soundtrack includes pure, classic pop royalty, Diana Ross is the anchor performance to circle. She is the kind of artist whose catalog is basically a celebration button: joy, confidence, and melodies that people know before they realize they know them.
Why music fans should care: Ross does not just sing hits; she delivers eras. Expect a set built for mass participation, the kind where strangers sing along like they rehearsed it together.
Where to watch: live on ABC starting at 8:00 PM ET (the broadcast runs late), with next-day streaming on Hulu.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: These are piano-and-voice dream songs. The grooves are iconic, the choruses are communal, and the vibe is unmistakably “everyone in the room is in this together.”
Mariah Carey: the vocal Olympics you can actually dance to (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
Mariah is not just a singer on a lineup; she is a moment. Even if you are watching casually, a Mariah performance tends to reframe the room: suddenly people are listening for phrasing, runs, and the emotional lift that only a truly elite voice can deliver.
Why music fans should care: Big melodies, big dynamics, and that rare ability to make a TV performance feel like a personal event.
Where to watch: ABC, starting 8:00 PM ET (exact performance time may vary).
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: We could listen to Vision Of Love over and over. Timeless classics of Mariah.
Chappell Roan: pop drama with the theatrical switch flipped on (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
Chappell Roan brings the kind of pop performance that is as much character as it is melody. Think big emotion, big presentation, and hooks that land like fireworks.
Why music fans should care: She is part of the modern wave that treats pop as a fully staged experience. Even through a screen, that can feel electric.
Where to watch: ABC, starting 8:00 PM ET.
Demi Lovato: powerhouse control, with rock edges when it counts (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
Demi is built for live TV. Strong pitch, serious lungs, and the ability to turn a chorus into a “stand up from the couch” moment.
Why music fans should care: This is the kind of vocalist who can make a familiar song feel newly urgent just by leaning into the right notes.
Where to watch: ABC, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
Charlie Puth: pop craftsmanship in real time (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
Charlie Puth is for the listeners who secretly love the details: chord choices, vocal stacking, grooves that feel simple until you try to play them.
Why music fans should care: He sits in that sweet spot between radio-pop and musician-pop, where the songs are catchy but the construction is clever.
Where to watch: ABC, starting 8:00 PM ET.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: Charlie has the chops, blending genres just like we like to do.
Post Malone: the genre shapeshifter (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
Post Malone on a New Year’s Eve broadcast always raises the fun question: which version are we getting? The ballad guy? The rock-leaning guy? The hip-hop hit machine? The answer is often “yes.”
Why music fans should care: Few artists can bounce between styles while still sounding unmistakably like themselves. That is a real musical identity.
Where to watch: ABC, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
Pitbull: party chemistry you can feel through the TV (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
Pitbull is basically a guarantee of momentum. If you are building an at-home night with peaks and valleys, this is a peak.
Why music fans should care: Rhythm-forward hits, crowd callouts, and a catalog designed to keep people moving.
Where to watch: ABC, starting 8:00 PM ET.
OneRepublic: arena hooks that hit like confetti cannons (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
OneRepublic songs tend to feel bigger than the room, even when the room is your living room. That is the whole point of a New Year’s performance: maximum uplift.
Why music fans should care: Strong songwriting, huge choruses, and that polished band-on-TV energy that feels built for a countdown.
Where to watch: ABC, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: For our age bracket, these songs live in that “late-night drive home” part of the brain. Big chorus, big lift, and it is hard not to sing like you mean it.
50 Cent: throwback swagger, still stadium-sized (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
When 50 Cent shows up on a New Year’s lineup, it is usually code for: “We are about to time-travel for a minute.” The energy is confident, familiar, and built for a crowd reaction.
Where to watch: ABC, starting 8:00 PM ET.
DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic: Busta Rhymes, T.I., and Wyclef Jean (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
This is not a single-artist performance so much as a hit parade. The Pass the Mic format is designed to keep you from changing the channel because every few seconds is another recognizable moment.
Why music fans should care: Chemistry, nostalgia, and a pace that feels like a DJ set built out of live verses.
Where to watch: ABC, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
Lil Jon: the “turn it up” button (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
Some artists are made for New Year’s because their whole brand is celebration. Lil Jon is on that short list.
Where to watch: ABC, starting 8:00 PM ET.
Goo Goo Dolls: guitar-pop nostalgia that still works (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
If you want a moment that feels like windows down on a late-night drive, Goo Goo Dolls can deliver it. Their songs have that rare combo: instantly recognizable, emotionally direct, and built on progressions that still sound great on piano.
Where to watch: ABC, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: This is exactly our lane: big chorus, honest lyric, and a melody that an entire room can sing without thinking.
4 Non Blondes: the ultimate living-room singalong potential (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
There are certain songs that turn into instant group therapy the second the first chord hits. If you know, you know.
Where to watch: ABC, starting 8:00 PM ET.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: This is the kind of chorus that makes strangers feel like friends. They get a crowd hyped and singing along every time.
Rick Springfield: classic pop-rock heartbeat (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
Rick Springfield brings that tight, bright, radio-rock feel that plays perfectly on a big broadcast. It is clean, fun, and made for a countdown atmosphere.
Where to watch: ABC, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: I mean, Rick Springfield! Come on! He was one of the biggest songwriters of our generation. I still enjoy listening to him DJ on SiriusXM.
New Kids on the Block: nostalgia as a full-contact sport (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
NKOTB are proof that nostalgia is not just memory, it is energy. If you grew up with the songs, this will feel like a reunion. If you did not, it will still feel like a party.
Where to watch: ABC, starting 8:00 PM ET.
The All-American Rejects: pop-punk-adjacent catharsis (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
This is for anyone who wants their New Year’s Eve to include a little bit of shout-the-lyrics release.
Where to watch: ABC, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
AJR: maximalist pop with a band brain (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
AJR sits in that modern sweet spot: pop production, big melodic swings, and the feel of a band that actually thinks about arranging for impact.
Where to watch: ABC, starting 8:00 PM ET.
Ciara: smooth, sharp, and stage-ready (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
Ciara performances tend to bring precision: rhythm, control, and that polished “this is what a pro looks like” kind of presence.
Where to watch: ABC, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
Maren Morris: modern country-pop with real vocal bite (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
Maren Morris lives in the overlap between pop hooks and country storytelling. That is a powerful place to be on a night when everyone wants both fun and feeling.
Where to watch: ABC, starting 8:00 PM ET.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: Strong vocal, strong lyric, and choruses that translate beautifully on keys.
Little Big Town: harmony as a headline (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
Little Big Town is a reminder that vocal harmony is its own kind of firework. When they lock in, it feels like the whole song widens.
Where to watch: ABC, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: If you came of age in the 90s and 00s, harmony groups hit a particular nostalgia nerve. It is the sound of road trips, radio presets, and choruses you still know by muscle memory.
Jordan Davis and Russell Dickerson: country-pop hooks built for TV (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
If you like your country with bright choruses and clean, modern production, these are two of the best at delivering that vibe without losing the storytelling core.
Where to watch: ABC, starting 8:00 PM ET.
Zara Larsson and Jess Glynne: pop voices that love a big chorus (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
These are the kinds of singers who can make a chorus feel like it lifts the ceiling. Perfect for a night that is basically a collective exhale into the new year.
Where to watch: ABC, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
LE SSERAFIM: performance-forward K-pop energy (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
K-pop on New Year’s Eve broadcasts is always a reminder that performance can be a full sensory experience: timing, movement, and hooks built to hit hard.
Where to watch: ABC, starting 8:00 PM ET.
KPop Demon Hunters: the singing voices of HUNTR/X (ABC, from 8:00 PM ET)
This is one of the more unique bookings on the night: a performance billed around the singing voices behind HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI). If you like pop that leans cinematic and concept-driven, it is a fun curveball to catch.
Where to watch: ABC, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
Lainey Wilson: modern country swagger with classic bones (CBS, from 8:00 PM ET)
Lainey Wilson has become one of the most reliable “turn it up” artists in country right now. She brings a mix of grit, charm, and choruses that hit with boot-stomp confidence.
Why music fans should care: She balances modern radio muscle with classic country storytelling. That is a hard combo to fake.
Where to watch: live on CBS starting 8:00 PM ET (the special continues late), also streaming on Paramount+.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: Strong hooks, strong character, and songs that translate instantly when you strip them down to piano, guitar and voice.
Jason Aldean: arena-country power chords (CBS, from 8:00 PM ET)
If your New Year’s vibe is “bigger, louder, more,” Jason Aldean is built for it. He delivers that signature blend of rock crunch and country phrasing that reads huge on TV.
Where to watch: CBS, live starting 8:00 PM ET, streaming on Paramount+.
Bailey Zimmerman: new-school grit and big emotional choruses (CBS, from 8:00 PM ET)
Zimmerman is part of the wave that brings a rough-edged intensity to modern country, with choruses that feel like they were designed to be screamed joyfully in a crowd.
Where to watch: CBS, starting 8:00 PM ET, streaming on Paramount+.
Brooks & Dunn: the kind of hits that make a room move (CBS, from 8:00 PM ET)
Brooks & Dunn are a reminder that certain grooves are timeless. When they show up, it is not just nostalgia. It is a masterclass in how to write songs that keep their punch for decades.
Where to watch: CBS, live from 8:00 PM ET, streaming on Paramount+.
Rascal Flatts: harmonies and heart-on-sleeve choruses (CBS, from 8:00 PM ET)
If your New Year’s tradition is “give me a chorus that feels like a hug,” Rascal Flatts should be on your must-watch list. Their songs are built on emotional clarity and big melodic lifts.
Where to watch: CBS, starting 8:00 PM ET, streaming on Paramount+.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: This is exactly the kind of catalog that shines in a piano-led singalong.
Dwight Yoakam and Marcus King: twang plus guitar fire (CBS, from 8:00 PM ET)
This pairing has serious musician appeal. Yoakam brings the classic country edge; Marcus King brings the kind of guitar and soul intensity that can turn a TV slot into a real performance moment.
Where to watch: CBS, beginning 8:00 PM ET, streaming on Paramount+.
Keith Urban: the cleanest kind of live-professional energy (CBS, from 8:00 PM ET)
Urban performances tend to feel polished without feeling sterile. He is a musician’s musician who still knows how to make the room (and camera) feel included.
Where to watch: CBS, starting 8:00 PM ET, streaming on Paramount+.
CeCe Winans and the Fisk Jubilee Singers: vocal fireworks (CBS, from 8:00 PM ET)
If you are chasing the most purely goosebump kind of music moment on the night, do not sleep on this. Gospel power and ensemble harmony can cut through any party noise and make everyone pay attention.
Where to watch: CBS, live from 8:00 PM ET, streaming on Paramount+.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: Vocals like this are why live music matters. Harmony, emotion, and that sense of the room lifting together in praise.
Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Megan Moroney, Zach Top, Gretchen Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr.: the deep bench (CBS, from 8:00 PM ET)
This is the part of the night where country fans can treat the broadcast like a mini-festival lineup. Each of these artists brings a different shade of modern country:
- Dierks Bentley: seasoned hitmaker energy that always plays well on TV.
- Riley Green: straight-ahead storytelling with a classic-country spine.
- Megan Moroney: melody-forward songs with personality and bite.
- Zach Top: a throwback-friendly feel for fans who like the classics.
- Gretchen Wilson: big attitude and big crowd reaction potential.
- Stephen Wilson Jr.: the kind of artist music fans watch closely because the writing tends to matter.
Where to watch: live on CBS beginning 8:00 PM ET, streaming on Paramount+.
Shakira: global pop precision with stadium power (CNN, from 8:00 PM ET)
Shakira is one of those artists whose performances feel engineered for big moments. Rhythm, charisma, and a catalog that can shift from hypnotic groove to full-on celebration.
Why music fans should care: Even in a short segment, she tends to deliver something that looks and sounds like a headline.
Where to watch: CNN, starting 8:00 PM ET (primetime show window).
Robyn: dance-pop catharsis (CNN, from 8:00 PM ET)
Robyn is for the people who like their party music with an emotional undercurrent. That mix of pulse and feeling is rare and deeply addictive.
Where to watch: CNN, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
Florence + The Machine: massive choruses, cinematic intensity (CNN, from 8:00 PM ET)
If you want a performance that feels like a storm rolling through the room (in the best way), Florence + The Machine is your pick. Big dynamics. Big emotion. Big chorus lift.
Where to watch: CNN, starting 8:00 PM ET.
RAYE: a voice that can shift the whole mood (CNN, from 8:00 PM ET)
RAYE brings that modern blend of pop, soul, and jazz-inflected attitude. Great for music fans who want something with vocal and stylistic personality.
Where to watch: CNN, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
Brandi Carlile: songwriter energy with arena-level vocals (CNN, from 8:00 PM ET)
Brandi Carlile is the kind of artist who can make a TV segment feel like a real concert moment. Strong writing, stronger voice, and a band feel that translates.
Where to watch: CNN, starting 8:00 PM ET.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: This is what we love: songs that hold up stripped down, then explode when the band comes in.
Patti LaBelle: the legend slot that always delivers (CNN, from 8:00 PM ET)
Patti LaBelle is not background music. She is a stop-everything vocalist, the kind who makes you sit up just to catch how she shapes a phrase.
Where to watch: CNN, beginning 8:00 PM ET.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: Patti is one of those voices our generation grew up hearing referenced as “the standard.” When she sings, it feels like a history lesson and a masterclass at the same time.
Aloe Blacc: soulful pop that fits the night perfectly (CNN, from 8:00 PM ET)
Aloe Blacc brings warmth and groove, the kind of feel-good energy that works whether you are throwing a party or watching with a quiet glass of something nice.
Where to watch: CNN, starting 8:00 PM ET.
Burna Boy: global groove and forward motion (CNN, daytime coverage starting 7:00 AM ET)
Burna Boy is one of the best “turn the room into movement” artists on the planet. If you are watching CNN earlier in the day or catching replays/clips later, this is a performance to find.
Where to watch: CNN coverage starts 7:00 AM ET (performances appear throughout the day).
OK Go: the creative wildcard (CNN, daytime coverage starting 7:00 AM ET)
OK Go performances tend to be concept-forward, the kind of thing you watch twice because you are trying to figure out how they pulled it off.
Where to watch: CNN, coverage begins 7:00 AM ET.
Chris Isaak and Bryan Adams: guitars, nostalgia, and big choruses (CNN, from 8:00 PM ET)
If your New Year’s playlist leans classic, these are two names that can deliver a satisfying “oh wow, I forgot how much I love this” moment.
Where to watch: CNN, primetime begins 8:00 PM ET.
Aly & AJ and Flo Rida: different lanes, same party mission (CNN, daytime coverage starting 7:00 AM ET)
Sometimes New Year’s viewing is about variety. Aly & AJ brings pop melody and polish; Flo Rida brings pure party momentum. Put them in the same day and you get a fun genre swing.
Where to watch: CNN, coverage begins 7:00 AM ET.
The late-night Austin handoff: Vince Gill and The Head and The Heart (CNN, 12:30 AM ET)
If you are the kind of music fan who likes to stay up past the big midnight moment, CNN has a post-midnight segment that is worth planning for. Vince Gill brings seasoned musicianship and classic songwriting sensibility; The Head and The Heart brings modern folk-rock warmth and choruses that feel communal.
Where to watch: CNN at 12:30 AM ET.
Why Bell & Field are extra excited: This is the sweet spot: strong songs, strong musicianship, and the kind of vibe that feels best when people are actually listening.
Bell & Field “extra excited” picks (aka: piano-friendly, singalong-proof)
If you want to prioritize the artists who most naturally fit a Bell & Field kind of night, these are our top targets:
- Diana Ross (ABC): timeless hits, instant party, perfect for piano.
- Mariah Carey (ABC): vocal event television, period.
- Goo Goo Dolls (ABC): pure singalong fuel.
- 4 Non Blondes (ABC): one of the biggest living-room choruses imaginable.
- Rascal Flatts (CBS): harmony-heavy choruses made for a crowd.
- CeCe Winans + Fisk Jubilee Singers (CBS): voices that can change the room.
- Brandi Carlile (CNN): songwriting + vocals that feel like a real performance, not just a TV slot.
- Vince Gill + The Head and The Heart (CNN): late-night musicianship when the noise settles.
A simple artist-first watch plan (no stress, maximum music)
If you want a low-effort plan that still feels curated, try this:
- Start with ABC at 8:00 PM ET for the big pop-scale variety and the deep lineup.
- Jump to CBS when you want a focused country run (it starts at 8:00 PM ET and returns late, also on Paramount+).
- Use CNN as your “surprise set” channel (primetime starts at 8:00 PM ET, with a worthwhile post-midnight handoff at 12:30 AM ET).
And remember: you do not have to pick just one. The best part of watching from home is that you can build your own festival lineup without walking a single block.
Happy New Year from Bell & Field, and cheers to a night where the music actually matches the moment.
