LUCY HALE TO JOIN RYAN SEACREST AS NEW CO-HOST IN TIMES SQUARE AND BILLY PORTER TO HOST NEW ORLEANS FESTIVITIES FOR 'DICK CLARK'S NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' EVE WITH RYAN SEACREST 2020'

Ciara Returns to Host Los Angeles Celebration

The New Year's Celebration Begins Live at 8:00 p.m. EST on ABC From New York City's Times Square

dick clark productions and ABC today announced that award-winning actress Lucy Hale, who previously served as host of the New Orleans festivities, will join Ryan Seacrest in Times Square as new co-host in New York for "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020." Emmy?, Tony? and GRAMMY Award-winning actor, singer, director, composer and playwright Billy Porter will also join the show, taking the reins in the central time zone and making his debut as host of the New Orleans countdown. Returning to the show for her third year, multiplatinum-selling artist Ciara will once again oversee the Los Angeles festivities. Ryan Seacrest, who returns as host for his 15th year, will lead the traditional countdown to midnight live from New York City on Tuesday, Dec. 31, beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST on ABC.

"As we ring in a new decade and my 15th year hosting the show, I'm so excited to welcome the talented Lucy Hale to the stage with me," said Seacrest. "It's going to be a powerhouse year with Billy and Ciara, and we can't wait to celebrate with everyone!"

"Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020" marks the 48th anniversary of America's biggest celebration of the year and will include 5� hours of special performances and reports on New Year's festivities from around the globe. The lineup of performances will be announced in the coming months.

Ciara is a GRAMMY Award-winning singer/songwriter, producer, model and actress. Over her 15-year career, her music catalog has surpassed more than 2 billion streams, selling more than 23 million records and 22 million singles worldwide, including chart-topping hits "Goodies," "Ride," "Oh," "1, 2 Step," "Body Party" and "I Bet." Most recently, Ciara released her seventh studio album, "Beauty Marks," which spawned platinum-selling hit "Level Up," and is the first release from her newly formed label Beauty Marks Entertainment (BME). In an effort to reclaim creative control over her artistry, Ciara formally launched BME as a boundless platform for her music, media, film, fashion, philanthropy, technology and entrepreneurial pursuits. Since launching BME, Ciara, alongside husband Russell Wilson, has formed Why Not You? Productions and a management company through his West2East empire. Ciara is a devoted wife and mother of two as well as a philanthropist who sits on the board of her and her husband's Why Not You? foundation and is dedicated to improving the lives of children and empowering women across the globe.

Multitalented and dynamic, Hale captured the attention of millions as the star of Freeform's smash hit series "Pretty Little Liars." She is the seven-time winner of the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress, was nominated for People's Choice Award for Favorite Cable TV Actress in 2017 and presented with the 2013 Gracie Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Rising Star. She recently starred in the thriller "Truth or Dare" from Blumhouse Productions and the Netflix Original film "Dude." Hale can next be seen in the titular role of "Katy Keene" premiering on The CW on Feb. 6 as well as in Sony/Blumhouse's "Fantasy Island" in theaters Feb. 14. In addition to her thriving acting career, Hale joined forces with Rascal Flatts to release a cover of "Let It Go," the epic anthem from "Frozen," for the We Love Disney compilation. This followed the release of her debut album, "Road Between," the year prior. Hale is repped by Reel Talent Management and ICM Partners.

Porter is an award-winning actor, singer, director, composer and playwright. He most recently won the Emmy Award for Lead Actor for his appearance in FX's Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated drama "Pose," as well as appeared in "American Horror Story: Apocalypse." A Hollywood Walk of Fame inductee, Porter has numerous theater credits, including the role of Lola in the Broadway musical "Kinky Boots," which he originated in 2013 and for which he won the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards, as well as the GRAMMY for best musical theater album. Porter's pop single "Love Yourself" was released in June.

"Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin'?Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020" is produced by dick clark productions with Ryan Seacrest, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco serving as executive producers. Larry Klein is producer. ?

Follow "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin'?Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020" on social (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube) and join the conversation by using the official hashtag #RockinEve.

For more information, please visit www.newyearsrockineve.com.

About dick clark productions

dick clark productions (dcp) is the world's largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming with the "Academy of Country Music Awards," "American Music Awards," "Billboard Music Awards," "Golden Globe Awards," "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" and the "Streamy Awards." Weekly television programming includes "So You Think You Can Dance" from 19 Entertainment and dcp. dcp also owns one of the world's most unique and extensive entertainment archive libraries with over 60 years of award-winning shows, historic programs, specials, performances and legendary programming. dcp is a division of Valence Media, a diversified and integrated media company with divisions and strategic investments in television, film, live entertainment, digital media and publishing. For additional information, visit www.dickclark.com.

About ABC Entertainment

ABC Entertainment airs compelling programming across all day parts, including "Grey's Anatomy," the longest-running medical drama in prime-time television; riveting dramas "The Good Doctor," "How to Get Away with Murder," "A Million Little Things" and "Station 19"; the Emmy(R) Award-winning "Modern Family" and trailblazing comedy favorites "American Housewife," "black-ish," "Bless This Mess," "The Conners," "The Goldbergs," and "Schooled"; the popular "Summer Fun & Games" programming block, including "Card Sharks," "Celebrity Family Feud," "Holey Moley" and "Press Your Luck"; star-making sensation "American Idol"; reality phenomenon "Shark Tank"; "The Bachelor" franchise; long-running hits "Dancing with the Stars" and "America's Funniest Home Videos"; "General Hospital," which has aired for more than 55 years on the network; and late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"; as well as the critically acclaimed hit special "Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons.'" The network also boasts some of television's most prestigious awards shows, including "The Oscars(R)," "The CMA Awards" and the "American Music Awards." ABC programming can also be viewed on ABC.com, the ABC app and Hulu.