RADIO AND TV PERSONALITY BOBBY BONES TO HOST AND "ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT'S" RACHEL SMITH TO CO-HOST "NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE'S BIG BASH," A STAR-STUDDED ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL, AIRING FRIDAY, DEC. 31 ON CBS

CBS' Special Five-Hour Celebration to Ring in the New Year Will Feature Live, High-Energy Performances from Country Music's Hottest Superstars

CBS Special NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE'S BIG BASH will be hosted by radio and TV personality Bobby Bones and co-hosted by ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT's Rachel Smith. The celebration to ring in the New Year will air LIVE from Music City, Friday, Dec. 31 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT, 11:30 PM-1:30 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.*

"I'm so excited to celebrate and host New Year's Eve this year right down the street from my house, with so many of my friends who have great performances planned," Bones said. "I can't wait to show America how special Nashville is."

"I am over the moon to co-host NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE from Nashville," Smith said. "I get to hang with the hottest acts in country music, some I'm lucky enough to call friends, on New Year's Eve in my hometown! Sign me up!"

As previously announced, the star-studded entertainment special will feature nearly 50 high-energy performances by country music's hottest superstars, including Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell and Zac Brown Band. 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.

Radio and TV personality Bobby Bones is the host of the nationally syndicated iHeartRadio program "The Bobby Bones Show," which broadcasts to over 185 stations and is the #1 country morning show with millions of monthly listeners. The award-winning show is a two-time CMA Award winner and four-time ACM Award winner, and earned Bones the title of youngest-ever inductee into the prestigious National Radio Hall of Fame. His breakout TV series for National Geographic, "Breaking Bobby Bones," is streaming now on Disney+. He has served as the official in-house mentor on ABC's "American Idol," he won season 27 of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," and he serves as host and executive producer of Circle Network's "Opry." The fan-favorite podcast "BobbyCast," which features candid long-form interviews with top artists and industry figures, has been downloaded nearly 20 million times. Bones is also a two-time New York Times #1 bestselling author, touring stand-up comedian and philanthropist.

Rachel Smith joined the top-rated, Emmy(R) Award-winning entertainment newsmagazine ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, as a New York-based correspondent for the show's 39th season. Recently, Smith served as a guest correspondent for ET, where she's interviewed the likes of Rihanna, Ryan Seacrest, Kelly Ripa, Kim Kardashian West, Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. Smith is perhaps best known for hosting the ABC syndicated weekly series "On the Red Carpet," and as a correspondent for both ABC's "Good Morning America" and "Nightline." She was crowned Miss USA 2007 and went on to represent the United States at Miss Universe 2007, where she placed 4th runner-up.

Additional performers and information will be announced at a later date.

NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE'S BIG BASH is executive produced by Robert Deaton and Mary Hilliard Harrington in partnership with the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. The special will be directed by Sandra Restrepo.

*Paramount+ Premium subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service as well as on-demand. Essential tier subscribers will have access to the on-demand the following day after the special airs.

Website: www.cbs.com

CBS Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBSTweet

RATING: To Be Announced