COMEDIAN AND ACTOR BERT KREISCHER AND COUNTRY MUSIC STAR HARDY TO HOST "NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE'S BIG BASH," AIRING DEC. 31 ON CBS AND PARAMOUNT+

Social Media Star Haley Baylee (@haleyybaylee) to Correspond from New York City

Comedian and actor Bert Kreischer and country music star HARDY to host NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE'S BIG BASH, airing LIVE Wednesday, Dec. 31 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT, 10:30 PM-1:30 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+*. Social media star Haley Baylee (@haleyybaylee) will correspond from New York City and count down with the East Coast at midnight ET for New York City's Ball Drop. Kreischer and HARDY will keep the party going through midnight CT, featuring Nashville's renowned Music Note Drop at the Bicentennial Stage.

"You hear people say, 'I'm honored and privileged to be working with a certain group of people,' but in this case, I am blown away that I'm allowed to work with these people. This lineup is insane," said Kreischer. "This event, which I was a very small part of last year, is so much fun. To be working with my buddy HARDY ... it feels like I should be paying CBS to do this. I can't wait. I hope I keep my shirt on, and I promise not to drink until the stroke of midnight, unless you want me to drink earlier."

"Celebrating New Year's Eve in Music City is always a blast," said HARDY. "It's great to be back playing NASHVILLE'S BIG BASH and I'm stoked to co-host this year with one of the funniest dudes I know."

HARDY will also perform live at Bicentennial Park in Nashville along with previously announced headliners Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman, and special guests CeCe Winans and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Additionally, the five-hour special will feature performances by Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Riley Green, Marcus King, Megan Moroney, Zach Top, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr. from various venues across the city, as well as special appearances by comedian Dusty Slay, ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT's Cassie DiLaura, Sirius XM host Buzz Brainard and UFC champion Kayla Harrison.

GRAMMY Award-winning country superstar Dwight Yoakam and Marcus King will take the stage at Category 10, home of the official NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE'S BIG BASH watch party, with special guests Cody Alan and Caylee Hammack. The official watch party is free and open to fans 21 and older on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6:00 PM. Guaranteed entry tickets and VIP upgrade options can be purchased in advance HERE.

About Bert Kreischer

Bert Kreischer's career has evolved from Rolling Stone's infamous "Number One Partier in the Nation" to one of the top-grossing stand-up comedians in the world - and a powerhouse entrepreneur, content creator and entertainment brand. Named by Forbes as "one of the best storytellers of his generation," Kreischer has parlayed his signature comedy and authenticity into a dynamic media empire. In 2024, he landed the #6 highest-grossing comedy tour worldwide - despite performing only six months out of the year. His sixth Netflix special, "Lucky", filmed in his hometown of Tampa, Fla., sold out all six shows within 24 hours of the on-sale and premiered in Netflix's Top 10 Most Watched TV Shows in March 2025. Through Berty Boy Productions, Kreischer oversees hit podcasts and series including "Bertcast," "Something's Burning" and "2 Bears, 1 Cave (with Tom Segura)", commanding over 16 million fans and 4 billion impressions. He also founded the Fully Loaded Comedy Festival, a touring juggernaut that's expanded to stadiums, arenas, and sold-out cruises. The festival will be returning to sea Nov. 19-26, 2026. In 2024, Kreischer and Segura launched Por Osos Vodka, an award-winning, rapidly expanding spirits brand. Kreischer also starred in and produced Sony Pictures' "The Machine" - a feature film adaptation of his legendary stand-up story - which broke into Netflix's Global Top 10 Films upon release in 2023. He'll be seen starring in the upcoming Netflix series "Free Bert" in 2026 and will star in the upcoming original comedy film "Homecoming." Today, Bert is on his Permission To Party World Tour and continues to blend comedy, business and culture into one of the most recognizable personal brands in entertainment today.

About HARDY

For heavy hitter HARDY, the next round is in the chamber with his new album COUNTRY! COUNTRY! proving why "he's one of country music's most talented tunesmiths" (Billboard). With critical acclaim, the record adds to HARDY's six billion career streams with singles like "Favorite Country Song" surging at country radio. The pride of Philadelphia, Miss., has earned his reputation as "a promising purveyor of keeping the spirit of classic heavy Southern rock alive" (American Songwriter), "capable of writing the big hits for radio, obstinate enough to do something completely unexpected, and savvy enough to find the throughline for it all" (Rolling Stone). A five-time ACM award winner and two-time CMA Award winner, HARDY has also won three CMA Triple Play awards, was named the 2022 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year and is a three-time AIMP Songwriter of the Year. HARDY has written 17 #1 singles including his own three-times platinum "TRUCK BED" and award-winning duet "wait in the truck" feat. Lainey Wilson, four-times platinum chart topper "ONE BEER" featuring Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson, the platinum Dierks Bentley and BRELAND collaboration "Beers On Me" and first-ever rock radio #1 "JACK." The hitmaker sets his THE COUNTRY! COUNTRY! TOUR! for 2026 hitting arenas and amphitheaters across North America.

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

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*Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service.