Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean and Bailey Zimmerman Set as Headliners for CBS’ New Year’s Eve Show, ‘Nashville’s Big Bash’

CBS is set to ring in 2026 with a massive country music celebration, "New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash." The five-and-a-half-hour live broadcast will be led by chart-topping artists Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean, and Bailey Zimmerman. It will begin at 8:00 PM Eastern Time on December 31st and conclude at 1:30 AM on January 1st, pausing for a half-hour at 10:00 PM to accommodate local news reports. The event will be streamed live for Paramount+ Premium subscribers directly from Nashville's Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, a 19-acre public venue located just north of the Tennessee State Capitol building.

Joining the headliners will be gospel legend CeCe Winans and the historic Fisk Jubilee Singers. The Fisk Jubilee Singers—a world-renowned choral ensemble from Fisk University—have been preserving and performing Negro spirituals since the 1870s, playing a vital role in American musical heritage. More performers are expected to be confirmed in the weeks ahead. Streaming access will be tiered: Paramount+ Premium members can watch the event live through their local CBS station feed, while those with the Essential plan must wait until New Year’s Day for on-demand access. This tiered approach highlights the increasing industry trend of offering exclusive, real-time content as a premium incentive.

Executive production will be handled by Robert Deaton and Mary Hilliard Harrington, a seasoned duo with deep roots in music television. Deaton, the longtime executive producer of the CMA Awards, and Harrington, a well-known Nashville artist manager, are partnering with Music City Inc., an affiliate of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. The special will be directed by Sandra Restrepo. According to industry analyst Sarah Jenkins, "Bringing in a team with this level of experience is essential. Their established relationships and logistical skill are what make a complex, multi-hour live event run smoothly and appeal to both performers and viewers at home."

Lainey Wilson, one of the evening’s featured stars, is enjoying a remarkable career surge. The singer-songwriter, whose 2022 album 'Bell Bottom Country' earned critical and commercial success, recently made headlines as the sole host for the upcoming CMA Awards—a step up from her previous role as co-host. She is also tied for the most nominations at this year’s ceremony, with six nods including a prestigious Entertainer of the Year nomination. This is her second year in a row being considered for the award, a clear indicator of her powerful and lasting influence on modern country music.