Caylee Hammack Reflects on Returning to Co-Host Nashville’s New Year’s Eve Watch Party

Back in 2016, shortly after Caylee Hammack moved to Nashville to chase her music dreams, she experienced the city’s New Year’s Eve magic for the first time and saw the iconic music note drop. Fast forward to last year, and she was right in the middle of the celebration, co-hosting a special watch party for the highly anticipated event. Now, she’s getting ready to do it all over again as Nashville prepares to ring in 2026 in style.

Hammack will return for her second year as co-host of the NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE’S BIG BASH watch party alongside Cody Alan. The event will take place at Luke Combs’ Category 10 with a special performance from Dwight Yoakam and Marcus King, and kicks off at 6PM on Wednesday, December 31.

When asked how it feels to be invited to help lead the event again this year, Hammack noted it is “kind of unreal.” She admitted to Country Now and other outlets that in the past, New Year’s Eve has held more pressure than celebration but taking on this role has given her something to be truly excited about.

“There is something about being able to ring in the new year in this way that just takes that pressure off. You would think I’d have more pressure on me considering we’re going to be on live television and a lot of crazy things can happen, but there is something about it that feels like, you know what? I am being fully embraced by my Nashville community and we’re getting to spread some of our joy and our love on this night…it’s going to be really special.”

But this isn’t just another gig for the songstress, it’s a chance to celebrate the city she’s called home for more than a decade and to be part of a moment that truly highlights Nashville’s musical spirit. Being a part of the epic night allows her to share in the excitement with fans and fellow artists, while reflecting on how far she’s come since her first year in the city.

“This is bias and I completely understand that, but in my not-so-humble opinion, Nashville is one of the best cities in America, if not in the world, and so for me…being able to be part of an event that’s kind of showcasing our city, that’s really special to me,” Hammack shared honestly. “Also, us doing it from an artist’s bar…I’ve seen Luke [Combs] climb and soar and I’ve seen all the hard work that went into it, and now we’re going to be ringing in the new year with Dwight Yoakam and Marcus King in a bar that was built off the back of country music. It’s just really cool to get to be a part of it.”

Preparations are already underway as the big night is just a few weeks away. Hammack says she is in the process of finding her perfect look, which she expects to be “something sparkly.” And while she won’t be performing, she plans to talk all night long and because of that, she has been taking the time to do a lot of research on New Year’s Eve traditions and the best ways to connect with her audience both live and those watching from home.

“I am a weird researcher. I’m a know-it-all. So for me, it’s really just researching things like that, just trying to find things that are relevant as well. I’m really bad about going into my own little realm and not knowing what’s really happening in the world, and I mean this sounds silly, but on all the social medias and the reels and TikTok, whatever it is that people are giggling or laughing or connecting to right now, I try to do research on that.”

The official watch party is free and open to fans 21 and older, with entry on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6 PM. Fans can also secure guaranteed entry or upgrade to VIP in advance by purchasing tickets HERE.

Meanwhile, Nashville’s main New Year’s Eve celebration will take place at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, where fans can enjoy live country music, fireworks, and the city’s iconic Music Note Drop at midnight, all for free.

The full lineup for NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE’S BIG BASH includes star-studded performances from Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Riley Green, Marcus King, Megan Moroney, Zach Top, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr., and Dwight Yoakam, along with special guest appearances by Dusty Slay, ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT’S Cassie DiLaura, Sirius XM Host Buzz Brainard and UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) Champion Kayla Harrison. 

Headliners Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, and Bailey Zimmerman will lead the festivities from the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, joined by special guests CeCe Winans and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Other acts on the lineup will perform from various downtown Nashville venues.

Those who can’t be on-site in Music City for the five-hour television special, can watch all the festivities unfold from home. It will air live on Wednesday, Dec. 31 (8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT and 10:30 PM–1:30 AM ET/PT) on CBS Television Network, with streaming available on Paramount+*.

The event will air across multiple time zones, with the traditional countdown at midnight Eastern time as well as the renowned Nashville Music Note Drop and celebratory firework display at midnight Central time. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ℂ𝕒𝕪𝕝𝕖𝕖 ℍ𝕒𝕞𝕞𝕒𝕔𝕜 (@cayleehammack)

After the new year’s eve celebrations conclude, Caylee Hammack will dive right back into her normal artist routine, starting with back-to-back performances in support of Eric Church’s Free The Machine Tour in Washington, DC on January 22 and 23. Fans can also expect some new music that Hammack is “really excited” about.

“I’m going to be on the high of this New Year’s Bash, and then I have just a week or two to kind of get things together, and then we’re hitting the road with them, so still kind of building out the rest of our tour year right now, but that is something that it’s going to be a highlight of 2026,” she revealed.