There’s no better place to ring in a brand-new year than Music City, and Caylee Hammack is making sure the party feels equal parts joyful, meaningful, and unapologetically Nashville.
Ahead of New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, airing live on CBS and Paramount+ on Wednesday, December 31, Celeb Secrets caught up with the singer-songwriter during a media session to talk all things ringing in 2026, hosting the official watch party at Luke Combs’ Category 10, and why this celebration hits differently than any other New Year’s Eve bash.
Spoiler alert: it’s heartfelt, hilarious, and very on-brand for Caylee.
When Celeb Secrets asked Hammack what it means to help Nashville ring in the New Year — especially as an artist who’s grown up alongside the city — she didn’t hold back.
“It’s kind of unreal, to be honest,” she shared. “There’s something about being able to ring in the new year in this way that just takes the pressure off. I feel like I’m being fully embraced by my Nashville community, and we’re getting to spread some of our joy and love on this night around the world.”
While live television might sound nerve-wracking, Hammack says the experience feels surprisingly grounding — a moment to celebrate connection rather than stress over resolutions.
“You would think I’d have more pressure on me considering we’re on live TV,” she laughed, “but it actually feels really special.”
If you were to follow Hammack behind the scenes throughout the night, expect movement, mingling, and maybe a little wandering.
“I’m unfortunately a bit of a wanderer,” she joked when Celeb Secrets asked what fans wouldn’t see on camera. “I like walking around, being social, seeing everyone… probably drinking a little bit. Let’s be honest.”
She also teased that her co-host Cody Alan may be acting as her honorary New Year’s Eve date — with one rule firmly in place.
“As long as he doesn’t kiss me when the ball drops, I think my boyfriend will be fine,” she laughed.
For Hammack, what truly sets New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash apart is its heart — and its setting.
“In my not-so-humble opinion, Nashville is one of the best cities in the world,” she told Celeb Secrets. “Getting to showcase it like this, especially from an artist’s bar, is really special.”
Hosting from Category 10, with GRAMMY®-winning legend Dwight Yoakam and Marcus King performing just feet away, adds a layer of authenticity that can’t be replicated.
“We’re standing in a bar built off the back of country music, ringing in the new year with Dwight Yoakam,” she said. “That’s just really cool.”
CAYLEE HAMMACK
As someone who loves researching traditions, Hammack has a deep appreciation for Nashville’s iconic Music Note Drop, which will once again mark midnight Central Time during the broadcast.
“The first time I saw it was shortly after I moved to Nashville,” she recalled. “It felt like a cool indoctrination into the city — like, okay, I really live here now.”
Off-camera, Hammack keeps her own traditions close, including cooking black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread every New Year’s Day — no matter how late the night before went.
And instead of resolutions? She focuses on one guiding word.
“For the last couple of years, my word has been ‘water,’” she explained thoughtfully. “Too much can drown you, but just enough keeps you going. It’s about balance.”
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New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash airs LIVE on Wednesday, December 31 from 8:00–10:00 PM ET/PT and 10:30 PM–1:30 AM ET/PT on CBS, with streaming available on Paramount+ (Premium subscribers can watch live).
The five-hour celebration features hosts Bert Kreischer and HARDY; headliners Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, and Bailey Zimmerman; additional performances from artists like Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Megan Moroney, Riley Green, Marcus King, and Dwight Yoakam; plus Nashville’s Music Note Drop and fireworks at midnight CT.
Meanwhile, the official watch party at Luke Combs’ Category 10 kicks off at 6 PM and is free and open to fans 21+, with guaranteed entry and VIP upgrades available here.
So whether you’re tuning in from your couch or celebrating in the heart of Music City, Hammack hopes viewers feel exactly what she feels stepping into the night.
“Some of the best New Year’s Eves I’ve ever had were just spent with the people I love,” she said. “That’s what this night is really about.”
Between the star power, the music, and the unmistakable Nashville energy, New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bashisn’t just a countdown — it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and starting fresh the Music City way.
And with Caylee Hammack guiding the party? Consider your New Year officially off to a great start.
