Award-winning artist HARDY will team up with comedian and actor Bert Kreischer to host New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, per an announcement on Wednesday (December 17).

“Celebrating New Year's in Music City is always a blast,” HARDY said in a statement. “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.”

Kreischer added in a statement of his own, “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. 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 start drinking earlier.”

Social media star Haley Baylee will correspond from New York City, counting down to midnight ET, while HARDY and Kreischer “will keep the party going” until the iconic Music Note Drop at midnight CT in Nashville, a press release issued Wednesday states.

HARDY will take the stage at Nashville’s free Bicentennial Park show, featuring headliners Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman, plus special guests CeCe Winans and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Other artists set to perform throughout the five-hour televised special include Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Riley Green, Marcus King, Megan Moroney, Zach Top, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr., performing at venues across the city. the show will also include special appearances by Entertainment Tonight’s Cassie DiLaura, radio personality Buzz Brainard and UFC champion Kayla Harrison. Dwight Yoakam and Marcus King are slated to perform at Luke Combs’ bar, Category 10, which serves as the official watch party destination. Special guests Cody Alan and Caylee Hammack will also attend the watch party. the party is free for fans age 21 and older on a first come, first served basis, with doors opening at 6 p.m., per the press release.

A previously-issued release states that New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash will air live on Wednesday, Dec. 31 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT, 10:30 PM-1:30 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and stream on Paramount+. Premium subscribers will be able to stream the show live and on demand, and essential plan subscribers will be able to watch the special the day after it airs.

Bo Dalton