CBS’ Nashville’s Big Bash was the highest-rated New Year’s Eve special

NEW Year’s Eve host Ryan Seacrest has beat out CNN rivals Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper by nearly 5 million viewers, but another special came out on top to upstage both in ratings.

Ryan, 50, hosted Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on ABC.

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ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest came in second in ratingsCredit: Getty

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Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper’s New Year’s Eve Live finished in thirdCredit: Getty
According to Variety, the first part of the special, which aired from 8pm to 10pm, had 7 million viewers, a 35 percent increase from last year’s show.

The 10:30pm to 11:30pm telecast had 10.4 million viewers tune in, while the 11:30pm to 12:30am block had 18 million total viewers.

The outlet claims at the time of the ball drop in New York’s Times Square, 22.2 million viewers tuned in.

CNN’s broadcast New Year’s Eve Live with hosts Anderson, 57, and Andy, 56, averaged 2.33 million viewers during the 8pm to 10pm block.

Coming out on top was CBS’ Nashville’s Big Bash hosted by country singer Keith Urban and Miss USA 2007 Rachel Smith with 8.31 million viewers during the 7:30pm to 10pm block.

For the 11:30pm to 12:30am time slot, 8.17 million viewers tuned in, while 7.24 million watched from 12:30am to 1:05am.

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CBS’ Nashville’s Big Bash hosted by country singer Keith Urban and Miss USA 2007 Rachel Smith had the highest ratings of the primetime slotCredit: Alamy

HOST FEUD

The Wheel of Fortune host drawing in more viewers than Andy and Anderson comes after his feud with the Bravo producer.

During the 2022 New Year’s Eve broadcast, Andy said, “There’s smoke coming from Ryan Seacrest’s group of losers that are performing behind us.

“I mean with all due, if you’ve been watching ABC tonight, you’ve seen nothing. I’m sorry, it’s true.”

Andy backtracked days later, as he said on his SiriusXM show, “The only thing that I regret saying, the only thing is that I slammed the ABC broadcast, and I really like Ryan Seacrest, and he’s a great guy.

“And I really regret saying that, and I was just stupid and drunk and feeling it.”

But Ryan fueled the feud a year later when he claimed Andy snubbed him when he said hello during the 2023 broadcast.

Ryan said when he co-hosted Live! with Kelly and Ryan, “My big stage was right in front of Anderson and Andy and so when I was not working, I was trying to get their attention.

“I thought maybe I was in the shot. I just wanted to wave and say hi. You know, they have a great show.”

While Anderson turned around to wave at him, Andy did not.

Then in September 2024, the two revealed there is no bad blood when Ryan appeared on Watch What Happens Live.

Andy said, “I don’t even remember what the feud was about.”

Ryan responded “I don’t, either,” and, said “the beef has been squashed.”

CARRIE’S MOMENT

Ryan’s New Year’s Eve broadcast had fans still talking days later because of musical guest Carrie Underwood.

During one of Carrie’s performances, she sparked pregnancy rumors when she wore a loose-fitting black and gold dress over the top of her sparkling suit.

The costume change prompted viewers to turn to social media to ask if she’s expecting.

One person wrote on X, “Carrie Underwood is great tonight! The outfit choices are making me think she’s trying to hide a potential baby bump????”

Another said, “Carrie Underwood sportin a baby bump?”

A third wrote, “Is Carrie Underwood pregnant?”

A fourth added, “My gf said the same thing and I came to Twitter to see if anyone else thought the same.”

Carrie, 41, and her husband, Mike Fisher, have two kids, Isaiah, nine, and Jacob, five.

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Carrie sparked pregnancy speculation during her performancesCredit: Getty