CBS Faces Technical Glitch During New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash
NASHVILLE — CBS’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash ran into an unexpected hiccup Wednesday night, Dec. 31, when the live broadcast went offline for roughly 12 minutes, sparking a flurry of reaction on social media.
The five-hour special, featuring country music heavyweights including Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Dwight Yoakam, Bailey Zimmerman, and Lainey Wilson, was interrupted about 50 minutes in while Wilson was mid-song, according to Variety. Viewers reported the network cut to commercials, then briefly aired an episode of Matlock to fill the dead air, before returning to the live show.
CBS attributed the interruption to “technical difficulties.” Once the broadcast resumed, hosts Bert Kreischer and Hardy issued an on-air apology before Gretchen Wilson, known for her hit “Redneck Woman,” took the stage.
Social media users were quick to express frustration. One viewer wrote on X, “Trying to watch the Nashville Big Bash and it’s jumping all over the place. Was watching Lainey Wilson perform and it froze, then a news ad, then Matlock, then back to ads. What the hell???” Another simply posted, “What a huge mess up!!!”
CBS has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the glitch, which originated from Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, where the live event was being held.
streaming on Paramount+.
The special was executive produced by Robert Deaton and Mary Hilliard Harrington in partnership with Music City Inc., the foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp., and directed by Sandra Restrepo. It aired on CBS from 8–10 p.m. ET/PT and 10:30 p.m.–1:30 a.m. ET/PT, with streaming available on Paramount+.
In addition to the televised audience, fans could join the in-person watch party at Luke Combs’ Category 10 venue in Nashville, where attendees experienced the music live despite the broadcast interruption.