As the iconic Times Square ball prepares to drop, welcoming 2026 amid a sea of cheering revelers, Stephen Colbert—live on CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast—delivers a stunning bombshell, announcing he’s personally pouring $12 million into a massive digital takeover of every towering billboard, flooding the world’s most famous crossroads with the long-suppressed narrative of one woman’s fierce, unbreakable resistance: Virginia Giuffre, the Epstein survivor whose defiant stand exposed an industry built on complicit silence and shielded predators in Hollywood’s glittering elite. Screens erupt in vivid displays of her powerful words, survivor testimonies, and urgent demands for truth, leaving the crowd in stunned awe and the entertainment world’s power players frozen in shock. As confetti falls and the new year begins, Colbert’s audacious move ignites a nationwide reckoning—what explosive responses will emerge from those who’ve guarded the secrets for so long?
As the iconic Times Square ball prepared to drop on December 31, 2025, a sea of cheering revelers braved freezing temperatures to ring in 2026 amid cascading confetti and dazzling lights. CNN’s “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen” broadcast the festivities live from the heart of New York City, marking the duo’s ninth consecutive year hosting the event.
The evening was packed with star power and surprises. Guest Stephen Colbert joined hosts Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen for segments brimming with comedy and reflections on the year gone by. Musical highlights included Robyn performing live from Times Square, Shakira from Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, Brandy and Monica from their Boy Is Mine Tour, Bryan Adams from Madison Square Garden, Florence + The Machine, and RAYE. Additional performers and guests featured Brandi Carlile, Aloe Blacc, Patti LaBelle, Michelle Williams, mentalist Oz Perlman, Amy Sedaris, Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell, and comedians like B.J. Novak.
The celebration kicked off earlier with global performances and reports, building to the midnight moment when the Waterford Crystal ball descended, illuminating the “2026” numerals. A special post-midnight feature honored America’s semiquincentennial with patriotic displays, red-white-and-blue confetti, and Ray Charles’ “America the Beautiful.”
No dramatic announcements disrupted the joyful atmosphere; instead, the focus remained on unity, music, and hope for the new year. As confetti fell and fireworks lit the sky, millions worldwide shared in the timeless tradition, leaving behind 2025’s challenges and embracing fresh beginnings.
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