NEWS
Daddy Yankee photographed on Sept. 22, 2021 at the Faena Forum in Miami.
Mary Beth KoethTwo months after announcing that Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022 will host its first-ever Spanish-language countdown live from Puerto Rico, Billboard can unveil the first confirmed guests.
ABC and MRC Live & Alternative announced Tuesday (Dec. 7) that the 50th annual televised celebration will feature global Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee with a hometown performance in his native San Juan, as well as actress and singer Roselyn Sanchez as one of the co-hosts to oversee the end of year festivities on the island.
The inaugural Spanish-language countdown, which coincides with the celebration of San Juan’s 500th anniversary of its founding, is set to take place on the grounds of the Puerto Rico Convention Center and DISTRITO T-Mobile with host Seacrest overseeing New Year’s festivities in Times Square.
“We are very excited to host Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022 on our island and to count on this high-caliber event to project the greatness of Puerto Rico and our people,” said Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi in a statement. “This celebration not only allows Puerto Ricans to enjoy this great historic event; it also speaks to diverse communities around the world that our Island is ready to receive tourism and foster economic development. We have so much to offer as a destination, and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve will be a testament to all that Puerto Rico has to offer.”
Additionally, Grammy-winning superstar Ciara will celebrate her fifth year taking over the Los Angeles party with music by DJ D-Nice. Emmy-, Grammy- and Tony-winning actor Billy Porter will co-host the Central Time Zone countdown from New Orleans. Liza Koshy, who was the show’s correspondent in 2019, will make her return alongside Seacrest in New York. And, for the third consecutive year, Jessie James Decker will return as the Powerball correspondent.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022 will air live on Friday, Dec. 31, starting at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Puerto Rico’s countdown is set for 11 p.m. ET.
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest is produced by MRC Live & Alternative, which is owned by MRC. MRC and Penske Media are co-parent companies of Billboard.
NEWS
Lola Young has joined forces with Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) to release a new T shirt for the charity’s Lifelines collection.
The shirt supports CALM’s suicide prevention work, with proceeds helping to fund vital resources such as its helpline and CALMzone mental health app.
CALM introduced the Lifelines range last year, with Fontaines D.C., Blossoms and Inhaler also contributing their own designs to the collection.
Young’s design includes the words, “There’s a flicker of light. There’s always morning after the night”, taken from her track ‘Flicker Of Light’.
“I wrote this song about realising there is hope. I have often felt like there isn’t, but there is always a reason to keep going,” Young said. “That’s even when you don’t want to get out of bed, you do, and that is amazing, and you’re still here, and you’re still alive, and if anything, that’s something to be proud of.”
CALM CEO Simon Gunning also shared his appreciation for the collaboration, saying: “We couldn’t be more grateful to Lola for supporting ‘Lifelines’ and showing just how powerful music can be as a force for good.”
Priced at £30, the T shirts come in both standard and boxy fits and are available to purchase here.
Young has regularly spoken about her experiences with mental health. She returned to performing earlier this year after calling off her 2025 tour because of exhaustion. The decision followed her collapse during a performance in New York City. During her time away, she later discussed receiving support for addiction and attending AA meetings as part of her recovery.
In an interview with NME in May, Young explained that she believes “all healing journeys are never ending”, although she is now “definitely in a much better place”. She also said she feels “excited and ready to perform and to release music”.
Reflecting on the encouragement she received after publicly discussing those challenges, Young said: “My fans inspire me in the same way I hope to inspire them. I feel like I’ve never tried to be especially honest… it just comes very naturally to me.”
“I don’t really have any other choice but to be honest, so if people connect to that, and that’s amazing.”
Several musicians have also applauded the ‘Messy’ singer for honestly addressing the pressure placed on touring performers. Lily Allen said she was “in awe” of the BRIT and Grammy winner, while Victoria Canal credited Young with bringing greater attention to the damaging impact demanding tour schedules can have on artists’ mental wellbeing.
When NME asked whether musicians were beginning to establish firmer boundaries around their health, Young replied: “I never intended it to start a movement, but I hope that it does in some way.”
