Dick Clark's NYE Special Really Rocks

Many New Year's Eve specials come and go, but we can always count on one staple: Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on ABC. With the exception of 2005, Clark hosted the iconic special every year from 1974 until his death in 2012 and his name has become nearly synonymous with New Year's. Due to Clark's health problems, Ryan Seacrest began co-hosting the special in 2006 and the torch was officially passed to him after Clark's death. If you want to feel like you're in Times Square without, you know, dealing with the massive crowds and sensory overload, this New Year's Eve special is where it's at. Aside from the annual countdown and ball drop event, there are always a number of musical performances on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

So, what's in store for 2017? According to ABC, the special will include five and a half hours of performances and reports on New Year's celebrations from all over the world. It'll be a busy night — Jenny McCarthy will be reporting live from Times Square, and viewers will get to watch some west coast festivities in the form of the Billboard Hollywood Party, which is hosted by none other than Fergie.

But, who exactly is in the lineup for the nearly six hours of performances? The musical star of the night is undeniably Mariah Carey — she'll perform live for over one million people in Times Square moments before the ball drops, meaning she'll be the artist to give the last big musical performance of 2016. She was the first performer to sing live on Dick Clark's special, so it's fitting that Carey is the headliner for the broadcast's 45th anniversary.

Carey is thrilled to return to the Times Square celebration. In a statement issued last month, she said:

"I am so excited to return to Dick Clark’s New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest and feel blessed to be a part of this year's magical celebration. I can't wait to perform once again for my incredible fans as we ring in the New Year together live from Times Square."

Don't worry — you won't be twiddling your thumbs for the entire evening while you wait for Carey to take the stage. The up-and-coming pop group DNCE is also slated to perform and their songs are the type that'll make you want to get up and dance — even if it's just in your living room.

Country singer-songwriter Thomas Rhett will also take the stage, so a variety of musical genres will be represented. I'm particularly excited to see Gloria Estefan perform with the cast of her Broadway musical On Your Feet! The show is based on the lives of Estefan and her husband — and she's the lyricist, composer, and orchestrator. Estefan herself isn't a cast member, so it'll be a treat to see her onstage with the show's stars.

So, whether you love country, show tunes, or good old-fashioned pop music, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve has got your musical needs covered. And, the breaks between performances will give us a glimpse at how cities all across the globe are ringing in 2017. What could be better?