The everyman country singer also performed his hits “Need a Favor” and “I Am Not Okay” at the city’s Big Bash
As we say goodbye to 2024, Jelly Roll is sending Toby Keith one last farewell for the year. Jelly, who performed during Nashville’s Big Bash New Year’s Eve special, paid tribute to the late country musician during his headlining performance. To honor Keith, who died in February, the singer performed his classic debut single “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.”
Jelly Roll opened his New Year’s Eve set in Nashville’s Bicentennial Park with “I Am Not Okay” and also sang his uplifting “Need a Favor” with help from a trio of background vocalists.
While goodbyes tend to be bittersweet, Nashville kept the party going all night. Big Bash New Year’s Eve 2025 booked headlining performances from Keith Urban, who co-hosted with Entertainment Tonight‘s Rachel Smith, and Kane Brown. The country blowout featured additional appearances, many of them pre-taped at bars downtown, from hitmakers Post Malone and Shaboozey as well as Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Big & Rich, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Tyler Hubbard, Lainey Wilson, Brittney Spencer, Chris Stapleton, and Zach Top.
New Year’s Eve went all out on country this year. Over on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, Dasha, Megan Moroney, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Ernest, and Cody Johnson delivered end-of-the-year performances, with Carrie Underwood singing live from Times Square. Underwood delivered “Before He Cheats” from her 2005 debut album Some Hearts, 2016’s “Church Bells” from Storyteller, and “Pink Champagne” from 2022’s Denim & Rhinestones. Underwood also revealed her upcoming Reflection concert special coming to Hulu in January.