The 'NCIS: Los Angeles' star is forced to pull himself out of the annual countdown event after his coronavirus test came back positive, pointing out that it's 'disappointing.'
- December 30, 2021
AceShowbiz - LL Cool J has revealed that he has gotten sick with COVID-19. The "Rock The Bells" hitmaker was forced to cancel his performance on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022" after he tested positive for the deadly virus.
The "NCIS: Los Angeles" star announced that he got the virus on Wednesday, December 29. "I know it's disappointing to the millions of fans but my test came back positive for COVID, which means I'll no longer be able to perform as scheduled at NYRE," he stated.
"We were ready and I was really looking forward to ringing in 2022 in my hometown in a special way, but for now I wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year," Cool J continued. The former "Lip Sync Battle" host concluded his statement, saying, "The best is yet to come!"
It was also announced that singer Chloe Bailey will no longer take the stage at the show. However, the broadcast will still take place as planned starting at 8 P.M., airing live on ABC. Among those who are still scheduled to perform live from New York's Times Square are Journey and Karol G.
The show also will feature pre-taped performances from Los Angeles of AJR and Daisy the Great, Avril Lavigne and Travis Barker, Big Boi and Sleepy Brown, D-Nice, Don Omar and Nio Garcia, French Montana, Macklemore with Ryan Lewis and Windser, Mae Muller, Maneskin, Masked Wolf, OneRepublic, Polo G and Walker Hayes. In addition, there will be segments airing from New Orleans, where Billy Porter will perform, as well as Puerto Rico, where Daddy Yankee will take the stage.
The star-studded "NYRE" lineup also includes executive producer Ryan, who has hosted the show since 2005 after Dick suffered a stroke. Ryan and first-time co-host Liza Koshy will host the show in Times Square. As for the segments airing from New Orleans, it will be led by co-host Billy Porter. Meanwhile, co-host Roselyn Sanchez will be in charge of the festivities in Puerto Rico, the inaugural destination for the show's first Spanish-language countdown.
2021 will mark the 50th year that the beloved countdown show has been running. Despite concerns about the recent surge in COVID transmission, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the annual event would continue with scaled-back attendees in addition to social distancing and mask-wearing.
