The 2025 edition of CBS's Nashville's Big Bash New Year's Eve special faced significant backlash due to a major technical failure and lackluster performances. The show went dark for over 12 minutes during Lainey Wilson's set, abruptly switching to an unrelated scene from a Matlock rerun. Hosts Hardy and Bert Kreisher failed to engage viewers, while the lineup drew mixed reactions.
CBS's Nashville's Big Bash, an annual New Year's Eve broadcast originating from Nashville since 2021, encountered a disastrous technical mishap on December 31, 2024, during its 2025 edition. Approximately 45 minutes into the program, the feed cut out entirely for more than 12 minutes while Lainey Wilson was performing, leaving viewers in the dark. Co-host Bert Kreisher later attributed the issue to a power loss, but the network's decision to fill the gap with a rerun of the new Matlock series starring Kathy Bates exacerbated the confusion. Audiences tuning in for country music instead found themselves watching a scene featuring two Asian women in a heated, sexually charged discussion, prompting widespread online ridicule.
The mishap amplified existing criticisms of the show's production quality. Piped-in applause and overly enthusiastic club audiences felt inauthentic, with performers like Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts appearing stale. Hosts Hardy and Bert Kreisher were described as unfunny, with Hardy criticized for lacking screen presence. The lineup included bright spots such as Dwight Yoakam's performance, Zach Top's rendition of 'I Never Lie,' Stephen Wilson Jr.'s emotive 'Stand By Me,' and CeCe Winans' powerful gospel set, praised as a strong diversity choice over past token appearances.
However, acts like Bailey Zimmerman and a 'TEMU' version of Morgan Wallen were lambasted as emblematic of mediocrity, while headliners Lainey Wilson and Jason Aldean, despite recent accolades, were seen as far from superstar status in a polarized genre. Gretchen Wilson's repeated 'Redneck Woman' performance underscored the event's reliance on nostalgia. Social media erupted, with one tweet capturing the sentiment: 'Wow! Country music sure has changed. What a letdown. From Lainey to Dwight to Brooks & Dunn to Hardy to swinging lesbians. How times have changed.'
Ratings reflected the fallout, with ABC's Dick Clark special surging 35% year-over-year and outperforming CBS by 255%. Critics argue the Bash prioritizes Nashville promotion over authentic country representation, urging better hosts, resonant artists, and genuine energy to compete in a thriving genre.
