ABC 7’s “COUNTDOWN CHICAGO,” a Chicago tradition for over 30 years, returns to ring in the new year. This year’s special, airing December 31st at 11:25 p.m., promises to be the city’s biggest and most-watched local New Year’s Eve celebration. Hosts Val Warner, Ryan Chiaverini, Cheryl Scott, Terrell Brown, Hosea Sanders, and special guests Kenzie & Roman will guide viewers through a night of Chicago-style festivities.
The show will feature a spectacular opening dance performance by Cheryl Scott and Terrell Brown, followed by performances from internationally acclaimed dance-pop artist Cascada (performing “Everytime We Touch”) and GRAMMY-nominated R&B singer and actor Mario (performing “Keep Going (Aaaaahhhhh)” and “Let Me Love You”). The celebration will also capture the energy from various New Year’s Eve parties across the city, including the Salt Shed, Park West, and Little Village’s Mia Tierra. Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini will showcase Chicago house music from the “Chosen Few DJs” and “Hot Mix 5” at Park West, while Terrell Brown and Cheryl Scott join the revelry at the Salt Shed’s Lake Street Dive party. Hosea Sanders will introduce the evening’s musical guests. Kenzie & Roman will add to the festive atmosphere from Mi Tierra in Little Village.
This year marks the seventh consecutive year that Cheryl Scott and Terrell Brown will kick off the show with their signature dance number, a high-energy performance featuring dozens of dancers from Puzzle Box. The six-time Chicago Midwest Emmy Award-winning “COUNTDOWN CHICAGO” is consistently the most-watched local program in Chicago, and 2025 is expected to be no different. The broadcast will culminate with the grand finale—Chicago’s New Year’s Eve fireworks at midnight.
Executive producers Justyna Syska and Terrell Brown oversee this annual event, a staple of Chicago’s New Year’s Eve celebrations since its debut on December 31, 1991.
ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago is the number one local news source and most-watched television station in Chicago. With decades of top-rated daily newscasts and a significant social media presence (over 2.6 million Facebook followers), ABC7 Eyewitness News delivers breaking news, investigative reporting, weather, politics, traffic, and sports across multiple platforms to Chicago, its suburbs, and Northwest Indiana. In addition to its news coverage, ABC7 produces several award-winning programs, including “Chicago Proud,” “The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival,” “Our Chicago,” and “Windy City Weekend,” showcasing the city’s diversity, culture, and community spirit. The station also actively participates in community initiatives, including blood drives and fundraising efforts for local food pantries.