Toby Keith, Eli Young Band Join Line Up of Fox's AMERICAN COUNTRY NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE, 12/31

As first reported on TVGuide.com, The Eli Young Band, Toby Keith and Joe Nichols will join the line up of performers on Fox's AMERICAN COUNTRY NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE.  The special will air on December 31st at 11:00 PM-12:30 AM ET live (CT/MT/PT tape-delayed) and will be broadcast from the Las Vegas strip and from New York City's Times Square. In addition, TV Guide reports that country music singer Rodney Carrington and Pawn Stars' Rick Harrison and Austin "Chumlee" Russell will be serving as hosts for the special. 

Fox had previously announced that the special will include musical performances by AMERICAN IDOL Season 10 finalist Lauren Alaina and country recording artist Rodney Atkins.  Mercury Nashville/19 Recordings/Interscope artist Lauren Alaina released her debut album, “Wildflower,” in October, which landed at No. 2 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart and an impressive No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. The AMERICAN IDOL Season 10 runner-up became the youngest female artist to debut this high on the Billboard charts since LeAnn Rimes’ debut 15 years ago, and “Wildflower” is the best-selling country female debut since 1996. Her single, “Georgia Peaches,” is currently No. 37 and rising on the Billboard Country Songs chart. The Rossville, GA, native will join superstars Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan on Aldean’s “My Kinda Party” Tour 2012, when it kicks off in January.

Platinum-selling singer/songwriter Rodney Atkins has an impressive track record for hitting on sentiments that strike a chord with country listeners. He’s landed six No. 1 hits from his first three albums (“If You’re Going Through Hell,” “Watching You,” “It’s America,” “Cleaning This Gun,” “These Are My People,” “Take A Back Road” and “Farmer’s Daughter,” which quickly skyrocketed to platinum) and he’s sold over four million singles in the past five years alone. His latest album, “Take A Back Road,” hit stores in October and features lead single and title track “Take A Back Road,” which has propelled him to even greater heights with its irresistibly catchy chorus and easygoing, windows-down, breezy summer vibe. It held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Country charts for two weeks in a row. In 2007, Atkins was named the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Male Vocalist, and the same year, he garnered Billboard’s Most Played Song of the Year Award for “Watching You.” He is also the national spokesperson for the National Council for Adoption.

During the special, comedian Howie Mandel will give a preview of his upcoming show 'Mobbed', which will return to Fox on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 9/8c.