FOX inks Daughtry and Lynyrd Skynyrd for New Year's Show

By April MacIntyre Dec 22, 2008, 13:34 GMT

Spike Feresten - FOX has inked Daughtry and Lynyrd Skynyrd to perform on New Year\'s Eve Live airing Wednesday, Dec. 31 (11:00 PM-12:30 AM ET live; CT/MT/PT tape-delayed). © Inez Lewis / PR Photos

FOX has inked Daughtry and Lynyrd Skynyrd to perform on New Year's Eve Live airing Wednesday, Dec. 31 (11:00 PM-12:30 AM ET live; CT/MT/PT tape-delayed).

Talk show host Spike Feresten and Mark Thompson will host from the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip and lead the count down to 2009. The evening will feature performances by David Cook, Daughtry, Scott Weiland and Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as a death-defying motorcycle jump by daredevil Robbie Knievel.

Special correspondent Chrissy Russo of KSWB/FOX 5 San Diego will join Feresten for special interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at three of Cirque du Soleil’s Las Vegas shows “Zumanity, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil,” “The Beatles Love” and the new “Criss Angel Believe™.”

As 2008 comes to a close, the annual celebration will move to New York City to ring in the New Year with FOX News’ live coverage of the world-famous New Year’s Eve Ball making its descent into Times Square.

A North Carolina native, Daughtry is a rock band formed and fronted by American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry in 2006. Their self-titled debut album was released that same year and reached No. 1 for two non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200, sold more than four million copies and was named the number one selling album of 2007 by Billboard. Their singles “It's Not Over” and “Home” both ranked in the Top 10 of the most-played songs on U.S. radio in 2007.

American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd was formed in 1970 and is best known for their legendary hits “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird.”

In 1977, a plane crash claimed the lives of several members including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. The band reunited ten years later, and current members include Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Rickey Medlocke, Ean Evans, Michael Cartellone, Mark Matejka and Johnny Van Zant, who replaced his older brother Ronnie. Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Criss Angel was recently been named “Magician of the Decade” by the International Magicians Society.