1. NEW HOSTS JOIN DICK CLARK’S NEW YEAR’S ROCKIN’ EVE: Actress and singer Lucy Hale will join perennial host Ryan Seacrest to ring in the new year from New York’s Times Square on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2020. They will be joined by Billy Porter, who will host New Orleans-based festivities for the first time, and Ciara, who host the Los Angeles celebration for the third year. The show will mark Seacrest's 15th year as the host of the broadcast. The Hollywood Reporter: “Hale previously hosted the New Orleans portion of the show, but this year she will take over Jenny McCarthy's hosting duties in New York. McCarthy revealed in October on Live With Kelly and Ryan that she would not return to host the New York festivities because she wanted to spend more time with her family ahead of filming the new season of The Masked Singer.”
2. FIRST LADY GETS HECKLED AT YOUTH OPOID SUMMIT: First Lady Melania Trump went to Baltimore Tuesday for her "Be Best" campaign, and faced a chorus of boos from attendees at a youth summit discussing the nation's opioid crisis. The heckling only went on for about a minute, according to CNN's Kate Bennett, who was at the event, but the audience remained uncooperative. Attendees were speaking over Trump’s remarks throughout her speech to the B'More Youth Summit. CNN: “The first lady later responded to the booing in a statement to CNN: ‘We live in a democracy and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the fact is we have a serious crisis in our country and I remain committed to educating children on the dangers and deadly consequences of drug abuse.’”
3. CELEBRITY CRUISES FORCED TO PAY DAMAGES TO AN ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY: A South Florida-based live entertainment company has prevailed in a $6 million lawsuit against Celebrity Cruises. Poet Theatrical Marine—along with three affiliated companies—claimed Celebrity breached its contract by returning equipment and costumes in poor condition, and used its photos, videos, and concepts for performances after their partnership expired. The entertainers were hired to create a Cirque du Soleil-style show on five ships. Law.com: “Under the arrangement, Celebrity was charged with maintaining all costumes and equipment, and returning them to Poet in show-ready condition. But instead, [Poet attorney] Mark Mintz claims more than $400,000 worth of gear was lost, destroyed, or in poor condition. And though Celebrity allegedly agreed to cover those costs, Poet claimed it allowed late fees of $750 per day to rack up instead."