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CNN Live Event/Special
New Year's Eve Around the World; Moulin Rouge, Paris; New Year's in Abu Dhabi. Aired 3:30-4p ET
Aired December 31, 2025 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:30:00]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST: ... known as the Ryman Auditorium, where they met and just recently June Carter was inducted into the Music Country Music Hall of Fame. I think we are just about ready to roll. Certainly a happening city. Nashville, of course, gets about 17 million visitors every year. This is the heart and soul. We are at Ainsley Blue and so many Honky Tonks playing music right now tonight. Take it away with Ring of Fire.
(JOHN CARTER CASH AND ANA CHRISTINA CASH, SING RING OF FIRE)
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: An iconic song in a night of icons, and landmarks, and amazing things to see. You know what else is iconic? The Moulin Rouge in Paris. We got a chance to go behind the scenes, and it was unreal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: I'm Boris Sanchez, live at the Moulin Rouge, and this is CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[15:35:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN's New Year's Eve live. We're back out here in Paris with Sandy. By the way, Sandy, a spectacular choice. The sequin bedazzled look is very in tonight. We saw Isa wearing it. We saw John Berman wearing it. It's very good look.
SANDY HERIBERT, CNN HOST: I think you should borrow that a little later tonight.
SANCHEZ: Well, indeed.
HERIBERT: And then I wear this.
SANCHEZ: You know, I donned a vest last night that was sequined at the Moulin Rouge, the world-famous Moulin Rouge. Of course, they put on two shows a night, 365 days a year, 60-plus performers with 1,000 costumes a night.
HERIBERT: And 800 pairs of shoes, girls. SANCHEZ: 800 pairs of shoes. That is fantastic. So we got a chance to visit, obviously, last night, and it was unlike any -- I mean, I'm not a huge cabaret person. You could say I'm cabaret curious perhaps, but it was a show unlike any had ever seen.
HERIBERT: I know it's just amazing the performers. It's not only dancers, but you also have great athletes and circusians and it was just amazing. A full full show. And as you said, two shows a night that's just really impressive. Those guys and those dancers are so incredible. Great performers and we actually met some at the end of the show.
SANCHEZ: Yes, there's a contortionist. There are a pair of people on roller skates going.
HERIBERT: We should try that next year.
SANCHEZ: Maybe next year. We did try the can-can, and I don't know, I think it worked very well.
HERIBERT: We tried. Tried is the work.
SANCHEZ: Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Speaker 9
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So be careful, like --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hope you scratch.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
HERIBERT: Oh no, wait.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's going to be complicated, yes.
SANCHEZ: Some of that, do some of that. Some lunges.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you do a step, step, step, kick it, step, step, step, kick.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Exactly, down, down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you see?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can kick someone, absolutely.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Around the waist.
SANCHEZ: Around the waist, OK, OK, OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Under the leg.
SANCHEZ: Like that.
Like that?
Moulin Rouge, baby.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is for the boys.
SANCHEZ: Woo-hoo.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sure you're going to love it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. That's flowing. Wow. You look amazing. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a lot more stable.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think we're good for New Year's. Let's go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ (on camera): It's not easy to balance that headgear --
HERIBERT (on camera): It was so heavy.
SANCHEZ: -- but I'm telling you that bedazzled look is in. It's so in right now. You know who else is in? Melissa Bell. She is inside the Moulin Rouge live as we speak backstage. Melissa, it is so impressive. And look at that.
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I've gone with a little bit of the headgear as well. Nothing is glamorous as what's around me, you guys. The dancers here at the Moulin Rouge just preparing to go on stage. And I have to tell you, this is like a little girl's dream. A thousand costumes. This glamor, this beauty. Joda, tell me what we're about to see tonight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So were going to do fairy ring for 26 years at moulin rouge. And its just glamor and fun. And you'll see, of course, the French cancan.
BELL: Oh, the French cancan. What you guys got to taste yesterday, a beautiful spectacle then this evening.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, definitely. Lots of sparkles, lots of excitement. We're all really happy to be here dancing.
BELL: And you guys look absolutely amazing, Portia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you so much. We're just so happy to be here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it's great. BELL: There'll be a lot of cancan dancing. You guys got to taste it for yourselves yesterday, but it is a little girl's dream being surrounded by all this beauty, all of this glamor, and in a few moments, the spectacle itself of New Year's Eve heard the Moulin Rouge in Paris.
GROUP: Happy New Year!
SANCHEZ: Happy New Year to you all as well. You all look fantastic. Melissa, I love that top hat, quite a match with some of the headgear around you there. Laura, what did you think?
LAURA COATES, CNN HOST: Do you -- do you -- what did I think? Do you think I'm going to not talk about this right now? First of all, I need that outfit for you every single day, number one. Number two, I did not know that you were a natural redhead, but now it all makes sense.
But also, I thought you said contortionist. I was waiting for that to happen, Boris. That was magical, my friend. Magical. I loved it.
SANCHEZ: Listen, there is quite a bit about the Moulin Rouge that we cannot share with our viewers right now, because it is still kind of early in the afternoon in the United States, and there might be kids watching. So let's just say don't bring your kids to the Moulin Rouge.
COATES: I'm with you.
SANCHEZ: Do bring John Berman and Becky Anderson. John himself looks like a disco ball. I love that, Laura.
COATES: You know, we're headed back behind them because the fireworks are still wowing the crowds.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: We are all 52 to 2026 here. John's spinning the ball, and I'm going for it.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: And we are literally bringing the party. I'm literally bringing the party here with the disco ball.
ANDERSON: We are about 15 minutes away from the fireworks in Doha in Qatar, and -- having spoken to the guys there they are hoping to set a Guinness World Record in Doha tonight. Can you imagine that. 308 -- 3,865 fireworks launched from drones last year. The question is will they break that this year? Will they John?
BERMAN: We'll find out. Stay with us.
(FIREWORKS DISPLAY)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome to CNN's special New Year's Eve coverage. I'm Boris Sanchez, live in the city of lights, at Paris, France.
[15:50:00] My friend Laura Coates is in London, and we are just getting started because Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been absolutely spectacular. We are about to watch something even more amazing -- Laura.
COATES: And of course, moments from now, Qatar rings in 2026. We've got Becky Anderson and John Berman, who are standing by in Abu Dhabi. What are you seeing?
BERMAN: You know, when Boris said that he's going to see something more amazing, I can only assume he was talking about us and our sparkles here.
SANCHEZ: I was.
ANDERSON: It's a little noisy here. We're in Abu Dhabi bringing in the New -- 45 minutes into the New Year.
BERMAN: We are 45 minutes into the new year. About 10 minutes from some amazing fireworks in Doha.
ANDERSON: Yes, those are going to be amazing. Again, going to try and break a Guinness World Record. They love those here. So they're going for that. And you've been here for, what, 48 hours?
BERMAN: I got here like a minute and a half and we have had like 10 years worth of fun in the last few days.
ANDERSON: So here's the deal, guys. I said, look, we saw that a little bit of fun adventure, a bit of arts and culture for you. I challenged him. I said, come, listen, it'll be fun. It'll be lovely. It'll be relaxing. Bring the family. Didn't tell him about the adrenaline- fueled madness that he would experience.
BERMAN: Yes, take a look at what we did.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Jordans already getting into the car. My legs are shaking.
BERMAN: My heart is just beating.
ANDERSON: I mean, listen, its an experience of a lifetime. Absolutely, it's terrifying. What could possibly go wrong?
BERMAN: Makes me feel young.
ANDERSON: One more time.
I love it.
ANDERSON: This is the fastest roller coaster in the world.
BERMAN: How fast?
ANDERSON: Oh, yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah yeah.
BERMAN: Oh, yeah.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (on camera): Just an average 48 hours in Abu Dhabi.
BERMAN (on camera): I got to say, every time I see or hear a roller coaster, I'm reliving it again and it gets harder every time. What a few days you put me through here?
ANDERSON: Listen, it's been amazing having you here. Thank you for coming. Are you up for next year?
BERMAN: Any time. I've had so much fun. And I have to tell you, as I ended the night in my wife's sequin jacket, she looked at me and she said, Are you happy with your choices?
ANDERSON: She looked at you and she said, divorce.
BERMAN: Are you happy with your choices? And I said, Yes. Yes, I'm happy with my choices. Boris, Happy New Year, my friend.
ANDERSON: To you, my friend. Happy New Year to you guys.
SANCHEZ: Happy New Year to you, John and Becky. John, I am thrilled for you with all the choices that you're making. The only one I have to nitpick, the tiara. Why did you take the tiara off? Look at their faces on that roller coaster. They look fantastic. That is John Berman gearing into 2026. The G forces on his face. That looks amazing.
We are all jealous and excited for you. And that is exactly where that tiara belongs. Thank you both so much.
We'll get to the fireworks in Qatar in just a few moments, but we do have a very special performance. Florence and the Machine have a new album, Everybody Scream, and they are getting ready for a world tour next year. Here's one of their biggest hits, Cosmic Love.
(FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE, PERFORM COSMIC LOVE)
ANDERSON: Oh, hello.
BERMAN: Oh, hello.
ANDERSON: Welcome back to Abu Dhabi. We are some 90 seconds or so away from the fireworks, which are a forty-five minute flight from here. That will be (INAUDIBLE)
BERMAN: Doha, Qatar and here in Abu Dhabi, we're down to like the serious party animals and also the delirious children who are dancing everywhere they get. And also the television correspondents who are willing to put on anything that anyone hands them. Right.
ANDERSON: What I love about this is it is all about family here. It's all about community. And the kids are out really, really late. This is quite normal. I mean, not that the delirious kids are dancing on the stage at this time of night, but you do see the kids out really late. I mean really late here.
BERMAN: You know, we do a morning show. You know the last time I was up at 1 a.m. local time? Like never, like never. But this is so exciting --
ANDERSON: Is that why you dressed like this?
BERMAN: I had to wear sparkles to get started here. Look so ...
END
