Kermit the Frog Named Celebrity Conductor in ‘The Rose Parade’s New Year Celebration Presented by Honda’

Kermit the Frog on Monday was named celebrity conductor in “The Rose Parade’s New Year Celebration Presented by Honda.”

The popular muppet will lead the virtual performance showcasing high school and college seniors. The world’s most famous amphibian, an international film and TV star, is no stranger to the Rose Parade. In 1996 Kermit rode down Colorado Boulevard as grand marshal.

The segment will feature hundreds of students playing with bands from around the world which will come together for a special virtual performance of “Everything’s Coming up Roses.”

From Pennsylvania and San Diego to Sweden and Panama, these students will be part of history as the first virtual performance in the New Year celebration.

This year’s Rose Parade parade was canceled in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The Tournament of Roses Association has partnered with six broadcasters to air a two-hour entertainment special on New Year’s Day. The show will air during the time slot traditionally reserved for live coverage of the Rose Parade.

The special will air at 8 a.m. on ABC, Hallmark Channel, KTLA Channel 5, NBC and RFD-TV, and at 7 a.m. on Univision on Jan. 1.

To keep everyone safe, all new footage for the special was filmed using the strictest COVID safety protocols.

“The Tournament of Roses has invited all the bands who were scheduled to perform in the 2021 Rose Parade to join us for the 2022 Rose Parade,” according to a statement issued by the Tournament of Roses. “There are many seniors who will graduate and who will not have the opportunity to perform on January 1, so we’re giving them their very own, unique performance spotlight.”

The music and choreography were sent to each school for preparation and rehearsal, and each student submitted a video of themselves performing. The “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” musical arrangement and flag choreography for the routine was a collaborative effort by Kevin Sherrill (band director at Arcadia High School), Kyle Luck (band director at Pasadena City College), Joey Kidd (drill instructor at Arcadia High School) and the U.S. Marine Corps West Coast Composite Band.

The TV entertainment special – “The Rose Parade’s New Year Celebration presented by Honda” – will also feature special musical performances, heartwarming segments related to the Rose Parade, special Rose Bowl Game highlights, equestrians, celebrity guests, spectacular floats from years past, and New Year’s wishes from fans around the world.

For more information about “The Rose Parade’s New Year Celebration presented by Honda,” and a list of participating schools, visit tournamentofroses.com.