Harry Connick Jr Added To ABCTV's New Year's Eve Spectacular

Harry Connick Jr is a last-minute addition to the already impressive lineup for ABCTV’s New Year’s Eve concert from Sydney Harbour. The It Had To Be You crooner will join the Queen of New Year’s Eve Casey Donovan to headline a stellar lineup of talent including Jessica Mauboy, Genesis Owusu, King Stingray, Confidence Man, Angie McMahon, Mark Seymour and Grentperez.

“I’m incredibly excited to be taking part in the ABC’s New Year’s Eve broadcast,” said Harry Connick Jr. “New Year’s Eve is such a special time of year, and it is a great honor to be welcoming in 2024 in Australia. I’m so happy to be performing alongside some of Australia’s greatest talent – whether you’re at the concert in person, or watching at home on TV, it will be night to remember.”

Connick Jr has hardly left our shores after moving here in 2022 for the filming of Australian Idol where he was a judge for the series return on Seven. Although he moved back to the states with his wife Jill after filming wrapped, it seems his family had an even better time than he did, with his daughters Georgia, Kate and Charlotte (all in their 20s) deciding to stay in Sydney permanently.

"We couldn't have lost them to a better place," Connick Jr recently said on The Project. Despite the local family connection, Connick Jr has not stayed on for the second season of Australian Idol which premieres in January with only local judges Kyle Sandilands, Amy Shark and the return of Marcia Hines.

Connick returned downunder for an Australian tour which wrapped up in Melbourne just before Christmas and it seems he’s stayed on to ring in the New Year with his family.

The Sydney Harbour concert event will be once again hosted by Zan Rowe and Charlie Pickering, this year joined by triple j breakfast host Concetta Caristo.

“I’m so excited to tell you that we have from Brisbane the incredible electric pop duo Confidence Man,” Rowe said, calling it a show that “has to be seen to be believed” and praising King Stingray as “one of the best bands in Australia right now from Northeast Arnhem Land.”

On Jessica Mauboy, Rowe added, “The powerhouse, the legend, the myth, the magic that is Jessica Mauboy is going to be bringing in the New Year as well. This is just the tip of the iceberg.”

We now know the iceberg had a Harry-shaped tip.