NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Cher is obviously a superstar but even a superstar can be the opening act when it comes to Santa.
Organizers of this year's have nabbed the Oscar-, Emmy- and Grammy Award-winner for their 97th annual event. Cher will make her appearance just before the parade's end, signaled by the arrival of Santa鈥檚 sleigh, parade organizers said.
This year鈥檚 parade will feature 16 giant character balloons, 26 floats, 32 novelty and heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 700 clowns and eight performance groups.
It's a busy time for Cher, who is preparing to release a 25th-anniversary edition of her Grammy-winning album 鈥淏elieve鈥� and just dropped her
For the first time in its long history, the holiday tradition will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET, half an hour earlier than previous years, kicked off by multi-instrumentalist and .
There will be appearances by Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Chicago, En Vogue, ENHYPEN, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, Jessie James Decker, Ashley Park with some Muppets from 鈥淪esame Street,鈥� , Paul Russell, Amanda Shaw and Alex Smith, and Manuel Turizo.
U.S. Olympic gymnastics silver medalist Jordan Chiles, U.S. track and field Paralympian Ezra Frech and U.S. Paralympic swimming gold medalist Jessica Long and Miss America 2023 Grace Stanke will also join the festivities.
Seven new balloon giants will join the lineup: 鈥淏eagle Scout Snoopy,鈥� 鈥淏lue Cat & Chugs,鈥� 鈥淜ung Fu Panda鈥檚 Po,鈥� 鈥淟eo,鈥� 鈥淢onkey D. Luffy,鈥� 鈥淧illsbury Doughboy鈥� and 鈥淯ncle Dan.鈥�
Broadway will be represented by performances from 鈥�& Juliet,鈥� 鈥淏ack to the Future: The Musical,鈥� 鈥淗ow To Dance In Ohio,鈥� 鈥淪hucked鈥� and 鈥淪pamalot,鈥� with an appearance by Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells of 鈥淕utenberg! The Musical!"
Returning giant balloons include 鈥淏luey,鈥� 鈥淒iary of a Wimpy Kid,鈥� 鈥淧aw Patrol,鈥� 鈥淩yan's World,鈥� 鈥淧ikachu,鈥� 鈥淩onald McDonald,鈥� "Stuart the Minion" and 鈥淪pongeBob SquarePants.鈥�
The Macy鈥檚 parade has been a traditional holiday season kickoff and spectators often line up a half-dozen deep along the route to cheer the marchers, floats, entertainers and marching bands. The parade has lately asked icons to be the last guest before Santa, with last year Mariah Carey fitting the bill.
A marching band from in Parkland, the scene of one of the nation's worst school shootings, will represent Florida. Other marching bands this year will represent Alabama, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Washington, New York, Illinois, New Jersey and Texas.
Floats include ones from brands like Lego, 鈥淧eanuts,鈥� 鈥淏aby Shark,鈥� 鈥淭eenage Mutant Ninja Turtles鈥� and 鈥淪esame Street.鈥�
The parade airs on NBC and streams on Peacock. Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker from 鈥淭oday鈥� will host and a Spanish language simulcast on Telemundo will be hosted by Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza.
___
Mark Kennedy is at
Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
