Tauren Wells, Carrie Underwood Among Performers Announced for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Dove Award-winning artist Tauren Wells and Grammy Award-winning Carrie Underwood have been announced as performers for the 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, airing Nov. 25 on NBC. The two popular artists are familiar voices to faith-based audiences, having gained awards and attention from both pop and gospel listeners.

Wells, who received a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year for “Famous For (I Believe),” will perform on a float sponsored by Cracker Barrel.

“I cannot believe I will be performing on the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store float in the 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!!” Wells said on social media. “I’ve watched this parade with my family every year for as long as I can remember. It’s a dream I didn’t know to dream, come true! Be sure to tune in!! I am counting down the days!!”

Underwood, who released the gospel project “My Savior” earlier this year, will perform selections from her Christmas project, “My Gift.” An expanded version of the Christmas album with three additional songs is available now.

In addition to Wells and Underwood, the Parade will feature aespa, Jimmie Allen, Jon Batiste, “Blue’s Clues & You!” host Josh Dela Cruz and the former hosts of “Blue’s Clues” Steve Burns and Donovan Patton, Kristin Chenoweth, Darren Criss, Jordan Fisher, Foreigner, the cast of Peacock’s “Girls5eva” (Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell, Busy Philipps), Andy Grammer, Mickey Guyton, Chris Lane, Miss America Camille Schrier, the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street®, Nelly, Kim Petras, Kelly Rowland, Rob Thomas, Tai Verdes, and Zoe Wees; with an extra special appearance by Santa Claus.

The 95th march of the world-famous Parade will feature 15 giant character balloons, 28 floats, 36 novelty and heritage inflatables, more than 800 clowns, 10 marching bands, and 9 performance groups, a host of musical stars, and the one-and-only Santa Claus. Broadway’s best musicals will also perform including “SIX,” “Moulin Rouge!” and one of Broadway’s longest-running hits “Wicked,” along with a sneak preview of NBC’s “Annie Live!” In addition, the show-stopping Radio City Rockettes® will bring their signature magic to Herald Square.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have paradegoers back on the streets of Manhattan to join in person for this wonderful spectacle,” said Doug Vaughan, Executive Vice President, Special Programs, NBCU Television and Streaming. “The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is an incredible tradition and we take great pride in bringing it to viewers each year as they celebrate the kickoff of the holiday season.”

“For more than nine decades, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has served to bring joy to millions, who gather with friends and family to experience this one-of-a-kind holiday celebration along the streets of New York City and in homes nationwide,” said Will Coss, Executive Producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “For our 95th celebration, Macy’s has created a spectacle to remember featuring a dazzling array of high-flying balloons, animated floats and incredible performers. We can’t wait to help New York City and the nation kick off the holiday season with the return of this cherished tradition.”

New floats joining the line-up this year include Ada Twist, Scientist by Netflix; a Funko Pop! inspired Grogu™ (a.k.a. Baby Yoda in pop culture) from the Star Wars™ series “The Mandalorian™,” Ronald McDonald® by McDonald’s® and Pikachu™ & Eevee™ by The Pokémon International Company.

Making returning appearances to the skies above New York City are giant balloon favorites including Astronaut Snoopy by Peanuts Worldwide; The Boss Baby by DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures; Diary of A Wimpy Kid® by Abrams Books; Sinclair’s DINO® by Sinclair Oil Corporation; Goku by Toei Animations, Inc.; Chase from PAW Patrol® by Nickelodeon; Pillsbury Doughboy™ by Pillsbury™; Red Titan from “Ryan’s World” by Sunlight Entertainment and pocket.watch; Papa Smurf from The Smurfs by Nickelodeon; Sonic the Hedgehog by SEGA; and SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary by Nickelodeon.

The nation’s best marching bands are ready to strike it up and bring the beat to the holiday revelry. Joining the line-up are The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders (Austin, TX), Brownsburg High School (Brownsburg, IN), Centerville High School (Dayton, OH), Hampton University (Hampton, VA), Lincoln Way High School (Frankfort, IL), Macy’s Great American Marching Band (United States), NYPD Marching Band (New York, NY), Trabuco Hills High School (Mission Viejo, CA), Union High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma), and University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL).

Taking entertainment to the next level will be the Parade’s beloved performance groups who bring joy to spectators along the route and viewers watching from home. The 95th Parade will feature the dancers of Ballet Hispánico’s School of Dance, the Broadway Education Alliance Youth Choir, Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Indigenous Direction, J.U.M.P. (Jumpers United for Macy’s Parade), the St. John’s Dance Team, Spirit of America Cheer and Spirit of America Dance Stars, and the Young People’s Chorus of NYC.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast is produced by the Emmy Award-winning Brad Lachman Productions. Brad Lachman serves as executive producer, Bill Bracken will co-executive produce and Ron de Moraes directs.

For decades the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been one of the nation’s most anticipated and watched holiday celebrations. Viewers nationwide can catch all the action via the special broadcasts on NBC and Telemundo, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. in all time zones, and for the first time fans can also livestream coverage on Peacock. Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker from “Today” will host the three-hour telecast for NBC and Peacock. NBC will air an encore of the Parade from 2-5 p.m. ET. For more information, click here.

Watch Tauren Wells perform “Famous For (I Believe)” below.

DEWAYNE HAMBY is a communications specialist and longtime journalist covering faith-based music, entertainment, books, and the retail industry. He is the author of the book “Gratitude Adjustment.” Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or InstaGram.