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CNN Live Event/Special
137th Rose Parade. Aired 11:30a-12p ET
Aired January 01, 2026 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:33:14]
COY WIRE, CNN HOST: Welcome back to the Rose Parade.
And we are looking at Visit Mississippi's float, featuring a performance by Mississippi's own Charlie Worsham.
(MUSIC)
[11:35:00]
(MUSIC)
(CHEERING)
WIRE: What a performance by the 2024 country Music Association musician of the year, Charlie Worsham, on the Visit Mississippi float, where creativity blooms.
If you're wondering about Kermit the Frog...
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN HOST: Yes.
WIRE: ... well, that is in honor to Jim Henson, the Mississippi native, and the legacy of the Muppets.
MICHAELSON: Yes, I mean, it's a beautiful float. And they have books on the back of it which are all written by Mississippi authors as well. Way to go, Mississippi.
Now to our Past President Award winner for innovation in floral and non-floral. And this is the float from South Pasadena, which I profiled along the way as it was made here on CNN. We see all these ants. That took 70 hours to make each of them, to put some beans on each. We can see some of the glue is running.
(LAUGHTER)
MICHAELSON: The idea of this, though, is that you have got this bear, and the ants are stealing his food. South Pasadena is a small city, 26,000 people. They have made a float every year since 1893, the longest self-built float. The city comes together, raises about $150,000 to make this. It didn't
look exactly like that when it ended.
(LAUGHTER)
MICHAELSON: But you know what? They're still here still, putting it through, still won an award. So, bravo to our friends from South Pasadena, a great tradition in that community to put this together every year.
WIRE: Yes, I don't know if the bear is unhappy because he has his food stolen or because he's having to endure all of this rain. But they're hanging in there. Look at them go.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
I mean, that's what they talked about that the big risk was the glue. And we are seeing some of that.
WIRE: All right.
(CROSSTALK)
WIRE: Hailing from Arcadia, California, the Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band and Color Guard, they have consistently been an award-winning ensemble in Southern California for more than half-a- century.
Let's listen in. Take it away.
(MUSIC)
MICHAELSON: Shout-out to our friends from Arcadia making their 17th appearance here at the Rose Parade. And what a great day for them, for their parents to be on this worldwide stage, an estimated 50 million people watching around the world for this show that both highlights Southern California and different countries.
And it also highlights a pretty popular beer company, Budweiser. You see those Clydesdales, which we have seen in those commercials for so many years. They're here, about 10 of them, along with the Dalmatian. That's part of their crew showcasing.
And, Coy, I'm sure there's plenty of people who drank some Budweiser last night.
WIRE: I think so, some or maybe a lot.
The thing that's mind-blowing about these harnesses that you see the Clydesdales wearing, all handcrafted, patent leather. They're decorated with solid brass ornamentation costing over $100,000.
All right, next up, the Wrigley Legacy Award winner, the most outstanding display of floral presentation, float design and entertainment. It's Trader Joe's You Float Our Boat, a celebratory tribute to loyalty, enthusiasm and community spirit, customers bringing Trader Joe's each and every day joy.
You can see water flowing there from a bottle and pouring into a glass with a straw at the front. Fruit elements are decorated with straw flower raspberries, cherries. We have green split peas, parsley, coffee, and...
MICHAELSON: And -- look, and some great outfits.
WIRE: Incredible.
MICHAELSON: I mean, look at what these guys are wearing with the bubbles they have got going. This thing is really festive.
And Trader Joe's is fun. That's part of what makes it so fun to shop there.
WIRE: I feel like they're going to work after this, because when you walk in at Trader Joe's, it is fun. As a family with two young daughters...
MICHAELSON: Whoa!
[11:40:00]
WIRE: Oh, look at this. Pop that bottle baby. Happy 2026. Happy new year.
Our two young daughters, we say, let's go to Trader Joe's, they're like, yes, please, because they like going and finding the stuffed animal, the little mini chipmunk. And if they find it in the store, they get a lollipop.
MICHAELSON: Oh, wow.
WIRE: They do a great job of bringing in the customers and having fun.
MICHAELSON: And bringing in the fireworks, literally, as we start off 2026.
Trader Joe's always has one of the most impressive floats. And this year is no exception to that as well. Way to go to that team.
Now we move on to Rotary International, which has named their flight -- their float Unite For Good. Of course, Rotary International is a global service organization. It's all about bringing together men and women from all different backgrounds. And you see them highlighting the animal kingdom with their float as well, all different animals on this float.
We see zebras highlighted and flamingos and giraffes as well, really an impressive, impressive thing, looking at the African savanna landscape.
WIRE: This is phenomenal. And to think that we're here being rained upon. There's no sunshine, but look at the colors. Look how vibrant these floats are.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
WIRE: It's so impressive. These -- some of these teams spend a year or more putting them together.
Now next up, we have an international group coming through, the Mino Jiyu Gakuen, the Golden Bears Marching Band private high school in Mino City, Osaka Prefecture in Japan.
MICHAELSON: You pronounced that very well. Nicely done.
WIRE: Thank you very much. I spent a couple hours on that, 250 members, largest ever Japanese band in the Rose Parade. The cheerleading team, they are one of the most successful teams in Japan, having won 42 national level titles.
Let's listen in.
(MUSIC)
WIRE: Look at them celebrating America's 250th birthday.
MICHAELSON: The most patriotic band was the one from Japan.
(LAUGHTER)
MICHAELSON: I love it.
All right, it's time. It's time for my favorite float, Star Trek, 60th anniversary. They're celebrating it with the Space for Everybody flight -- float, which we are looking at, which includes the Starship Enterprise right there.
WIRE: Wow.
MICHAELSON: We hear the Star Trek theme song, and we see different cast members highlighted as well, Karim Diane, who's "Starfleet Academy," Rebecca Romijn, who is from "Strange New Worlds." Tig Notaro is from "Starfleet Academy," which is just coming out, and George Takei, of course, from the original series, still going 60 years later.
He gets to sit in the captain's chair after all of those years, doing the Spock "Live long and prosper" to the crowd. What a legend and icon he is.
WIRE: Look at that.
MICHAELSON: And then look at the transporters. This is the really cool part of all this. They have got a set of twins in the transporters as well. So, happy birthday, Star Trek.
We're going to sneak in a quick commercial break. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:48:09]
MICHAELSON: Welcome back to the 137th Rose Parade presented by Honda. I'm Elex Michaelson, along with Coy Wire.
The parade continues, Coy.
WIRE: Yes.
And we are welcoming in the Lutheran Hour Ministries float, Bringing Christ to the Nations, the Lutheran Hour Ministries Rose Parade float here, 75th consecutive year.
MICHAELSON: Oh, my God. Jesus made it to the float.
WIRE: He's going to turn all this rainwater into wine.
MICHAELSON: This is a different -- this is a big year. We got breaking news. Jesus is making a comeback.
(LAUGHTER)
WIRE: Oh, you have the Team Jesus Blimp rising above the deck, the message, all are welcome. And just a reminder, every inch of these have to be covered with natural materials. So, that lettering, we're talking white carnation petals, purple fine-cut blossoms.
There are black beans on this thing, orange lentils, kidney beans, split peas, fine ground rice, and Jesus.
MICHAELSON: And Jesus. What more do you need? Thanks to the Lutheran Hour Ministries for that.
OK, let's talk football, Coy.
(CHEERING)
WIRE: You can hear the crowd starting to get pumped up. Kind of a big day here in Pasadena with the Rose Bowl coming up.
This is Indiana University and Indiana University cheerleaders. They will be paraded right into that Rose Bowl, where the granddaddy of them all will kick off later today. It's the oldest ball game, since 1945. They will be playing Alabama. Indiana is the number one team in the nation. This is not just a basketball school anymore.
MICHAELSON: Yes, I mean, talk about how unbelievable and unlikely it is that Indiana is here.
WIRE: I mean, it is incredible what their head coach, Curt Cignetti, has done. He has transformed this school football wise from a bottom feeder to Big Ten champions to the number one ranked team in the nation. He's got a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza.
[11:50:05]
This team has that elusive it that every coach looks for, that magic. They're not the biggest, fastest and strongest, but they work harder. They play smarter and you have to play almost perfectly to take them down.
MICHAELSON: And they have got quite a marching band as well. Let's listen to it.
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(CHEERING)
MICHAELSON: This is such a big deal for Indiana. We have seen so many Hoosier people all over the place, because this is something you would never think would have happened at the beginning of the year.
(CROSSTALK)
MICHAELSON: Now we're looking at the Hall of Fame inductees in terms of the Rose Bowl game. They are riding that on a car here, which includes flowers from the official floral partner which is FTD.
And the Hall of Fame this year includes Montee Ball, who we're looking at right there who graduated from Wisconsin as the all-time leader in touchdowns scored. He scored -- rushed for 100 yards in three Rose Bowl games.
And next to him is Bob Stoops, who, of course, retired in 2017 as Oklahoma's all-time winningest coach. He played in the Rose Bowl when he was in Iowa and then he, of course, coached the Rose Bowl for Oklahoma. And he went to 18 consecutive bowl games during his time as a coach.
You have played in the Rose Bowl yourself while you were at Stanford. Talk to us about what it's like to be a part of that game.
WIRE: Oh, it's incredible. And, ironically, at Stanford University we played against Wisconsin that year. They had a heck of a running back named Ron Dayne.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
WIRE: He won the Heisman Trophy, and he ran all over us.
But I will now move to the Bob Hope Humor Award winner for most whimsical and amusing float in this parade. The city of Alhambra, Bee Magical Together is their theme. Located eight miles from downtown L.A., the city of Alhambra known as the gateway to San Gabriel Valley.
MICHAELSON: Yes, Alhambra has been in this parade for 97 years. And what's cool, Coy, an eighth grader designed this.
Every year, they go to their students and ask them to submit designs. So, Nok Han Lee submitted the winning bid and is now seeing his vision come to -- how cool is it? Can you imagine being in middle school and then your float becomes the Rose Parade float?
WIRE: You're setting the bar pretty high for yourself.
MICHAELSON: Yes. Yes.
WIRE: That is impressive.
And look at the flapping wings. I mean, it's just incredible what they're able to do and the hours and hours and weeks and months that they spend putting these things together from design to execution. And they nailed it.
MICHAELSON: And that bee, because of the rain, has a few bald spots. So he might need to get some Rogaine.
WIRE: There's nothing wrong with a bald spot, Elex.
(LAUGHTER)
WIRE: Next up, here they come rolling in the Alabama Crimson Tide...
MICHAELSON: Roll Tide, roll.
WIRE: ... Million Dollar Band performing in front of millions of fans each year. They have been a Crimson Tide tradition for 106 years. Let's listen in to some of the 400 members chosen as one of the only 10 bands to march in the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2026.
(MUSIC)
WIRE: That's a big band.
MICHAELSON: They're playing "Tusk," which was a song recorded by the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band that they won platinum. So it's interesting that they're here playing USC's song.
USC, of course, has played in more Rose Bowls than any other school, but not playing anywhere close to the Rose Bowl this year.
WIRE: And you forgot to mention that is your school.
MICHAELSON: That is my school, but a shout-out to our CNN colleague Kaitlan Collins, who "Roll Tide, roll" as hard as anybody and will be rooting for them in the game.
[11:55:01]
So, who do we think, Coy? You're the former NFL guy. You're our sports guy. Who's going to win the Rose Bowl this year?
WIRE: The Rose Bowl winner will be the Indiana Hoosiers. I think they are just going to roll the Tide today, although it is admirable what Alabama has done. Many people saying, without Nick Saban, they haven't been much, but here they are in the quarterfinals of the college football playoffs. So, yes, we will see. They are on their way to the stadium right now.
This parade, this 5.5-mile-long parade, ends at the game. Grand marshal Magic Johnson will be there to do some introductory -- flip the coin, flip the coin, and -- yes, and then the game, it is on.
They have had that field covered because of all the rain. Hopefully, it's not too wet.
Next up, we have someone you know, I believe.
(CROSSTALK)
MICHAELSON: That is the mayor of Pasadena, Victor Gordo, who's been the mayor since 2020, and he's riding in on a fire engine, which is Engine L-948 from the American LaFrance Engine Company. Only eight models of this were ever featured.
We see Victor's hair is a little tousled because of the rain, but he's not putting a poncho on. I respect that. He's going au naturel and showcasing his love. And he's got members of the Pasadena community. This is the great day to be the mayor.
We also see L.A. County supervisor Kathryn Barger riding there on the floats. She's so involved, all these folks so involved in the fire response and recovery of this last year. Remember, it was only seven days after New Year's when we had that fire in Pasadena and Altadena, and we will be thinking of them in that one-year anniversary.
We keep the music going now with the Allen Eagle Escadrille.
WIRE: Yes, the Escadrille hails from Allen High School in Allen, Texas, one of the largest high school marching bands in the United States. They have approximately 600 members spanning a seven-year curriculum.
They start in sixth grade. There are eight band directors, two dance coordinators, directed by Dr. Philip Obado. Let's listen in.
(MUSIC)
WIRE: Shout-out to the Allen High School in Texas. This is one of the largest schools in the state, one of 5,200 students. And how about some of them getting to represent their school on a worldwide stage?
MICHAELSON: And they're playing the song that, of course, the Longhorns play...
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
MICHAELSON: "The Heart of Texas."
So, back -- the last time it rained at the Rose Parade was 2006, which is when USC played Texas, was largely considered one of the greatest college football games ever. Texas won the national championship. And I will never forget hearing that song playing as we slowly left and couldn't get out of the Rose Parade fast -- the Rose Bowl fast enough depressed.
So, this song brings back terrible memories for me, but I know a lot of people in Texas love it and are so prideful. I mean, there's very few states where people love their state more than the state of Texas.
WIRE: It's OK. At least your team won their bowl game this year, right? Oh, wait, no, I'm sorry. You lost it to TCU in overtime.
(CROSSTALK)
MICHAELSON: That's OK. Still beaten Stanford a whole lot of times over the years.
WIRE: OK, there we go.
(LAUGHTER)
WIRE: Separate us now.
MICHAELSON: Yes. Yes.
WIRE: No, it's only going to get better for us here and for these students who are leading the way of this 137th annual Rose Parade here in Pasadena. Look at those smiles, the fans in the stands. They're packing them in.
No one's leaving. And, actually, the rain is starting to die down, which is a wonderful thing.
MICHAELSON: Yes. And it's supposed to really die down for the game later. So that's good news for the players, that they're not going to be dealing with the downpours, which we have been dealing with overnight and into this early morning period.
So, as the folks from Texas move on, we have, coming up, some horses are going to be joining us from the Blue Shadows Mounted Drill Team, which was founded back in 1957 to teach horseback riding. They're -- some of the members are as young as 15 leading this -- the group of 12 riders. They're ages 8 to 18.
