NEW YORK (AP) – As he did last year, Dick Clark will co-host the annual “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” celebration from Times Square on Dec. 31.

The former “American Bandstand” host, now 76, will join Ryan Seacrest and musical guest Christina Aguilera to ring in 2007 before a national television audience of millions. Clark missed the show two years ago when he suffered a stroke but returned to the holiday staple last New Year’s Eve.

Seacrest, the 31-year-old host of “American Idol,” handled co-hosting duties last year and is expected to eventually succeed Clark as the show’s host.

“Dick and Ryan will be in New York,” Paul Shefrin, a spokesman for Dick Clark Productions said Friday. He also confirmed the appearance by the platinum-selling Aguilera, a Staten Island native known for her Grammy-winning hit “Beautiful.”

Clark originated the New Year’s Eve program back in 1972. The only show he missed followed his Dec. 6, 2004, stroke.

—

On the Net:

http://www.dickclarkproductions.com