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Kelly Clarkson, Peyton Manning, and Mike Tirico Will Host the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony
Clarkson is headed to Paris for the Summer Games with Manning and Tirico—and Jimmy Fallon just confirmed he'll host the Closing Ceremony. Watch the big announcements on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The days just started getting longer as we finally enter spring—but it's never too early to start thinking about the 2024 Olympics this summer. Which is why Jimmy Fallon helped Kelly Clarkson, NFL legend Peyton Manning, and Sunday Night Football announcer Mike Tirico make a major announcement on March 12: The three are teaming up to host the Opening Ceremony together!
"What a fun and unexpected trio," Fallon told them as the three sat down to make the announcement on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
"Peyton hosted the Country Music Awards, and Kelly's one of the greatest of all time. So the three of us are going to do an album," Tirico joked, before they shared that they're heading to the 2024 Olympics to kick things off on NBC.
Clarkson, Manning, and Tirico looked as excited as we would be, if we were headed to Paris for the Summer Games.
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Kelly Clarkson is headed to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris: "I'm so glad we can say it!"
The Opening Ceremony takes place on July 26, and Clarkson is just happy the news is finally out there. "I’m so glad we can say it!" she told Fallon. We’ve been holding this for — I’m not a vault. I hate secrets!" The Kelly Clarkson Show Host then served her best French-accented "Pa-ris."
The three co-Hosts even brought the Paralympic and Olympic gold medals to The Tonight Show, so the crowd could have a gander. "Is it heavy?" Clarkson asked, as she hefted the medal Fallon was holding to see for herself. Yes, they're "actually really heavy," per Fallon.
Noting that they're the only ones currently in the U.S., Tirico shared a very cool detail about the Paris medals.
"Each one has a little piece of the Eiffel Tower in it," Tirico, who has hosted three previous Olympic Opening Ceremonies, explained. "So, if you win a medal, not only do you get your gold, silver, or bronze, you get a piece of the Eiffel Tower to take with you for life."
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How to Watch the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony
Watch live coverage of the Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 26, on NBC and Peacock beginning at Noon ET. Telemundo will provide Spanish-language coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Primetime coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and Peacock.
"The Opening Ceremony is going to be so different and unique, down the Seine—down the river with the athletes on a boat," Tirico said. "So, it’s not the stadium where they walk in. It’ll incorporate Paris."
Tirico shed light on who he's watching out for this summer. "Team USA in track and field could be incredibly strong," he said. "The dream team, the U.S. soccer team, the women’s basketball team. The second week—are you coming to Paris?"
"I’m not, but I will be watching," Fallon said. "I’ll be watching on Peacock."
"I think you should come the second week," Tirico suggested.
"You should come!" Clarkson chimed in.
"Of course I'll come, are you kidding?" Fallon said.
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"If you come to Paris...would you do the closing ceremony with me?" Tirico asked Fallon, as Clarkson made a pretty good airhorn sound.
"Are you serious?!" Fallon said.
"Do I have to get on my knee? Will you say yes?" Tirico persisted.
"I’m in! I’m going to do it!" Fallon said, rising to his feet to hug Tirico.
Yes, Jimmy Fallon is really hosting the Olympics Closing Ceremony in Paris
If you were also wondering whether Tirico's invitation was the real deal, Fallon confirmed the news on his March 13 show: He's headed to Paris this summer, too—on August 11, to be exact.
What's more, Fallons swears his surprise at the invitation was genuine.
"I had no idea that it was going to happen," he told the audience, after donning a beret. "I knew I was going to do something with the Olympics—I’d just go over and watch, but not that. I’m beyond excited. I’m beyond honored."
"I love France. I love America, I love the Olympics. I’m so excited about this!" Fallon then addressed French president Emmanuel Macron, just in case he happened to be tuning in, to ask if he could maybe crash for a couple days.
"I don’t go over till August 11th. I’ll probably only need to be there three days. If you give me the guest room, you won’t even know I’m there," Fallon said, making his case. "He’s got to have the giant spread over there. Does he live in a castle? He’s got a giant castle full of empty rooms. I could be a great roommate. Just tell me where the kitchen is, and put like, little Post-It notes on the bottles of wine you don’t want me to drink and I won’t!"
See who else is headed to the Summer Games by keeping up with NBC Insider's 2024 Olympics coverage.
Originally published Mar 13, 2024.
