Rita Ora and Ryan Seacrest Joke They’ll Both Kiss Taika Waititi at Midnight for New Year’s 2025 (Exclusive)

• Rita Ora and Ryan Seacrest are returning to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve as cohosts to ring in 2025
• The stars open up to PEOPLE about working together and what’s in store this year — including a performance from Ora and potential appearance from her husband, Taika Waititi
• This year marks Seacrest’s 20th on the show, and he says the two decades have “gone by pretty fast”

Rita Ora and Ryan Seacrest are ready for the new year.

The pop star, 34, and the Emmy-winning TV personality, 50, are gearing up to ring in 2025 as the cohosts of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve for their second time together from Times Square in New York City on Dec. 31.

“I am grateful to be here,” Ora tells PEOPLE after joining Seacrest for her inaugural hosting gig on the program last year. “I love Ryan — having him just be with me and give me that sense of confidence is amazing.”

After a successful 2024 broadcast, the American Idol host is happy to have the “Praising You” singer back by his side amid the madness of New Year’s Eve in N.Y.C. “I was blown away [last year.] I knew she was talented, but this is not something you can just do,” says Seacrest.

Held over six hours in the middle of a crowded (and often cold) Big Apple, hosting Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve is not for the weak. Luckily, Ora picked up some tips last year: “Just don’t think. I’ve learned that… Once the camera light’s on, you just need to speak.”

This year is Seacrest’s 20th time hosting the show, and he’s learned the ins and outs — like paying attention to his water intake and using the restroom during a “long song” from one of the night’s many performers if necessary. “It’s pretty great, how quick we can be into a place to use the bathroom and then back,” he says.

While Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper notably enjoy some alcohol during their New Year’s Eve broadcast on CNN, Ora and Seacrest will stay sober while on-air. “If I had a sip, I could not [do it],” insists the Wheel of Fortune host.

Ora agrees. “I tried once to drink before a performance when I was on tour, and it did not turn out alright for me,” she says. “I have to just work, and then I enjoy after.”

The “Ask & You Shall Receive” musician will be pulling double-duty on the show this time around, as she’s also set to take the stage for a performance.

“I’m so excited that they asked me to perform. It’s a big deal, and there’s so many huge artists,” she says of the lineup, featuring Carrie Underwood, Jonas Brothers, TLC, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Megan Moroney in N.Y.C. — plus more around the world.

Taika Waititi, Ora’s husband, will also be around to support his wife during her big night and “hopefully” appear on camera for a kiss at the stroke of midnight — and they may not be alone. “We’re both kissing him,” jokes Seacrest.

“Oh, should we both make out with him?” asks Ora.

“No — not make out!” responds Seacrest with a laugh. “You can do that.”

“Oh, okay. Boring,” quips Ora.

In addition to the power couple, Seacrest will be joined by a longtime friend to watch the ball drop for his 20th time: “The Steadicam operator. He and I have had probably the longest relationship I’ve ever had in my life… So it’ll be a big embrace.”

Two decades have gone by since Seacrest first hosted New Year’s Rockin’ Eve alongside the late Dick Clark himself, but looking back, he says, “It feels like it’s gone by pretty fast.”

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“Although when you look back at some of the tapes and realize we were making fun of the big blue headphones that we used to have to have,” he reflects. “The technology has evolved faster than I have.”

Ora interjects: “But you haven’t evolved. It’s like you’re stuck in time. You look great.”

“Well, thank you,” replies Seacrest, playfully adding: “I will say, climbing to the ball, it gets more challenging and challenging, Rita.”

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2025 airs at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.