Nick Lachey on Wedding Plans and 4th of July Celebration

Nick Lachey said it plainly: "I actually prefer doing live events to pre-taped because there's just a genuine excitement and adrenaline rush that come…" — and Premier Guide Miami was in the room when it happened.

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks — the nation's largest display of patriotic firepower — returned to celebrate Independence Day with host Nick Lachey. An awe-inspiring spectacle of color, light, and sound rumbled over New York City on Monday, July 4th at 9:00 PM, as Macy's dazzling celebration ended the holiday with a bang. With more than 3 million live spectators and millions tuned in nationwide, the Hudson River was the showcase for more than 40,000 fireworks igniting the sky for the nation's 235th birthday. The fireworks spectacular aired live on NBC beginning at 9:00 PM Eastern time. Premier Guide Media caught up with Nick Lachey ahead of the event.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: Any major plans for the wedding?

NICK LACHEY: We're in active planning mode. Maybe we'll get married there on the Hudson. Who knows?

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: How did you get involved with this show?

NICK LACHEY: Well, I've actually had the pleasure of performing on the show in years past, and then this year as host of The Sing-Off and part of the NBC family, they reached out to see if I would be interested in hosting this — which I obviously jumped at the chance to do. It's one of the marquee events of the year, one I've been very familiar with in years past, and I'm very, very excited and honored to be a part of it this year.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: How do you generally spend your 4th of July?

NICK LACHEY: I don't have any set tradition necessarily, but some years I've been in New York for the fireworks, and some years I've been here in L.A. and had the pleasure of watching them on TV — because it usually fogs in here and you can't see a thing. And other years I've been in Cincinnati. So it kind of depends on the year, but I always try to be with friends and family.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: Do you have any other party plans after the fireworks?

NICK LACHEY: Being in New York and being a part of this event with Macy's and NBC is a real honor for me. I always enjoy the chance to come to New York — it's my favorite city in the world. And to be in that city and just be a part of that atmosphere is always fun. Especially on the 4th with so much excitement in the air, it's going to be a great night. There's nowhere else I would rather be on the 4th of July.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: Do you enjoy hosting gigs?

NICK LACHEY: I do. It's certainly something I've been able to do more of in the last few years and I've really enjoyed it. It gives you an opportunity to kind of be yourself and bring a little of your own personality into the mix. With The Sing-Off I get a chance to be around incredibly talented groups. As a musician and singer it's such a joy to be around young, talented, and enthusiastic singers. It's actually very contagious — it refreshes me as far as music goes. It makes me even more excited to sing myself just being around that. I couldn't imagine being a part of a better or more rewarding show than The Sing-Off. It's been a blast.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: Can you talk about the challenges of doing a live show like this?

NICK LACHEY: I guess from my perspective it's the unforeseen — which is also what makes it exciting. I actually prefer doing live events to pre-taped because there's just a genuine excitement and adrenaline rush that comes from knowing there really is no turning back. You just have to roll with the punches no matter what they are or how they come, and be quick on your feet. But it's always exciting. You plan as much as you can, you prepare as much as you can, and then once you go live you're just rolling with the punches. It's fun.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: What was your favorite 4th of July as a child?

NICK LACHEY: Well, I think the fireworks — no matter where you are — are kind of a staple of the 4th of July. I have a lot of memories of cookouts and playing football or badminton in the yard with your family and having a big grill-out. When it gets dark it's time to track down the fireworks, because that's really the way to wrap up the holiday. My family was never big into the hold-your-own fireworks show in the backyard kind of thing, so we always went to the local park or wherever the fireworks were being held that year. I have memories of living in Astoria and getting on the train and going down and watching the Macy's fireworks in New York — a good 15 years ago. The premier fireworks event of the year, and again I'm just honored to be a part of it.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: What is your relationship with Big Brothers, Big Sisters?

NICK LACHEY: I try to focus my charitable work specifically on kids and children. Big Brothers Big Sisters is an organization I've been affiliated with for about eight years. I have a little brother, and that's probably the most rewarding relationship I've seen come out of doing charitable work. It's been a joy to be a part of his life and be a part of that program.

PREMIER GUIDE MIAMI: The Sing-Off was picked up for a full fall lineup...

NICK LACHEY: We're honored and flattered. I think it speaks to the success of the show and to the numbers we pulled in last year for NBC. We're very honored that we got the full fall pickup. Obviously there come some challenges with that — having to expand the show — so we're looking at that creatively and how to best do it. But we're excited. It started out as kind of the little engine that could, and here we are with a full fall pickup. So everyone associated with the show is very, very excited and looking forward to it.

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