It’s the new-year kickoff episode that starts at full throttle and somehow keeps finding another gear. In “2026 FNK and… GO,” Mike and Joe spin a playlist built for the first cheers of the year - loud, proud, a little chaotic (in the best way), and powered by the Friday Night Karaoke Facebook group. Along the way, they riff on the “countdown” theme landing after the calendar flipped, hype up the FNK crew, and keep circling back to one mission: start 2026 with big energy, big voices, and zero hesitation.
Featured performances (with the moments that made them pop on the show)
- Kristoff Crafton - “Drink Myself Drunk” (Rebel Son): The ultimate “hit play and the year starts now” opener. Mike and Joe immediately talk about it like a repeat-listen anthem and even bring up singing it together at PodFest in Orlando.
- Jennifer Adams - “Get the Party Started” (Pink): Introduced with full love as a longtime pillar of the community (and a group moderator) - then the dynamic duo nerds out over how tough it is to “record over yourself” and how she stacked vocals like an audio inception trick.
- Nancy Van Eindhoven - “The Final Countdown” (Europe): Mike sets it up as the perfect countdown energy (even if you’re recording a few days late), then you both rave about her power and presence - the kind that makes you sing along even if you’ve heard the song a million times.
- Rick Mendoza - “Around and Around” (The Rolling Stones): Timeless, classic, and somehow “Elvis-y” in the best way. The vibe sends the conversation straight into retro rock-and-roll territory and Mike’s excitement about a 50s-style night in Orlando.
- Mike Wiston - “Suck My Kiss” (Red Hot Chili Peppers): “My podcast, my prerogative” energy. Mike frames it as his personal 2026 welcome song, shouts out seeing RHCP live in Tokyo, and you keep the momentum ripping toward the back half of the episode.
- Annastaisyar - “Crazy Train” (Ozzy Osbourne): A live-bar recording with that real karaoke-room electricity. Mike and Joe both point out you can’t stand still on a song like this - and you give her big credit for fully getting into it and bringing serious vocals.
- Katie Rose - “I Like It Heavy” (Halestorm): Pure “turn it up past 10” payoff. The hosts both react to the whole vibe (including the gritty video look) and the massive ending - and you even accidentally label it “Good to Be Alive” for a second, which honestly becomes the perfect accidental motto for this episode.
Hit play, crank it up, and start your year the FNK way - loud, fun, and together.
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