Friday Night Karaoke · Episode 76 · January 17, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
2026 FNK and... GO!
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. Love what you hear? Join the Friday Night Karaoke Facebook group here and be part of the magic! It's negativity free, ad-free, and all about the music: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.