Anderson Cooper & Adam Levine to Lead Endymion for Mardi Gras 2012

 Adam Levine, a judge on the singing competition, and his band Maroon 5 will lead the Krewe of Endymion as celebrity grand marshals when the city’s largest parade rolls on Feb. 18.


In a press release today (Sept. 29), Ed Muniz, Endymion founder and captain, announced the celebrity riders and performers, calling this year’s parade and after-party a “much anticipated Domecoming!”

For Carnival 2011, Endymion took a detour from its traditional route and ended at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center because theSuperdome was being renovated.

Back for another ride in the 2012 parade will be one of the hardest working men on TV, Anderson Cooper. The journalist and author is the anchor of CNN’s “AC 360” and his syndicated daytime talk show, “Anderson,” debuted earlier this month. He has broadcast his CNN show from New Orleans several times in recent years, covering stories such as Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill in the Gulf. The band Category 6 will play on the float with Cooper and his guests, Muniz said.

Also along for the ride are country music duo Big & Rich with Cowboy Troy, and “Redneck Woman” singer Gretchen Wilson. Together, they are featured on the CMT series “Musik Mafia.”