Actor and television host Alfonso Ribeiro will headline the 43rd annual edition of A Capitol Fourth, America’s national Independence Day celebration on PBS.
Broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the celebration will be available here and on YouTube on Tuesday, July 4 at 8 p.m. ET.
“The 4th of July is America’s birthday and it means a lot to me to be able to celebrate along with my family at our nation’s Capitol,” said Ribeiro in a statement. “So many great performers have appeared over the show’s 43 years. I’m honored and excited that I get to carry on the tradition this year as your host.”
A Capitol Fourth, America’s longest-running live national Independence Day TV tradition, will include a special tribute to service members and their families with a musical performance dedicated to their service and sacrifice by world-renowned five-time Grammy Award-winning soprano superstar Renée Fleming.
The evening will also feature Chicago – multi-Grammy Award-winning legendary rock and roll band; Boyz II Men – Grammy Award-winning and best-selling R&B group of all time; Belinda Carlisle – Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and co-founder/lead vocalist of the Go-Go’s; Babyface – 12-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist, songwriter and producer; Maddie & Tae – multi-platinum country duo and CMT Award-winner; Charles Esten – artist-songwriter and star of global hit series “Outer Banks” and “Nashville”; The Broadway cast of “A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical” featuring Will Swenson and Robyn Hurder; The National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.
NASA astronauts Frank Rubio, Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg will share a special Independence Day message with the nation from the International Space Station.
This year’s finale is a patriotic musical medley featuring The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” during the spectacular fireworks display. The evening’s crescendo will be A Capitol Fourth tradition, accompanied by live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery.
The program can also be heard in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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