0
0
This coming July 4th, the 43rd iteration of America’s premier Independence Day celebration, A Capitol Fourth, will be led by renowned actor and TV host Alfonso Ribeiro. The event will be broadcasted live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and can be streamed on PBS at www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth, and on YouTube on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, starting at 8 p.m. ET. This highly-rated, award-winning event promises to place viewers at the heart of America’s grandest birthday bash with an exceptional display of fireworks lighting up the capital’s skyline, captured by 20 cameras strategically positioned across the city.
Ribeiro expressed his honor and excitement to be a part of this tradition, stating, “Hosting this year’s A Capitol Fourth is truly an honor. The 4th of July is America’s birthday, and it means a lot to me to celebrate alongside my family at our nation’s Capitol. Over the show’s 43 years, many great performers have graced the event. I’m thrilled and honored to carry on the tradition this year as your host.”
Alfonso Ribeiro will be accompanied by a star-studded cast, offering a patriotic array of live performances. Expect to witness a range of musical renditions from top stars spanning pop, country, R&B, classical, and Broadway genres, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra under the expert direction of premier pops conductor Jack Everly.
A Capitol Fourth, America’s longest-running live national Independence Day TV tradition, 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.
This year’s grand finale will be an unforgettable patriotic musical medley by The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” accompanying the breathtaking fireworks display, a perennial crowd favorite. The crescendo of the evening will uphold A Capitol Fourth tradition, punctuated by live cannon fire courtesy of the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery.
The evening will also include:
- Fun for kids of all ages with Elmo and Cookie Monster from Sesame Street and host Alfonso Ribeiro to celebrate America’s birthday.
- A special tribute to our men and women in uniform 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.
- From the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Frank Rubio, Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg will share a special Independence Day message with the nation.
- Acclaimed actress and singer Adrienne Warren, recipient of a Tony Award for her portrayal of Tina Turner in the Broadway musical “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,” will pay tribute to the legendary Queen of Rock n’ Roll.
- A tribute to America’s nurses who go above and beyond every day to keep us healthy and safe will feature a special performance by the Northwell Nurse Choir, an inspirational group of front-line workers, and Season 16 of America’s Got Talent finalists.
- This year’s finale is a patriotic musical medley featuring The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” during the spectacular fireworks display, an annual audience favorite. The evening’s crescendo will be A Capitol Fourth tradition, accompanied by live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery.
Ensure to tune in to A Capitol Fourth on PBS on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. ET. This grand spectacle will also be broadcasted to our troops serving across the globe via the American Forces Network. Additionally, the program will be aired in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide and will be available for streaming on www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth, on YouTube, and as Video on Demand from July 4 to July 18, 2023.
Other participants in this patriotic extravaganza include the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, members of the Armed Forces carrying state and territorial flags, the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C., the Choral Arts Society of Washington, and Patrick Lundy & The Ministers of Music.
Source: Dept. of Veterans Affairs
