This year will potentially be the most celebratory July 4th many have seen in a while, with the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly behind everyone entirely, and there will be no better way to celebrate than by taking in the festive fireworks displays in various parts of the country, including the Washington DC-based celebration, “A Capitol Fourth,” on PBS.
The special, which will be celebrating 42 years on air in 2022, is set to begin at 8 p.m. EDT on July Fourth and will feature a slew of musical performers who will put on a concert celebrating American Freedom and Liberty. For the first time since 2019, the event is finally returning to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, feature live performances and will be open to the public.
The Mickey Guyton-hosted show will feature numerous celebratory performances in its grand return, including a celebration of the 65th anniversary of “West Side Story,” headlined by Chita Rivera as the National Symphony Orchestra performs a musical tribute. In addition, Yolanda Adams will perform “Battle Hymn of the Republic” from the Lincoln Memorial as part of a centennial salute, Deadline reports.
Other performances will include Guyton herself, Darren Criss, Gloria Gaynor, Keb’ Mo’, Emily Bear, Andy Grammer and Loren Allred with the National Symphony Orchestra (under the direction of Jack Everly) and Rachel Platten, who will perform a tribute to military heroes and their families with her song, “Stand By You.”
Cynthia Erivo is also set to perform the Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim ballad “Somewhere,” while Jake Owen will perform “American Country Love Song” and “Down To The Honkytonk” with the National Symphony Orchestra.
The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Army Presidential Salute Battery, members of the Armed Forces carrying salute and territorial flags, the Armed Forces Color Guard, the Choral Arts Society of Washington and Patrick Lundy & The Ministers of Music are also on tap for the evening.
The night’s celebrations will end with the Capitol Fireworks and a performance marking the 100th anniversary of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.”
Those hoping to watch the event from home will be able to do so in a variety of ways, beginning at 8 p.m. EDT on Monday. Not only will it be broadcast on PBS (viewers should check local listings for specific airdates and times for their location), but a live stream will also be available online on the PBS Website, the PBS YouTube Channel and the PBS app.
It will also air on the Armed Forces Network and NPR member stations and will be available on Video on Demand services for two weeks after the live broadcast.
“A Capitol Fourth” will air Monday at 8 p.m. EDT on PBS.
Fireworks are seen during the 40th anniversary of a “A Capitol Fourth” in Washington DC on July 4, 2020. Photo: Getty Images for Capitol Concerts
