The 44th annual edition of A CAPITOL FOURTH , broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on PBS, welcomes back iconic actor and television host Alfonso Ribeiro to host and perform on America's National Independence Day celebration with all-star musical and patriotic performances from pop, country, R&B, classical and Broadway artists.
The country's 248th birthday party will be capped off with a spectacular fireworks show over the nation's capital. America's longest-running live national July Fourth TV tradition will air on PBS and stream on YouTube and here on Thursday, July 4, at 8 p.m. ET.
"I can't wait to celebrate America's Birthday on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol," said Ribeiro. "I'm incredibly excited and honored to be your host of A CAPITOL FOURTH once again. It is going to be a great 4th of July party, and we're going to get everyone in our nation's capital and all those watching at home on their feet dancing!"
The all-star line-up for A CAPITOL FOURTH will feature: Legendary Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Smokey Robinson; Grammy Award-winning platinum-selling singer and award-winning actress Fantasia ( The Color Purple) ; Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award-winning actor, singer and songwriter Darren Criss ( American Crime Story, Glee ); Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Grammy & Emmy Nominated music legend and "Queen of Percussion," Sheila E.; Multi-platinum-selling neo-soul pop band Fitz & Noelle from Fitz and The Tantrums; Musical powerhouse, composer and producer Chloe Flower; Grammy Award-nominated disco sensations Sister Sledge, now featuring Sledgendary; Multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter and recording artist Loren Allred ( The Greatest Showman ); Acclaimed dancer and choreographer Britt Stewart ( Dancing With the Stars ); Olympic Gold medal-winning gymnast, entrepreneur and best-selling author Shawn Johnson East; and The National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.
The event will also include the following featured segments: Ribeiro and Stewart will kick off the celebration with a performance that is guaranteed to get the crowd dancing; A Tribute to Team USA – hosted by East, a special send-off for the nation’s athletes competing in the Summer Olympic Games in Paris will feature several Olympians and Paralympians, and a musical performance by the National Symphony Orchestra of John Williams' "Olympic Fanfare," composed for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and marking its 40th anniversary in 2024; a celebration of Motown's 65th anniversary and its iconic sound with a special performance by Robinson; A Salute to American Heroes Past and Present will celebrate the service of Americans from 1776 to today, and military families, with a special performance by The U.S. Army Chorus, and featuring representatives of the "Greatest Generation" including a WWII veteran from D-Day and an appearance by an original "Rosie the Riveter" Mae Krier, who will be in attendance; A performance of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" by Flower will mark the 100th anniversary of this American classic; A rendition of the "1812 Overture" accompanied by live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery, a tradition, kicks off a musical and fireworks finale; and rousing patriotic favorites performed by The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets will cap off the musical finale and the dazzling fireworks display, presented by the National Park Service, over the National Mall and Memorial Parks and the iconic skyline of the nation's capital.
The event airs on PBS on Thursday, July 4, 2024, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. E.T., as well as to troops serving worldwide on American Forces Network.
The program can also be heard in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide and will be streaming on YouTube. It will also be available as Video on Demand for a limited time only, July 4 to July 18, 2024.
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