For roughly forty years, a concert titled \u201cA Capitol Fourth\u201d has been offered on the Capitol Grounds featuring the National Symphony Orchestra and assorted artists \u2026<\/b>
\nFor roughly forty years, a concert titled \u201cA Capitol Fourth\u201d has been offered on the Capitol Grounds featuring the National Symphony Orchestra and assorted artists to celebrate Independence Day on July 4. This year, the concert will feature host Vanessa Williams, the first black woman to be named Miss America and later a Broadway and recording star, singing \u201cLift Every Voice and Sing,\u201d which is popularly known as the \u201cBlack National Anthem.\u201d A Capitol Fourth was first televised in 1981 PBS station WETA,and has been televised by public broadcasting every year since. It is often the most widely-watched PBS show of the year. Williams told the Associated Press, \u201cIt\u2019s in celebration of the wonderful opportunity that we now have to celebrate Juneteenth. So we are reflective of the times.\u201d \u201cWilliams told the AP this week that she hopes the hymn will bring a sense of celebration following her performance at last year\u2019s Independence Day show, where she sang \u2018Not While I\u2019m Around from the Stephen Sondheim musical \u2018Sweeney Todd\u2019 to express what she was feeling as the mother of a Black son in the weeks following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd,\u201d The Hill reported. \u201cI am so honored to be hosting A Capitol Fourth this year. I first performed on this national July 4th TV tradition in 2005, and it has always held a special place in my heart,\u201d Williams said. \u201cPlanning has been underway for many months for A Capitol Fourth to be a pre-recorded show due to the pandemic with a live fireworks presentation, in lieu of the traditional live concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol,\u201d PBS noted. The concert, which will commence with the singing of \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner\u201d by opera star Renee Fleming, will also feature performers including Jimmy Buffett, Cynthia Erivo, Alan Jackson, Pentatonix, Jennifer Nettles, Auli\u2019i Cravalho, Train, Gladys Knight, Mickey Guyton, Ali Stroker, Jimmie Allen, and Laura Osnes, among others. The National Symphony Orchestra will perform film composer John Williams\u2019 \u201cOlympic Fanfare.\u201d Executive Producer Michael Colbert said, \u201cAs families and friends reunite and the country begins to open up this Fourth of July, we plan to bring you an exciting program with the greatest fireworks display in the nation, performances by the biggest stars and patriotic favorites. Make A Capitol Fourth your Independence Day celebration. We have something for everyone\u2019s party.\u201d \u201cThe top-rated, award-winning program available on television, radio and digital media will feature a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky\u2019s \u20181812 Overture\u2019 with the National Symphony Orchestra and The Joint Armed Forces Chorus to accompany the fireworks, an audience favorite and an A Capitol Fourth tradition. Also participating are members of the U.S. Army Band \u2018Pershing\u2019s Own,\u2019 the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The Joint Armed Forces Chorus, and The Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.,\u201d PBS advertised. The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a member.<\/p>\n