The 40th anniversary presentation of A Capitol Fourth, the national July 4th TV tradition on PBS. This year’s show is co-hosted by John Stamos (Netflix’s YOU, FULLER HOUSE, ER) and television and Broadway star Vanessa Williams. he 40th annual broadcast of A Capitol Fourth airs on PBS Saturday, July 4, 2020 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET. The concert will also be streaming on Facebook, YouTube and www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth and available as Video on Demand for a limited time only, July 4 to July 18, 2020.
The list of performers include: American Idol and Dancing with the Stars alum Lauren Alaina and Patti LaBelle, John Fogerty, Renée Fleming, The Temptations celebrating their 60th anniversary, Trace Adkins, Andy Grammer, Yolanda Adams, Brantley Gilbert, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Kelli O’Hara, Mandy Gonzalez with members of the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jack Everly. To mark the program’s 40th anniversary, the broadcast will also feature highlights of iconic performances from previous concerts.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional live A Capitol Fourth will not be held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol; instead, to ensure the health and safety of all involved, this year’s concert performances were pre-taped without a live audience, as was the case with the recent broadcast of the National Memorial Day Concert.
The nation’s 244th birthday celebration will feature new performances from iconic locations across the country, including Washington, D.C, New York, Nashville, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, as well as highlights from the concert’s forty-year history.
This special 90-minute presentation of A Capitol Fourth, will also feature a tribute to our nation’s workers on the front lines in the fight against the pandemic, a segment honoring the contributions of African American heroes from our nation’s past and present, and a salute to our wounded warriors and their families. The fireworks display over our nation’s iconic skyline will be covered live during the broadcast captured by multiple cameras stationed around the city.
