A Capitol Fourth 2014

Friday, July 4, 2014 at 8 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. on KPBS TV

This July 4th, America’s national Independence Day celebration will kick off the festivities for our country’s 238th birthday with an all-star salute led by our country’s favorite host, two-time Emmy Award-winning television personality Tom Bergeron (DANCING WITH THE STARS).

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Top pops conductor Jack Everly will conduct the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) for the 2014 concert.

Courtesy of Capital Concerts

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Frankie Valli, who’s been making music for more than 50 years as a solo artist and the lead singer of the Four Seasons, will perform at the live concert event celebrating the nation’s 238th birthday.

Courtesy of Varela Media

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The Independence Day celebration features Grammy Award-winning music legend Patti LaBelle.

Courtesy of PBS/Capital Concerts

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The Independence Day celebration features five-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Michael McDonald.

Courtesy of Danny Clinch

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Country singer-songwriter Sara Evans performs in this year's Independence Day celebration.

Courtesy of PBS/Capital Concerts

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The Independence Day celebration features five-time Tony Award nominee and Broadway star Kelli O’Hara.

Courtesy of PBS/Capital Concerts

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The Independence Day celebration features singer-songwriter Kendall Schmidt from Big Time Rush and Heffron Drive.

Courtesy of Danny Clinch

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Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog join the all-star line-up for the 34th annual broadcast of "A Capitol Fourth," airing live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. They will celebrate America’s 238th birthday by performing the Oscar-nominated song “Rainbow Connection” with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Courtesy of © Disney

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Emmy Award-winning television personality Tom Bergeron (DANCING WITH THE STARS) returns to host "A Capitol Fourth," America’s biggest birthday party, live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

Courtesy of Capital Concerts

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In celebration of the 200th anniversary of our national anthem, five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williams will debut a special arrangement for orchestra and chorus of the “Star Spangled Banner” with the National Symphony Orchestra, The Joint Armed Forces Chorus, the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets.

Courtesy of PBS/Capital Concerts

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Viewers are front and center for the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation during this top-rated extravaganza.

Courtesy of Capital Concerts

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Reflection of fireworks. America’s favorite Independence Day celebration kicks off our country’s 238th birthday.

Courtesy of Fotosearch.com

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The nation's premiere Independence Day holiday concert is viewed by millions at home and attended by hundreds of thousands of people on the West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Courtesy of PBS/Capital Concerts

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Fireworks over the Capitol.

Courtesy of Fotosearch.com

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Concert audience. The nation's premiere Independence Day holiday concert is viewed by millions at home and attended by hundreds of thousands of people on the West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Courtesy of PBS/Capital Concerts

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Top pops conductor Jack Everly and the National Symphony Orchestra.

Courtesy of PBS/Capital Concerts

Broadcast live on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the event will feature performances by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Frankie Valli; Grammy Award-winning music legend Patti LaBelle; multi-platinum recording artist and actress Jordin Sparks; five-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Michael McDonald; country music superstar Sara Evans; singer-songwriter Kendall Schmidt from Big Time Rush and Heffron Drive; and five-time Tony Award nominee and Broadway star Kelli O’Hara; with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of our national anthem, five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williams will debut a special arrangement for orchestra and chorus of the “Star Spangled Banner” with the National Symphony Orchestra, The Joint Armed Forces Chorus, the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets.

The 34th annual broadcast of "A Capitol Fourth" airs Friday, July 4, 2014, at 8 p.m., with an encore at 9:30 p.m. on KPBS, before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. The program can also be heard live in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide.

With twenty cameras positioned around the city, including the U.S. Capitol, the White House and the Washington Monument, viewers are front and center for the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation during this top-rated extravaganza. Capping off the show will be a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and "A Capitol Fourth" tradition. Also participating in the event will be the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, members of the Armed Forces carrying the state and territorial flags and the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

The program is a co-production of Jerry Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C. Executive producer Jerry Colbert and producer Michael Colbert have assembled an award-winning production team that features the top Hollywood talent behind some of television’s most prestigious entertainment awards shows.

"A Capitol Fourth" is on Facebook, and you can follow @July4thPBS on Twitter.