Fourth of July just got a whole lot more magical! Disney is bringing one of the biggest celebrations of the summer straight to your TV screen with “Disney Celebrates America: Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash,” a spectacular live event broadcasting coast to coast on Saturday, July 4 from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. EDT. And with a performer lineup this impressive, you are going to want to clear your evening plans now.
What Is Disney Celebrates America?
This special is not just a one-off TV event. It is part of a much bigger company-wide initiative from Disney honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States. Disney Celebrates America is a massive undertaking that spans programming, park activations, community engagements, and storytelling across all of Disney’s iconic brands and businesses. The Nashville Star-Spangled Bash is the centerpiece broadcast moment of that initiative, putting Disney’s resources and talent connections to work for what promises to be an unforgettable patriotic celebration.
The event is being produced in partnership with ABC, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp, and ITV America Nashville, bringing together some serious institutional firepower to make this happen. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend in person in the heart of downtown Nashville, making it one of the largest live events in the city’s history.
Ryan Seacrest Is Hosting
Leading the broadcast is Emmy Award-winning host Ryan Seacrest, who is no stranger to big live television moments. Seacrest has hosted everything from American Idol to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, and his energy and experience with live event television makes him the perfect choice to anchor a three-hour coast to coast broadcast of this scale. Emily Ann Roberts will serve as the backstage correspondent keeping viewers connected to the behind-the-scenes action, while comedian John Crist joins the show as the broadcast’s man-on-the-street reporter, adding some fun and humor to the festivities.
The Performer Lineup Is Incredible
This is where things get really exciting. The star-studded performer lineup spans multiple genres and generations of music, giving the show broad appeal for the whole family. Here is everyone confirmed to perform:
The All-American Rejects, Boyz II Men, Brothers Osborne, Clint Black, Elizabeth Nichols, Emily Ann Roberts, Lauren Daigle, Little Big Town, NE-YO, Nick Jonas, Reba McEntire, Sublime, and Tim McGraw.
That is a genuinely impressive mix of country, pop, R&B, and rock spanning decades of American music. Tim McGraw and Reba McEntire bring legendary country star power. Nick Jonas and NE-YO cover pop and R&B. Lauren Daigle brings her powerful Christian pop presence. Little Big Town and Brothers Osborne represent some of the best in modern country. And The All-American Rejects and Sublime bring rock energy that will resonate with a completely different generation of fans. There is truly something for everyone in this lineup.
One of the Largest Fireworks and Drone Shows in the Country
The performances are just one part of what makes this event special. Adding to the spectacle will be one of the largest fireworks and drone shows in the entire United States, set to a live score performed by the GRAMMY Award-winning Nashville Symphony. If you have ever seen a drone show at a Disney park, you already know how breathtaking that technology can be. Now imagine that on a massive outdoor scale in downtown Nashville with a live symphony orchestra providing the soundtrack.
And for Disney Parks fans, there is an extra treat. The broadcast will also feature coverage of the patriotic-themed fireworks displays at Disneyland Resort, weaving the magic of the parks directly into the television event. It is a nice touch that connects the broadcast to Disney’s broader Celebrates America park activations happening throughout the summer.
Where Can You Watch It?
Disney has made sure that virtually everyone can tune in regardless of how they watch television. The special airs live on ABC on Saturday, July 4 from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. EDT. If you do not have traditional cable or antenna access to ABC, ABC News Live streams on both Disney+ and Hulu. The special will also be available on the ESPN App, Freeform, FX, and NatGeo, making it one of the most widely distributed live events Disney has ever put together.
That kind of multi-platform distribution is a real sign of how seriously Disney is taking this celebration. Whether you are watching on a big screen TV, streaming on your phone at a backyard barbecue, or catching it on a tablet, Disney wants to make sure you can be part of the moment no matter where your Fourth of July takes you.
Beyond the incredible entertainment, this event is a reminder of just how uniquely positioned Disney is to pull off something like this. No other entertainment company has the combination of broadcast television reach through ABC, streaming power through Disney+ and Hulu, live event production experience, and park activations that Disney can bring to bear on a single celebration. Disney Celebrates America is a showcase of everything the company does best, and the Nashville Star-Spangled Bash is the crown jewel of that effort.
For fans who love Disney’s park celebrations like the Magic Kingdom fireworks on the Fourth of July, this broadcast is a way to bring some of that magic home. Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 4 at 8:00 p.m. EDT and get ready for a celebration worthy of America’s 250th anniversary. Will you be watching Disney Celebrates America: Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash this Fourth of July? Let us know in the comments!
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