Photos by The Eyes of Aitch – H – Photography

It’s 2026, and today America celebrates A Capitol Fourth! While the beloved annual tradition is taking place on July 3rd instead of Independence Day this year, viewers can still enjoy 90 minutes of incredible music, patriotic tributes, and unforgettable performances on their local PBS stations as the nation kicks off the celebration leading to America’s 250th birthday.

The TRR team had the opportunity to speak with several of the outstanding artists participating in this year’s event.

First up was acclaimed soprano Angel Blue. After delivering a stirring performance of the National Anthem at last year’s National Memorial Day Concert, Blue returns to perform the iconic Battle Hymn of the Republic. I asked what the opportunity to sing such a legendary piece meant to her.

“Yes, well, this song is very special to me because the great American soprano Leontyne Price made this rendition famous. I’ve been listening to it since I was about five years old. So, for me, it’s very special to bring this rendition, this arrangement of the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic,’ to our 250th birthday. I’m very honored,” Blue said.

I also asked why Leontyne Price continues to inspire her on such a personal level.

“I think I can hear warmth in her voice whenever she’s singing. I feel like when she sings, she gives me a hug. It’s almost like she has her hand on my back, telling me everything’s going to be okay. I can feel from her voice that she’s a beautiful person. I’ve never met her. I know people who have met her, who know her personally, and they all say she’s a beautiful person—and you can hear that in her voice.”

Next, Harry caught up with host Alfonso Ribeiro, who returns for his fourth time emceeing A Capitol Fourth. I asked him what it means to once again be part of this cherished American tradition.

“I love being here. This is such an incredible show. It’s a great time. The musical artists are incredible this year. We’ve got several tributes that are very, very special. We have our Olympic and Paralympic athletes. We have the Artemis II crew. We also, obviously, have our men and women of the armed forces with a wonderful tribute for them. This is just a great party. It’s a great way to get the 250th birthday celebration kicking off on July 3.”

Country music star Trace Adkins also returns to the celebration and will debut his new single, American Made, which is set for release just days after the broadcast. I asked him about the inspiration behind the song.

“I got together with a couple of friends of mine, and I wanted to personalize this song, so it was about my family. It’s kind of my story—or not my story—but my history and my family. The folks at the record label seemed to like it, and they wanted to put it out. I think this year is the perfect year to release a song like this.”

Finally, Dean spoke with two members of the Grammy Award-winning band Chicago—founding trumpeter Lee Loughnane and new lead vocalist Rudy Cardenas. I asked what it meant for them to be part of this year’s celebration.

Loughnane, who has performed at A Capitol Fourth before, reflected on the significance of the event.

“This is a one-of-a-kind event, and I’m so honored and pleased that we’re able to be here and celebrate the birth of America. Two hundred fifty years—it only happens once, and here we are.”

For Cardenas, making his A Capitol Fourth debut is a career milestone.

“It’s a dream come true. This is a big deal, and it’s an honor to take the stage with these guys, especially at this amazing event. Two hundred fifty years is no joke, so we’re happy to be here!”

Following their appearance in Washington, Chicago will reunite with Styx later this month for their “Windy Cities Tour” at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, VA.

These conversations offer just a preview of what promises to be an unforgettable evening of music, celebration, and patriotism.

Don’t miss A Capitol Fourth: 250th Anniversary Weekend, airing tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT on your local PBS station, or streaming live on YouTube. It’s the perfect way to begin America’s historic 250th birthday celebration.

About The Author

Dean Rogers

Editor-in-Chief/Entertainment Reporter

I knew early on that I wanted to take my place among the stars. One day, my mother saw me reading The Washington Post at a very young age. Who would have known that it would be the building blocks of my journey? Since that day, I dedicated my life to learn all that is learnable. I read everything from encyclopedias to books to dictionaries to magazines. I’m also an avid television viewer, with my favorite genre being game shows. If you’ve seen me on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire or Wheel of Fortune, then you know that this interest has served me well!

My unique style of reporting began back in junior high school, when I started to chronicle the events that shaped my life. Whether it was the annual family vacation or the local science fiction convention, I shot numerous pictures and recorded my thoughts so I could truly appreciate the history. During my senior year at Friendly High, I wrote what was to be my first masterpiece, “Advanced Space Academy – A One Week Journey.” I sent the eleven-page article back to the U.S. Space Camp staff. The article was highly praised for being “one of the best written articles in the history of U.S. Space Camp.” From then on, I knew what I wanted to do for rest of my life — to be a reporter.

Since then, I have trained in Broadcast Journalism at Bowie State University (2008) in Bowie, MD, earning a B.S. in Communications. I gained experience in news production and editing through field experiences with Bowie Community Media Corporation, Prince George’s Community Television, and Bowie State University Television. I also wrote scripts for a variety of quiz shows for over five years.

As a lifelong movie buff, I now see close to 100 films every year. I took this love of movies to the next step when I became a co-host for Eclipse Magazine TV in the fall of 2005. While at EMTV, I interviewed celebrities, worked on red carpets, and attended a wide variety of movie screenings. In January 2009, I took a leap of faith and started my own entertainment news magazine, The Rogers Revue. Shortly afterward, my lifelong journey of studying the silver screen and writing about what I learned finally earned me a place in the Washington Area Film Critics Association.

All of this has led me here, giving you the latest entertainment news for the DMV and the entire nation, and I am truly excited for whatever will come next.

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