Hayley performance for 4th July celebrations 2008

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Blow out the candles at America’s biggest and best-loved birthday party with our new host and an all-star cast. Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning film, theater and television actor Jimmy Smits hosts the 28th annual broadcast of A Capitol Fourth live from Washington, D.C. The star spangled party will feature unrivaled musical performances from some of the country’s best known and award-winning artists as well as the most spectacular fireworks display anywhere in the nation. Grammy winning musicians Huey Lewis and the News, American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, Rock ‘n’ Roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell, classical superstar Hayley Westenra and soprano Harolyn Blackwell will perform a selection of patriotic and celebratory music with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Erich Kunzel. Following this musical salute, the Washington, DC skyline will come alive with the most colorful, creative and booming display of fireworks ever set against silhouettes of national landmarks the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. The multi-award winning event will be broadcast live in high definition on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Friday, July 4, 2008 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET (check local listings). 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 now A Capitol Fourth tradition.

Source: Sun Herald.com