The concert special will air on Sunday, May 24, at 8 p.m. ET on PBS. It will also be available to live-stream PBS.org, along with PBS’ YouTube and Facebook pages. The show will be watchable via video on demand from May 24 to June 7.
This year, the program will honor the brave men and women who are fighting on the frontlines of the pandemic, along with remembering the troops, veterans and servicemen and women who have sacrificed themselves for our country. Segments of special messages thanking them for their work will air throughout the special.
“In this unprecedented time, when the nation needs it most, we will bring Americans together as one family to honor our heroes,” said Executive Producer Michael Colbert. “This has been the mission of the National Memorial Day Concert for 30 years, and we look forward to sharing stories and music of support, hope, resilience, and patriotism.”
Actors Joe Mantegna (The Godfather Part III, Forget Paris) and Gary Sinise (Forrest Gump, Apollo 13) will cohost the concert event. Television and Broadway star Christopher Jackson will kick off the special with a powerful performance of the National Anthem. Those featured in the National Memorial Day Concert include actors Sam Elliott (Road House, A Star Is Born), Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Widows), and Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, What’s Love Got To Do With It), as well as country music star Trace Adkins and Broadway star Kelli O’Hara.
Of course, celebrities aren’t the only ones participating in Sunday’ event. Viewers should also expect to hear from members of the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Army Chorus, the Soldiers’ Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band, the U.S. Army Voices and Downrange, the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters and the Service Color Teams provided by the Military District of Washington D.C.
Tune in on Sunday, May 24, at 8 p.m. ET for a proper Memorial Day celebration—a night of commemorating those who have served.
