ABC announced more details of the two-hour primetime special “Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness” and the “Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash.”
“Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness”
Airing on Monday, June 29, the special is hosted by 20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts from Walt Disney World Resort and ABC News national correspondent Will Reeve from Disneyland.
From Main Street U.S.A.’s turn-of-the-century nostalgia to Cars Land’s homage to the great American road trip and what it says about our love for the open road, each stop will play host to true tales of American innovations and triumphs. In this coast-to-coast event, Disney Parks and attractions are the portal through which America’s greatest stories, triumphs and traditions are celebrated.
Marvel over the creation of some of the most iconic American-made toys that shaped so many wonderful childhood memories in Toy Story Land. Moana Jones Wong, the 26-year-old Hawaiian superstar, shares her personal perspective of the 50th state’s unique culture and community, and from the iconic American magazine National Geographic, Explorer-at-Large Dr. Sylvia Earle, known as “Joan of Arc of the Seas,” talks about her pioneering conservation efforts to explore and protect life beneath the shining seas.
The special travels back in time to J&M Recording Studio in New Orleans, otherwise known as the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll, with multitalented musician Jon Batiste, and then dives into the world of global air travel, exploring how Pan Am crafted a uniquely American identity in flight, reshaping the modern world. ESPN’s “Wide World of Sports” chronicles the evolution of baseball, focusing on the Savannah Bananas, and celebrates the athleticism, showmanship and history of America’s Black ball players.
Main Street is more than a street name; it’s a representation of the heart of the American community. The special looks at one of the country’s oldest family-run small businesses, as well as the rise of the automobile industry and its connection to personal freedom. Next, the legendary Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (now known as the TCL Chinese Theatre) sets the stage to experience the allure of old Hollywood and the singular icon Marilyn Monroe, who shifted the public’s perception of celebrity and fame. The special also pays homage to ABC News’ extraordinary 30 hours of continuous coverage of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, with a look toward the future.
“Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness” will air June 29 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. EDT on ABC and stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. An encore broadcast will air Friday, July 3 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. EDT.
“Disney Celebrates” 24-Hour Broadcast
The celebration continues with “Disney Celebrates America,” a 24-hour multiplatform broadcast culminating in the star-studded “Disney Celebrates America: Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash.”
Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, “Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash” will air coast to coast on Saturday, July 4 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. EDT on ABC, ABC News Live, and stream on Disney+ and Hulu, the ESPN App, Freeform, FX and NatGeo.
The event will feature one of the largest fireworks and drone shows in the United States set to a live score by the GRAMMY Award-winning Nashville Symphony. Adding to the magic will be coverage of the patriotic fireworks displays at Disneyland Resort.
The performer lineup includes:
- The All-American Rejects
- Boyz II Men
- Brothers Osborne
- Clint Black
- Elizabeth Nichols
- Emily Ann Roberts
- John Crist
- Lauren Daigle
- Little Big Town
- NE-YO
- Nick Jonas
- Reba McEntire
- Sublime
- Tim McGraw
Emily Ann Roberts will serve as backstage correspondent, while comedian John Crist joins the show as the broadcast’s man-on-the-street reporter.
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