NBC's annual MACY'S 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR celebrates Independence Day in style with epic performances by Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Hailee Steinfeld and additional acts to be announced. Akbar Gbajabiamila, Matt Iseman and Kristine Leahy from NBC's Emmy-nominated "American Ninja Warrior" join as hosts of the broadcast airing Tuesday, July 4 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT) with an hour-long encore presentation at 10 p.m.
The 41st annual Macy's 4th of July firework display over the East River will feature an incredible pyrotechnic spectacle, igniting the skyline with more than 60,000 shells launched from five barges positioned in midtown Manhattan. It will be the country's largest firework display in over a decade and promises to be a must-see show from coast to coast. The awe-inspiring light show will be accompanied by the West Point Band and
GLEE Club and their awe-inspiring musical tribute, "ANTHEM," featuring vocalists Heather Headley, Craig Campbell, Jamie Barton & the USO Troupe of Metropolitan New York.
"Our lineup of amazing musical acts and personalities will be the perfect lead-in to the incredible fireworks display the nation waits for all year," said Doug Vaughan, Executive Vice President, Specials & Late Night Programming,
NBC Entertainment. "NBC is proud to partner with Macy's and these talented artists to create the ultimate destination to celebrate Independence Day."
With a new sense of history and possibilities, Lady Antebellum's sixth studio album, "Heart Break," had the group on a new mission - setting aside time to put themselves in new surroundings and concentrate on writing and exploring musical endeavors with no distractions. With busbee in the producer's chair, the trio had a hand in writing 11 songs on "Heart Break," resulting in their most intimate and heartfelt work to date. "Heart Break" follows the group's 2014 release, "747." Lady Antebellum has sold more than 18 million units, has nine #1 hits, won the ACM and CMA Vocal Group of the Year trophies three years in a row, and has countless other honors, including Billboard Music Awards,
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS and Teen Choice Awards. The seven-time Grammy Award-winning trio is in the midst of their "You Look Good World Tour," featuring special guests Kelsea Ballerini and Brett Young. For more information about new music and upcoming tour dates, visit www.ladyantebellum.com.
Brad Paisley is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer whose talents have earned him numerous awards, including three Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, 14
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and 14 Country Music Association Awards, including Entertainer of the Year, among many others. He has been a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001 and has written 21 of his 24 #1 hits, including his most recent smash, "Today." "Last Time for Everything" is his current single from his 11th studio album, "Love and War," which was released April 21. It is his ninth consecutive studio album to debut #1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. On April 28 "Love and War" was released as country music's first ever visual album. Paisley has contributed two instrumental tracks to the highly anticipated film "Cars 3," which opens June 16. His 2017 "Weekend Warrior World Tour" kicked off on May 18 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and will continue across the country as well as shows in Sweden and Norway this summer.
Republic Records artist and Academy Award-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld made her music debut in 2015 with the release of her RIAA platinum-certified single "Love Myself" from her debut EP, "Haiz." Cementing this multi-talented performer as a vital new force in pop music, the song became the highest solo female artist debut on Top 40 radio since 1998. Steinfeld's success continued in 2016 as she teamed with Grey for "Starving" [feat. Zedd], her second single to be certified platinum by the RIAA. To date, the multi-platinum selling artist has amassed a total of 1.5 billion streams globally. Steinfeld closed out the year by starring in one of 2016's best reviewed films, "The Edge of Seventeen" for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. With more music to come and a role in the film "Pitch Perfect 3," 2017 is shaping up as a big year for Steinfeld. She is currently featured on Machine Gun Kelly's new single, "At My Best," and recently released her new hit single, "Most Girls."
Akbar Gbajabiamila is host of NBC's heart-racing obstacle course competition series "American Ninja Warrior" as well as USA's spin-off, "Team Ninja Warrior." Gbajabiamila is also a co-host of "NFL Fantasy Live," NFL Network's highest-rated show, and he regularly appears on digital and television features for the NFL. His ability to connect with everyone - from viewers to contestants to professional athletes - has made him one of the most relatable television personalities in sports and entertainment. The Southern California native played five years in the NFL as a linebacker and defensive end with the Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins before retiring in 2008. Gbajabiamila has a long history of volunteering and social consciousness. Gbajabiamila and his wife reside in Southern California with their four children and dog.
Matt Iseman is the host of NBC's hit reality competition show "American Ninja Warrior" as well as the host of the show's spinoff, "Team Ninja Warrior," which airs on
USA Network. Iseman, whose career journey began as a doctor before he became a host, comedian and actor, has appeared on shows such "Clean House" and "Clean House Comes Clean," for which he won an Emmy Award. He is also currently the main medical correspondent for the Hallmark Channel's "Home & Family" and, in addition, recently won season eight of NBC's "The New Celebrity Apprentice." As a stand-up comic, Iseman has recurred on "Comics Unleashed" and is a regular on the L.A.
COMEDY CLUB circuit. He has traveled to Afghanistan to perform for U.S. troops. Iseman made his movie debut in "Transformers 2" and has made appearances on the "The Drew Carey Show," "NCIS," "Courting Alex" and had a recurring role on "General Hospital."
Kristine Leahy is the co-host for NBC's heart-racing obstacle course competition series "American Ninja Warrior." She can also be heard on FS1's daily sports talk show "The Herd." Since the show's inception in 2015, Leahy and Cowherd have developed an easy chemistry that resonates with viewers across television and radio. In 2016, Leahy was honored with a Gracie Award in the category of On-Air Talent, Sports, for her outstanding work on the show. Leahy previously spent three years as a sideline reporter for March Madness, regular-season college basketball and
COLLEGE FOOTBALL and filled in as a host on
CBS Sports Network. Leahy earned a Bachelor of
Science in journalism from Boston University where she was part of the team that created BUTV's first sports talk show, and co-anchored that show for three years. From there, she worked as a reporter and host for New England sports radio station WEEI before moving on to the 17-time world champion Boston Celtics, where she spent two years as a host and in-house team reporter. After the Celtics, Leahy spent one year as the lead sports anchor for
FOX Boston, where she covered both a Stanley Cup and a Super Bowl. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her pug, Jersey.
The "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks® Spectacular" telecast is a production of Universal Television in association with Macy's. It is produced by Brad Lachman Productions with Lachman serving as executive producer. Bill Bracken is a co-executive producer.
Lachman's credits include a variety of
NBC specials, including the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" and "NBC's 90th Anniversary Special" in addition to "Michael Bublé's Christmas Special" for five holiday seasons.
For more information and images from the show please visit the NBC Universal Media Village website at http://www.nbcumv.com
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