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CNN Live Event/Special
CNN's "The Fourth in America" Special Returns With An All-Star Lineup. Aired 11p-12a ET
Aired July 04, 2023 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[23:00:00]
(THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS PERFORMING)
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Love that song. You are watching CNN's "Fourth in America." There is a lot ahead before the big finish with fireworks displays on the West Coast, including Alaska. Victor Blackwell and Cari Champion are standing by in San Diego as our coverage continues into the night. Hi, guys.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, you guys have had a great couple of hours. But there is a lot more to come. We've got some great shows, including here from the San Diego Bay.
CARI CHAMPION, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yeah, we do. And I think it's funny because we were talking about some of these songs. When you hear them, they take you back. And I know not necessarily the concert because I feel as if 4th of July is like a huge concert, "All American Rejects," I love them.
BLACKWELL: Yeah.
CHAMPION: But you're here for the fireworks as well.
BLACKWELL: I'm here for the fireworks. I love an old-fashioned firework show. No shade at the drone shows --
(LAUGHTER)
-- that some cities do. But I like a boom. And we're going to get that big baby boom here, one of the biggest fireworks shows in the country.
CHAMPION: Yup.
BLACKWELL: And then we've got shows across the country, including -- and I'm excited about this -- this year, for the first time in 4th of America, we're going to Alaska.
CHAMPION: Okay. That's going to be amazing.
BLACKWELL: Over the mountains in Alaska. Wait until you see this. It's going to be beautiful.
CHAMPION: I'm looking forward to Darius Rucker as well. He is coming up.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
CHAMPION: You guys know him from "Hootie & the Blowfish." He's just Darius now.
BLACKWELL: Yeah.
CHAMPION: But I do know for a fact he is a huge sports fan. That's where I first met him, in that world. So, I'm looking forward to seeing what he's going to give us tonight.
BLACKWELL: You know, I just want -- we've got a shot, I think, we can take to show you what's around us. The boats are out. There are people who have brought their chairs and their families to the seawall.
CHAMPION: So nice.
BLACKWELL: It is amazing here now.
CHAMPION: We hear some fireworks.
BLACKWELL: We hear some fireworks.
CHAMPION: We hear some fireworks now.
BLACKWELL: These are like the independent family fireworks that we are hearing right now.
CHAMPION: The ones I did when I was a kid?
BLACKWELL: Right. Yeah, that is coming.
(LAUGHTER)
But, I mean, this is a beautiful setting. So, be with us tonight for this amazing show over San Diego. We've got San Francisco, we've got Philly, we've got some --
CHAMPION: Nashville!
BLACKWELL: Nashville as well.
CHAMPION: They actually showed a shot of Nashville earlier and it was packed. That's going to be huge. That's going to be a good thing to see. Have you been in Nashville recently?
BLACKWELL: Uh, been a couple of years.
CHAMPION: A couple. Okay.
BLACKWELL: We'll go together tonight.
CHAMPION: We'll go together tonight.
BLACKWELL: Boris, back to you.
BASH: Can we come?
(LAUGHTER)
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Would love an invite, guys.
BLACKWELL: Yes, of course. You can all go is what we mean.
SANCHEZ: We are just behind you as the sun is starting -- the sun is starting to set in San Diego, and we're going to join our friends, Victor, Cari, and Dana as we go to Nashville right now for more fireworks and a performance like country music superstar Brad Paisley at the "Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th" show. Brad?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BRAD PAISLEY PERFORMING)
[23:05:00]
(BRAD PAISLEY PERFORMING)
BRAD PAISLEY, SINGER: Good evening, everyone. Who is in love tonight? Oh, my goodness. That is country freaking music right here on Broadway.
(BRAD PAISLEY PERFORMING)
(APPLAUSE)
PAISLEY: There's three little kids. You have to share this. She is shaking her head no.
(LAUGHTER)
Looks like it's the girls. There's Taylor Swift in 10 years, folks. Look at her. (INAUDIBLE) good. (INAUDIBLE) one of those. (INAUDIBLE) I'd love to open for you somebody if you let me.
(BRAD PAISLEY PERFORMING)
[23:10:00]
(BRAD PAISLEY PERFORMING)
(APPLAUSE)
PAISLEY: We can't do this today without these folks. Thank you, guys, so very, very much for doing what you do for this country. We appreciate you more than we can show you. We owe you more. We can never pay. However, we would like to start this evening with a beer. We have a bar back here. I don't know if I'm allowed to say this, but at ease, soldiers, and have yourself a drink tonight. You've earned it. God bless you. Thanks for your service.
(APPLAUSE)
(BRAD PAISLEY PERFORMING)
PAISLEY: That's the 4th of July, everybody.
(BRAD PAISLEY PERFORMING)
[23:15:00]
(BRAD PAISLEY PERFORMING)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: Brad Paisley puffing up (ph) the crowd. Absolutely amazing. He's so great.
SANCHEZ: He is fantastic, yeah.
BASH: And yes, we are wearing silly glasses. But you know what? It's late and why not? Our colleague, John Robinson, got these for the bureau and so we thought, we should wear them, we should honor them.
SANCHEZ: We needed some eye protection from the brightness --
(LAUGHTER)
-- of Braid Paisley star and obviously all the lights up in Nashville. And shout out as he gave to members of our armed services. He offered them a beer. Their sacrifice is so important. And obviously, we honor that as we celebrate our nation tonight.
BASH: I'm going to take off my mine for now until I can talk about what is up next because we have a lot, a lot more. After a break, there's going to be fireworks in the San Diego Bay. Demi Lovato is putting on a very, very big show in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia. Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:20:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: Nashville, you're looking good. Fireworks still going on, wowing the crowds there, as this "Fourth in America" continues here on CNN. I'm Victor Blackwell with Cari Champion in San Diego.
CHAMPION: We love it here in San Diego. I will tell you, we've been having a few moments. I think I'm going to get you to come to Nashville with me, right?
BLACKWELL: I'm ready.
CHAMPION: We're ready to do some fireworks, have a good time. BLACKWELL: Yes.
CHAMPION: That was a beautiful sight that we saw. But I'll tell you what. I personally love Philadelphia. I've been there a few times. I get to hang out with Philly cheesesteak? What do you do?
BLACKWELL: Oh, not Philly cheesesteak. I just love the city.
CHAMPION: You love the city to hang out.
BLACKWELL: I love the city.
CHAMPION: Well, you're going to love what we're about to show you, guys, especially at home. We are heading there now for fireworks and, of course, a performance by the one and only Demi Lovato.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(DEMI LOVATO PERFORMING)
[23:25:00]
(DEMI LOVATO PERFORMING)
DEMI LOVATO, SINGER: Thank you so much for having me tonight. I just want to say I had so much fun. It was great seeing all of your beautiful faces. And happy 4th of July!
(APPLAUSE)
(DEMI LOVATO PERFORMING)
[23:30:00]
(FIREWORKS)
(DEMI LOVATO PERFORMING)
LOVATO: Thank you so much!
(FIREWORKS)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL: Demi Lovato! Fantastic performance. And look at these fireworks over Philadelphia on the birthday --
CHAMPION: Yes.
BLACKWELL: -- of our country. You've got to go to Philly and show the show.
CHAMPION: You have to show the show. Look at Nashville. Take a look over there. They had an entire city street lit with people waiting to see this concert and, obviously, the fireworks. A city that I think represents what we are celebrating tonight. That's the nation's concert.
BLACKWELL: You know, Nashville, this show has been going on for some time now. I don't know if we're at the finale yet, but they have really put on a show tonight. And, I mean, Nashville has really rivaled some of the shows we have seen from D.C. --
CHAMPION: Yeah.
BLACKWELL: -- New York and Philly had a great --
CHAMPION: I would say equally. I would say equally in terms of what they bring. It's obviously one of the fastest-growing cities. They have so much there. People are watching in terms of where to go. That is the next place that you and I will attend, a concert.
BLACKWELL: You are determined to get me to a concert in Nashville.
CHAMPION: I am determined to get Victor to a concert in Nashville.
BLACKWELL: It's a great music city.
CHAMPION: It's so -- so you say yes.
BLACKWELL: I've said yes.
CHAMPION: Okay. I don't know. See, we sit on camera. We can roll the tape back. Okay?
BLACKWELL: Yes. I've said yes.
(LAUGHTER)
And it is now getting dark here in San Diego.
CHAMPION: Yeah.
BLACKWELL: We are standing here on San Diego Bay on the pier here waiting for the big bay boom, one of the great shows, one of many great shows still to come tonight as "Fourth in America" special continue.
CHAMPION: Yeah. And I'll tell you this. This is one of the days I'm really happy that I have an opportunity to work with someone like you. We still have much more to come, as Victor just mentioned. The Zac Brown band still ahead. You don't want to miss it. We are live from San Diego on Coronado Pier.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:35:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: We are coming to you live from San Diego on this "Fourth in America." Look at this sight.
CHAMPION: So beautiful. So beautiful. I'll tell you what, we're not really setting the tone. We can see, obviously, the skyline and the boats.
BLACKWELL: Yeah.
CHAMPION: But I want everyone to know at home, it really is a family friendly event. Over to our right, you can see all of these families walking along the pier, walking along the bay --
BLACKWELL: They got white lights on, riding along the seawall.
CHAMPION: They got their bike lights on. They're bike riding. It really feels like the celebration were supposed to have for 4th of July.
BLACKWELL: It is beautiful. The people are here waiting for the big show. The big bay boom that's coming to cap off the show here. It has been a fantastic weekend --
CHAMPION: Yeah.
BLACKWELL: -- here on Coronado Island right along the San Diego Bay.
CHAMPION: I've enjoyed it.
BLACKWELL: There are so much more coming.
CHAMPION: We do have so much more. Right now, though, we'll take the fireworks show in Chicago and Nashville is still going. Zac Brown Band performs. And, of course, it's a terrific cover of the Stones's hit, " Paint It, Black."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(ZAC BROWN BAND PERFORMING)
[23:40:00]
(ZAC BROWN BAND PERFORMING)
(FIREWORKS)
(ZAC BROWN BAND PERFORMING)
(APPLAUSE)
UNKNOWN, ZAC BROWN BAND MEMBER: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHAMPION: Zac Brown Band with cover of "Paint It, Black." I love it.
BLACKWELL: Fantastic. More music from Zac Brown Band and the fireworks over Chicago. We saw a bit of Nashville mixed in there. I mean, that is a fantastic show. We have had some great shows today.
CHAMPION: We've had really good shows, and we are going to have so much more to come for folks at home if they are paying attention. We are glad you are hanging out here with us. We have something very, very special near and dear to us. We have talked about this. An inspiring marching band from New Orleans that empowers young people through music. And of course, country star Darius Rucker will perform some of his greatest hits. We will be back in just a few moments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:45:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: America's birthday party shifting to the West Coast. Fireworks about to launch here in San Diego. Live look here across San Diego Bay. That San Diego skyline, you can see the boats there waiting for the show above. There are shows across the country on stage, celebrating this great country.
CHAMPION: Yeah, this is a beautiful scene. And now, guess what guys? It's time for something you and I talked about just briefly during the commercial break. We'll share with you, guys, here at home. We're heading to New Orleans for the city's fireworks show and a rounding performance by members of "The Roots of Music." It's a group that empowers young people through musical education. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(THE ROOTS OF MUSIC PERFORMING)
[23:50:00]
(THE ROOTS OF MUSIC PERFORMING)
(FIREWORKS)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHAMPION: That was an absolutely wonderful performance. I did a little research on "The Roots of Music" and the guy who actually started the academy was a CNN hero.
BLACKWELL: Derrick Tabb.
CHAMPION: Yeah, which I think is so amazing. And these kids, between the ages of 9 and 14 years old.
BLACKWELL: I love that we're highlighting that this year as, of course, we're watching the New Orleans fireworks show.
CHAMPION: Yeah.
BLACKWELL: The second group you saw, they are 9 to 14.
CHAMPION: Yeah. BLACKWELL: And then the older group you saw first that were performing "When the Saints Go Marching In," 15 to 19.
CHAMPION: I love it.
BLACKWELL: What's great about this also is that "The Roots of Music Academy" --
CHAMPION: Yeah.
BLACKWELL: -- is a 10-month program that teaches them more than music but how to start a music production business.
CHAMPION: Which is so important. Yeah. And it's for low-income kids. They have all the support around it. Ancillary support programs.
BLACKWELL: And they are good.
CHAMPION: And they're -- on top of, they're good, although, I said they should wear some jackets because I was, like, oh, their arms are cold.
BLACKWELL: Put some jackets on these kids.
CHAMPION: I turned into a grandma, put jackets on.
BLACKWELL: Another big entertainer performs next. Darius Rucker takes the stage.
[23:55:00]
(FIREWORKS)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: We are moments away from one of the biggest fireworks shows on the West Coast here in San Diego. The 4th of July celebration, it is kicking into high gear on this side of the country right now. I'm Victor Blackwell along with Cari Champion.
CHAMPION: Victor, thank you so much for having me here hanging out with you.
BLACKWELL: It has been a pleasure.
CHAMPION: It has been a pleasure. It's our first time working together but it has been a fast friendship.
BLACKWELL: Yeah.
CHAMPION: Much like what we are watching across the nation right now. Everyone is celebrating. It is a festive time, a festive mood. I'm excited about this firework show. I know that's your thing.
BLACKWELL: You know I love a good firework show.
CHAMPION: I know that's your thing, but I'm here for it.
BLACKWELL: And this is the one on the West Coast. Everyone talks about New York and Philly and D.C. On the West Coast, it is the big bay boom. We're standing on the pier here on the San Diego Bay.
CHAMPION: So gorgeous.
BLACKWELL: And people have been crowding in along the seawall. Here is a look. The boats are here waiting for the stars above.
(LAUGHTER)
I've been saying the stars onstage and stars exploding above us.
CHAMPION: Yes. We've seen some fireworks, not too many, some fireworks.
BLACKWELL: Yeah.
CHAMPION: But you also pointed out, look at all the families that are still here.
BLACKWELL: Lots of families. We can hear the kids from here.
CHAMPION: We can hear the kids.
[00:00:00]
They're riding their bikes. They're enjoying themselves. This is actually a perfect scenario for what we're trying to celebrate tonight.
