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CNN Live Event/Special
The Fourth In America. Aired 8-9p ET
Aired July 04, 2025 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[20:00:30]
DANA BASH, CNN HOST: A stunning view of New York City tonight. Wow, look at that and it will get even more spectacular when fireworks shoot 1,000 feet into the night sky.
We're also waiting for the start of the fireworks right here in Washington, D.C., when some of the nation's most iconic monuments will be lit up in rainbow of colors. This is "The Fourth in America," live on CNN. And if you're just joining us, Happy Independence Day. I'm Dana Bash with Boris Sanchez and we are joined by some really talented guests tonight.
You can see behind us that's the U.S. Air Force Band. and they're getting ready to perform during the fireworks here at the nation's capital.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: And Dana, we're also celebrating with the shows across the country tonight down in music city, Nashville, Tennessee. Their "Let Freedom Sing" celebration is already underway. You can see the streets crowded there. They've got some 40,000 pounds of explosives lined up for tonight's fireworks. We're also going to head to the Midwest, where fireworks are going to light up the Saint Louis Skyline and that iconic Gateway Arch.
And then later tonight, were going to take you to the Big Bay Boom in beautiful San Diego, where were anticipating some of the most technically advanced fireworks of the night. Dana, this is one spectacular lineup. And as we count down to the fireworks here in Washington, as the sun starts going down and you see that beautiful sunset on the monument, let's check in with CNN's Coy Wire on the National Mall because, Coy, you've got not only an amazing view, but some also some special guests for tonight's show as well.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: We absolutely do, as we celebrate the red, white, blue and boom, people here, the energy is palpable waiting for those fireworks, and they're celebrating that unity. Everyone coming together, that ongoing work towards unity, an ongoing moving target, but the one constant are the people who fight for that unity and that celebration of that independence for this country.
We have the Robertson family here, Boris and Dana. Kyle Robertson, first, petty officer, our U.S. Navy stationed right here in Washington, D.C. what does it mean to you, sir, to celebrate this holiday? KYLE ROBERTSON, "BLUE STAR FAMILIES" MEMBERS: I just really appreciate everybody coming together to remind themselves and just kind of remind the nation that we're here together as a people, just unity, freedom, working together towards this democracy. It's a good feeling.
WIRE: Look at you, hugging on young Theo there. We also have Jenny and some of the true heroes behind the military members are the families, right. Jenny, how many times have you moved and what is it like being a family member of a military member?
JENNY ROBERTSON, "BLUE STAR FAMILIES" MEMBERS: This will be our fourth move. and it's not easy, but it's not the worst thing ever. We definitely have communities that we form, like Blue Star Families, which is a volunteer organization that we do find that when you move, it definitely helps to have. It's an organization that helps you find your community so you definitely want to find that, and you definitely want to find your community. So if you're out there and you find that you know someone who's moving in near you, address them, get to know them.
WIRE: Okay, thank you so much. We're going to enjoy this spectacle about to happen. Theo, are you excited? He's excited. Thank you to Robertson family, Boris, back to you, we'll see you soon.
BASH: Theo will be excited, there's no question about that. Thank you so much, Coy, and get ready for a really fantastic performance right now by The War and Treaty. We're really fortunate to have Grammy nominated husband and wife duo Michael and Tanya Trotter right here, right behind us. They have a new single, "Feels Like Home," and will be performing for it -- for us right now.
(The War and Treaty, singing "Hey Driver" and "Feels Like Home")
[20:12:35]
BASH: Amazing.
SANCHEZ: Unreal.
BASH: I got to interview them earlier today. not only are they spectacular performers, they're really good people.
SANCHEZ: Oh, such soulful voices, oh unreal, as we get closer to the fireworks here in Washington, We want to show you some stunning views in Seward, Alaska, fireworks are going to light up this mountain view in just a few hours.
BASH: Plus, we're heading to the stunning red rocks amphitheater in Colorado because Sting, he's coming up next. Don't go anywhere.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:17:07]
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN's live Fourth of July special. Look at that view the Lincoln Memorial, the reflecting pool and some thousands and thousands of our closest friends. The nation's capital aglow tonight with one of the country's biggest and best fireworks shows. Plus, the beaches are filling up in Fort Lauderdale ahead of a performance by Rob Base.
BASH: And while they get ready, let's go to Colorado to the beautiful Red Rocks Amphitheater, where Sting is performing songs from his album "Sting 3.0 Live."
(Sting singing "Message in a Bottle")
[20:22:22]
BASH: He still got it, Boris, that was incredible and they're currently on the Sting Worldwide 3.0 Tour. We're going to have more from Sting coming up.
BORIS: That's right, Dana. But first let's take you to Fort Lauderdale, a big party there. I love the 90s tour. Here's Rob Base.
(Rob Base singing "It Takes Two")
(20:27:15)
BASH: I feel like I'm back in college and my college bar. We're you born yet? All right, we won't even get into that. That was Rob Base, all right, bringing down the house. We're going to go back to Fort Lauderdale in moments for none other than Vanilla Ice.
SANCHEZ: Plus, the party is rocking tonight in Boston. One of the first cities ever in the United States to celebrate the Fourth of July fireworks way back in 1777 -- their show tonight, said to be spectacular. Don't go anywhere.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:31:33]
BASH: Welcome back to the Fourth of July on CNN, where we're taking a live look at Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, where more than 10,000 fireworks will be launched tonight. And along with those amazing displays in the sky, we've got some blockbuster performances for you, including Noah Kahan. I'm very excited for Noah Kahan. And also Nelly.
SANCHEZ: It's going to be fantastic. But first, let's take you to the party in Fort Lauderdale and the I Love The 90s Tour. We just saw Rob Base perform now. Vanilla Ice is taking the stage. Let's watch.
(SINGING)
VANILLA ICE, AMERICAN RAPPER If you got great memories to this music, make some noise.
Tone Loc, Young McClintock, Rob Base. Word to your mother.
[20:36:03] SANCHEZ: Love it, love it, love it.
BASH: OK. Are you happy now?
SANCHEZ: Pleased.
BASH: So happy.
SANCHEZ: This Florida man.
BASH: I know.
SANCHEZ: Just pleased.
BASH: I know. And Miami to boot.
OK, now we are going to go to Philadelphia where Grammy Award winner JoJo is going to perform from the Welcome America Festival. She released her new album, NGL, "Not Going To Lie," earlier this year. She also has a new best-selling memoir out, "Over the Influence."
(SINGING)
[20:43:04]
BASH: That's JoJo singing "Start Over" from her new album NGL in Philadelphia.
SANCHEZ: So great to see her out there. You know, she was actually the youngest performer ever to have a number one hit, "Leave, Get Out" when she was just 13 years old --
BASH: Wow.
SANCHEZ: -- so it's great to see her after --
BASH: Yes. And she was on The Masked Singer. Did you watch The Masked Singer?
SANCHEZ: That's right. Yes, yes, yes.
BASH: I love it.
SANCHEZ: Fantastic to see her performing.
You're going to be amazed by what you're going to see in a moment. We have a live look at the Statue of Liberty. Just minutes away from one of the biggest firework shows tonight, the stunning skyline of New York City will be lit up with 30 different colors, 11 new effects there. And we've got a lot more from Sting in just moments. You'll be singing along with "Every Breath You Take."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:47:37] SANCHEZ: We are just minutes away from the biggest firework shows in the country, which will light up the stunning New York skyline and Lady Liberty. And of course, here in the nation's capital, we're going to bring you every single glorious minute of the display on CNN.
And back here in D.C., the United States Air Force Band is warming up right behind us for a patriotic performance that are going to -- that will bring you to your feet as we look at these boats on the Potomac River.
First, let's head back out west to Red Rocks Amphitheater. We've got more hits from Sting. Here he is with "Fields of Gold" and "Every Breath You Take."
(SINGING)
[20:56:40]
SANCHEZ: I was being tongue-in-cheek about Vanilla Ice being a legend earlier, but Sting truly is a legend.
BASH: Absolutely.
SANCHEZ: And they're at Red Rocks, a venue unlike any other. That was something.
BASH: That's a concert I want to catch. I mean, we got a glimpse of it here, which is such a treat, but he's coming here to D.C. I absolutely want to see him.
SANCHEZ: That is a do-not-miss, and you should not miss.
Any minute, the spacious skies over the National Mall are going to sparkle and shimmer with light that's going to shine across the country. It is the Fourth in America live right here on CNN, and we are quite literally seconds away from one of the standout moments of the entire evening.
BASH: And I have to say, it is a gorgeous evening here in Washington, D.C. You can feel the anticipation in the air as the sky gets darker and we wait for it just to be lit up with fireworks. They're sitting on both sides of the Lincoln Memorial, which you see right now. We're going to see it going over that and the reflecting pool.
The United States Air Force Band is here with us on Pennsylvania Avenue to provide a dose of patriotism on a night all about celebrating America.
SANCHEZ: Absolutely. Also this hour, we go to the city that never sleeps for a show brighter than Broadway, with more lights than Times Square itself. In New York, we're going to watch a fireworks show that dreams are made of.
Thirty colors of fireworks building a rainbow skyscraper soundtrack to a truly all-star roster of musical performances. It's going to be an incredible, incredible night. BASH: Yes. And we are just getting started.
I want to get to New York right now. CNN's Harry Enten is still there. Harry, you have a front row seat to the biggest show of the night.
Oh, he's already part of the show with the hat and the chin strap. If you can hear me, Harry, you can explain the chin strap while you talk about how excited you are about the fireworks. He hears me.
Harry's going to pretend not to hear me now.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA REPORTER: Let me -- I hear you perfectly well. I got both of my earpieces in. I'm dancing to the music here at the Downtown Skyport in Lower Manhattan. And let me just say, we are minutes away from what I would call the best fireworks show of the evening.
Now, I will admit, I am biased. I am a New Yorker through and through. But here's the deal, here's the deal. We've got four barges, all right, four different barges lined up here on the East River. This is the 33rd time that we are, in fact, having the fireworks show here on the East River.
That is a change from last year when we were on the Hudson. That's only occurred 11 times. So that means if you're not in New York City, you can't watch it except for on TV. But here's the thing that makes it so exciting to me. It's not just that we have the four barges. We are going to get fireworks 1,000 feet in the air.
My goodness gracious, it's going to be absolutely huge. And not just that, we are talking 80,000 fireworks. My goodness gracious, compare that to last year when we were only at 60,000 fireworks.
Now, I might know stats for a living. I believe that's something around, let's say, a 30 or 33 percent increase. I don't have my calculator in front of me. But the bottom line is one of the best fireworks shows in the nation is going to be on your TV screen soon.
Guys, how do we feel about it?
