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CNN Live Event/Special
The Fourth In America. Aired 9-10p ET
Aired July 04, 2025 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: But the bottom line is one of the best fireworks shows in the nation is going to be on your TV screens soon.
Guys, how do we feel about it?
(CHEERING)
ENTEN: They are into it. I am into it. And my dear friends in Washington, D.C., you will see one of the best--
DANA BASH, CNN HOST (voice-over): Yes.
ENTEN: --coming up soon.
Back to you, my friends.
BASH (on camera): Thank you so much for clearing up that you're a New Yorker, because we never would have gotten it.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST (on camera): We had no idea.
ENTEN: I know. I know it's a shocker.
BASH (on camera): No idea.
(CROSSTALK)
ENTEN: We weren't quite sure.
SANCHEZ (on camera): Harry Enten.
ENTEN: By the way, I never buy any of my clothing myself.
SANCHEZ (on camera): Harry Enten, thank you so much.
ENTEN: A Star Spangled (ph) I don't know. I just thought it looked good.
BASH (on camera): It does look good.
SANCHEZ (on camera): It looks good on you.
BASH (on camera): You look -- you don't look good. You look great.
SANCHEZ (on camera): Look great, you look great. ENTEN: Thank you.
SANCHEZ (on camera): Let's go to Coy Wire, who's live on the National Mall in Washington, as we're counting down to the huge display here.
Coy, that sunset behind you is spectacular.
BASH (on camera): Wow.
SANCHEZ (on camera): But the night sky is going to get lit up in just moments too.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR & CORRESPONDENT: Oh, you tell Harry Enten that we have the best fireworks show on the planet. It is just moments away. You get to see it, right here on CNN.
WIRE (voice-over): Tens of thousands of people have been gathering here, on the National Mall, since the wee hours of the early morning. Some have taken a train all the way from North Carolina, this morning, to get here for it.
What's the Fourth of July mean to you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For us, it's a chance to come together and celebrate the freedom that we all share, as Americans.
WIRE (on camera): Spread that love. Shout-out to all the teachers out there. Rise up.
You ready for the fireworks?
(CHEERING)
WIRE (on camera): All right. Now, I'm pretty sure our Founding Fathers will be very proud of the way we do fireworks here, and I have the best seat in the house. My new friends, Dimon (ph) and Calvin (ph), baby.
Happy Fourth of July, everybody. Let's go.
(PEOPLE CHANTING "USA")
SANCHEZ (on camera): USA. USA.
(PEOPLE CHANTING "USA")
WIRE: Let's go.
BASH (on camera): Now let's start it off.
SANCHEZ (on camera): Yes, yes.
(CHEERING)
SANCHEZ (on camera): Fitting -- fitting for Coy.
BASH (on camera): Yes. And it's shocking that the sports guy is competitive about who has the best -- who has the best fireworks?
SANCHEZ (on camera): Love to see it. Coy Wire, thank you so much.
BASH (on camera): Yes. And it really is every -- every time that we come here, we're not sure if it's going to be raining or muggy.
SANCHEZ (on camera): Yes, yes.
BASH (on camera): You don't usually get this in Washington, D.C. You get to see it, but we get to feel it. It's a really, really nice night.
SANCHEZ (on camera): And we're going to feel something special, just seconds from now, as The U.S. Air Force Band is getting set to play. Let's listen.
(VIDEO - THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND - "THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER")
[21:05:00]
(VIDEO - THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND - "SING, SING, SING")
(CHEERING)
(APPLAUSE)
(VIDEO - THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND - "GONNA FLY NOW")
SANCHEZ (voice-over): What an incredible -- what an incredible performance. What an incredible night. That got the juices flowing.
We're just minutes away from what will be one of the most breathtaking spectacles of the night, the nation's capital, a glow illuminating more than a dozen memorials and museums along the National Mall.
BASH (voice-over): Tonight, the nation celebrates its 249th birthday, just one year away from a majestic 250.
The fireworks we're about to see, launch from both sides of the beautiful Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
[21:10:00]
(CHEERING)
(APPLAUSE)
(FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS DISPLAY - WASHINGTON, D.C.)
(VIDEO - THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND - "GOD BLESS AMERICA")
[21:15:00]
(VIDEO - THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND - "THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER") (VIDEO - THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND - "IN THE MOOD")
(FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS DISPLAY - WASHINGTON, D.C.)
[21:20:00]
(VIDEO - THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND - SENIOR MASTER SGT. EMILY WELLINGTON - "DEFYING GRAVITY")
(VIDEO - THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND - TECHNICAL SGT. BENTON FELTY - "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL")
[21:25:00]
(VIDEO - THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BAND - "1812 OVERTURE")
(CHEERING)
(APPLAUSE)
BASH (voice-over): Unbelievable.
SANCHEZ (voice-over): Wow.
BASH (voice-over): Unbelievable.
SANCHEZ (voice-over): Stunning.
BASH (voice-over): It was terrific to be here. But I have to say, our production team, they outdid themselves, because you, at home, got to see this beautify city, the nation's capital, lit up from all of the angles, all of the beautiful monuments.
BASH (on camera): Just amazing.
SANCHEZ (on camera): A spectacle in the sky. And shout-out to The U.S. Air Force Band for guiding us through it. Wow. Wow.
BASH (on camera): And we are now -- that's right.
Just seconds away from the big show in New York.
BASH (voice-over): Organizers tell us, fireworks are expected to reach up to 1,000 feet and use 30 different colors. We're also looking out for a 11 new effects, this year, including green sunburst, strobing lemon cascades and crackling crown jellyfish.
SANCHEZ (voice-over): A jellyfish? I did not anticipate that. OK.
BASH (voice-over): Stay tuned.
SANCHEZ (voice-over): Yes, we've got Harry Enten, there in New York. He's donned a Star Spangled cowboy hat, as well as, I believe, a Star Spangled vest as well. As we're watching the iconic skyline of New York City, it's going to be incredible, and it is coming your way, shortly, as we anticipate, these fireworks are set to start at almost any moment.
BASH (voice-over): Yes, and look, there always is a competition between Washington and New York.
SANCHEZ (voice-over): Undoubtedly, yes.
BASH (voice-over): I think -- wow, look at Lady Liberty. Can we just watch this for a moment? Oh, I think it's starting. Here we go.
(FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS DISPLAY - NEW YORK)
[21:30:00]
(VIDEO - TAYLOR SWIFT - "WELCOME TO NEW YORK")
(VIDEO - BENSON BOONE - "SORRY I'M HERE FOR SOMEONE ELSE")
[21:35:00]
(VIDEO - MYLES SMITH - "GOLD")
(VIDEO - AVICII - "LEVELS")
[21:40:00]
(VIDEO - PINK - "RAISE YOUR GLASS")
(VIDEO - ED SHEERAN - "AZIZAM")
[21:45:00]
(VIDEO - MS. LAURYN HILL - "DOO WOP (THAT THING)")
(VIDEO - DAVID GUETTA & SIA - "TITANIUM")
[21:50:00]
(VIDEO - COLDPLAY - "VIVA LA VIDA")
(VIDEO - FRANK SINATRA - "(THEME FROM) NEW YORK, NEW YORK")
[21:55:00]
(VIDEO - DEMI LOVATO - "COOL FOR THE SUMMER")
BASH (voice-over): Absolutely incredible. Just it -- no matter how many times we see these fireworks, over Lady Liberty, and all of the Manhattan and New York skyline, it never ceases to amaze.
SANCHEZ (voice-over): And that timeless voice, "Old Blue Eyes" Frank Sinatra, singing over that skyline.
The only thing I missed was the jellyfish. There were going to be some jellyfish fireworks? I didn't catch them.
BASH (on camera): I think they were there. SANCHEZ (on camera): I'm going to have to go, watch it again.
BASH (on camera): Yes, we'll watch it again.
SANCHEZ (on camera): We'll watch it again.
BASH (on camera): But Harry Enten, you're there. Did you see the jellyfish?
ENTEN: I did not see the jellyfish. I was just -- my eyes were just so up on all of those beautiful colors, here at the Downtown Skyport.
I mean, look, I -- this may be a surprise to you. But earlier today, I was a little bit in a bad mood. But then, you combine these fantastic fireworks, you know, 80,000 of them, you combine it with Frank Sinatra, and I just go to myself, Is there anything better than combining New York, Frank Sinatra, 80,000 fireworks? And there just isn't.
So guys, fantastic.
BASH (on camera): Yes.
ENTEN: Looking forward to 250 years of America, next year.
BASH (on camera): Absolutely.
And you know what? We are not done. We are moments away from another amazing fireworks show. That's in Philadelphia, the Birthplace of America.
SANCHEZ (voice-over): Yes, the night is just getting started. Look at that, Niagara Falls.
BASH (voice-over): Wow.
SANCHEZ (voice-over): It's going to be awash in red, white and blue tonight during its big show. We're expecting some 700 fireworks, over this natural wonder, unlike any other on Mother Earth.
Plus, Noah Kahan bringing his "Northern Attitude" to CNN. And more performances from Nelly, Dierks Bentley, Lainey Wilson, and many, many more. Stay tuned.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
