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CNN Live Event/Special
CNN Presents "The Fourth In America." Aired 11p-12a ET
Aired July 04, 2025 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[23:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR AND SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Live pictures right now of the Saint Louis arch and a dazzling display of fireworks as we ring in this hour all across America tonight. Fireworks, music, and a heck of a lot of fun because we're celebrating our independence.
Welcome back to "The Fourth in America" live here on CNN. I'm Sara Sidner here in San Diego, California with this guy. Yay. We're back again --
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
SIDNER: -- Victor Blackwell.
BLACKWELL: You know, I've seen fireworks all over the country. For me, it doesn't get better than the show here in San Diego, the big bay boom, biggest show on the West Coast. Up to 500,000 people will be coming here. And soon, the seawall along here will be packed with families to see the big show. Fireworks starting in just a few hours here, but we've got shows for you long before that.
SIDNER: It is true. And we should mention, the Navy is well represented in this town.
BLACKWELL: Absolutely.
SIDNER: There is a lot of folks here. You do not want to miss this show. It is absolutely beautiful. And San Diego always gives. The weather is always on point.
BLACKWELL: Clear sky. Beautiful weather. It won't get better. Listen, you have a few hours of great performances ahead of you. Listen, if you watch "Grey's Anatomy," you know the band that we're going to hear from in just a moment. I'm talking about The Fray from the Summerfest festival in Milwaukee, The Fray with their first single of 2025, "My Heart is a Crowded Room." As they play, we have the fireworks from Chicago and Detroit.
(THE FRAY PERFORMING "OVER MY HEAD (CABLE CAR)")
[23:05:00]
(THE FRAY PERFORMING "OVER MY HEAD (CABLE CAR)")
(APPLAUSE)
(THE FRAY PERFORMING "HOW TO SAVE A LIFE")
[23:10:00]
(THE FRAY PERFORMING "HOW TO SAVE A LIFE")
(APPLAUSE)
(THE FRAY PERFORMING "MY HEART IS A CROWDED ROOM")
(APPLAUSE)
SIDNER: How about that? That was a preview of the new album from The Fray. Be sure to catch the "How to Save a Life" 20th anniversary tour, celebrating two decades since the release of their iconic debut album.
[23:15:04]
You saw people were feeling -- they're crying, listening to that. It is a touching song.
BLACKWELL: Joe King getting down into the audience there with his fans nine times at Summerfest for The Fray. So, as we wait for the fireworks extravaganza here in San Diego to start, let's head south as Houston serves up Texas-sized displays of their own.
Plus, she's storming up the country charts. Lainey Wilson will be back performing a new hit in just minutes.
SIDNER: Our friend, Beyonce, is also probably watching these from somewhere. Right?
BLACKWELL: Hey, Beyonce.
SIDNER: Hey, girl. We --
(LAUGHTER)
-- we have tons more music to keep you dancing. You are watching CNN "The Fourth in America."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: Welcome back to CNN special, "The Fourth in America," celebrating all across the country. But, you know, they say that everything is bigger in Texas. That's just what they say. And the fireworks are no exception. Just look at this display. An estimated 50,000 people gathered to watch this dazzling show right there in Houston.
SIDNER: And while we're showing you Texas, let's hear from one of country music's fastest rising stars.
[23:19:57]
It's Grammy winner Lainey Wilson at Summerfest performing her new single, "Somewhere Over Laredo."
(LAINEY WILSON PERFORMING "SOMEWHERE OVER LAREDO")
(APPLAUSE)
(LAINEY WILSON PERFORMING "4X4XU")
[23:25:00]
(LAINEY WILSON PERFORMING "4X4XU")
(APPLAUSE)
SIDNER: When that music goes down and those voices come up, I love an acapella moment in a concert.
BLACKWELL: That's a connection.
(LAUGHTER)
That is a connection with your audience.
SIDNER: So is. And that was Lainey Wilson, as you know, who has a big year ahead with a deluxe album on the way, a U.S. tour called "Whirlwind," even the folks here are getting crazy, kicking off next month and her acting debut. And we should mention, we've been watching the fireworks in Houston --
BLACKWELL: Yeah.
SIDNER: -- and we've been seeing such devastation there from the flooding.
BLACKWELL: Yeah. Of course, our hearts go out tonight to everyone in Texas, all who've been impacted by the devastation caused by the flooding there, and we're thinking especially of everyone still hoping for the safe return of their loved ones.
SIDNER: When we come back, we're going to have a rowdy crowd. You can hear the kids. They're already losing their minds, waiting for the show here, because it's going to be amazing, as it always is, the big bay boom.
But across America, you're going to continue to -- to mark this one of a kind national holiday, the 249th birthday of the United States. We will have a lot more music, more fireworks and, of course, plenty of more outfits and fun.
BLACKWELL: Yes. Plus, Arkansas has entered the chat. We're showing you pictures of the fireworks above Little Rock. There's plenty more to see right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [23:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SIDNER: We're putting on all the sparkly swag as we look at Des Moines, Iowa. But we are here in San Diego waiting for the big boom. And you can literally feel your heart reverberate when they start going off here. It's so good.
BLACKWELL: That's what I love about fireworks. I mean, so many cities are moving toward drones. But -- but give me the traditional boom, and we're going to get it here. Biggest fireworks show on the West Coast. But for now, let's head over to the Hawkeye State.
SIDNER: Yes. Picture right now of the fireworks. There you see them over Des Moines, Iowa. Already tonight, we've seen colorful celebrations across the United States, from Washington and New York and Houston. And now, there you are. Look at Iowa. Just sparkling for you.
BLACKWELL: I'm trying to look at Iowa. I can barely see --
SIDNER: Can you see through those?
BLACKWELL: -- anything.
(LAUGHTER)
But I hear it's great.
SIDNER: Welcome back to CNN's "The Fourth in America."
(LAUGHTER)
BLACKWELL: Yeah. We have a night full of performances. Performing now from Washington, D.C., here is Grammy-nominated R&B singer, Jeremih.
(JEREMIH PERFORMING "OUI")
[23:35:00]
(JEREMIH PERFORMING "OUI")
JEREMIH, SINGER: D.C., make some noise right now. Let's keep going. How do you feel? Let's give energy up there. Let's go. One more time. Come on. Here we go.
(JEREMIH PERFORMING "DOWN ON ME")
[23:40:00]
(JEREMIH PERFORMING "DOWN ON ME")
JEREMIH: Just keep turning yourself bare. Now listen, before we get to this next song, I need your help. I need everyone to reach in your pocket, pull your phone out, and put your flashlight in the air. Put your phone light up. I need everybody to light it up in here. I need everyone. There are thousands of people out here. I need every flashlight in here. One time. I need more. I need more. I need more. Left side. I need some lights over there.
I say to you all, let's get it. Come on. D.C., put your hands up. Here we go. D.C., put your hands up. One, two, three. Here we go.
(JEREMIH PERFORMING "DON'T TELL 'EM")
[23:45:00]
(JEREMIH PERFORMING "DON'T TELL 'EM")
(APPLAUSE)
JEREMIH: Happy July 4 to everybody out here in D.C.
BLACKWELL: You know, I'm a Jeremih fan. Right?
SIDNER: Don't tell him. Don't tell him.
BLACKWELL: You ain't even got to tell him.
(LAUGHTER)
In that first song, we -- you know what? I'm not going to do it.
SIDNER: Sing it.
BLACKWELL: I'm not going to do it.
SIDNER: Nobody needs to hear that part.
BLACKWELL: Your dogs are going through enough tonight with the fireworks.
(LAUGHTER)
So, I'm not going to put -- put them through it with my voice, too. Listen, Jeremih is currently on tour. After night show, he'll be going to Chicago tomorrow.
All right, still to come, the Big Easy will take you to New Orleans for fireworks and a little jazz. Plus, we can't wait to get you there, we'll all be smiling in the bright lights when Counting Crows takes the stage, and Timbaland. A performance you have to see.
SIDNER: We are also getting closer to the show here in San Diego. I'm going to tell you, it is never not perfect, but I swear it is more perfect tonight than I've seen in a while. We're not seeing any kind of any blockage. You're going to see these fireworks. They're going to be so beautiful. It is "The Fourth in America" right here on CNN. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [23:50:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SIDNER: All right. Now, we're taking you to the sights and sounds with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans.
(THE PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND PERFORMING "LORD, LORD, LORD")
(APPLAUSE)
(THE PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND PERFORMING "KEEP YOUR HEAD UP")
[23:55:00]
(THE PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND PERFORMING "KEEP YOUR HEAD UP")
(APPLAUSE)
SIDNER: That was perfectly New Orleans Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Here is a look at the fireworks now over Aurora, Colorado as we count down the minutes until the big show here in San Diego.
BLACKWELL: Plus, a performance by Counting Crows. Stick with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
