A Capitol Fourth

A Capitol Fourth is an annual PBS special which airs live on July 4th from the West Lawn of the US Capitol, leading up to the finale fireworks show in Washington, D.C.
==2006==
In the 2006 special, Elmo was one of the headline guests. He arrived onstage riding a tricycle, and singing "Riding My Tricycle". He then sang "How Do You Do?" with Vanessa Williams after establishing that he couldn't greet everyone at the event individually. He invited a group of children onstage for a song about imagination with Hoots the Owl on saxophone. Finally, he sang "Happy Birthday to You" to America with the orchestra.
The special, which was hosted by Jason Alexander, also featured performances by Stevie Wonder, Jo Dee Messina, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Michael Bolton.
Image:ACapitolFourth-Elmo.jpg|Promo
Image:Capitol-elmo.jpg|Promo
Image:Capitolfourth1.jpg|Dress rehearsal
Image:Capitolfourth2.jpg|Dress rehearsal
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==2009==
In the 2009 special, Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Rosita, and Abby Cadabby appeared to not only celebrate the nation's 233rd birthday, but also Sesame Street's 40th. The group was introduced by President Barack Obama.
Conductor Erich Kunzel invited Big Bird to lead the National Symphony Orchestra in a short rendition of "Ode to Joy", after which the bird sang "Sunny Days" to the crowd. The entire group then performed a medley of Sesame Street songs: Elmo sang "Elmo's Song", Oscar sang "I Love Trash", Abby Cadabby sang "Somebody Come and Play", and Cookie Monster sang "C is for Cookie", leading up to Rosita's bilingual performance of "Sing" together with singer Natasha Bedingfield. While the cast of Muppets (sans Big Bird) sang back-up on each character's individual song, the entire group joined in on Bedingfield's rendition of "Yankee Doodle Boy". Big Bird finished the medley off by leading the group to "You're a Grand Old Flag".
Due to high chances of rain on July 4, the show's producers wanted a clean take at the dress rehearsal on July 3, and the show was performed twice.
The special, which was hosted by Jimmy Smits, also featured performances by Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, the cast of the Broadway musical Jersey Boys, and pianists Michael Feinstein and Andrew von Oeyen.
File:President Obama Sesame Street Fourth of July|President Obama introduces Sesame Street
File:Jimmy Smits and Elmo in HD|Promo featuring host Jimmy Smits and Elmo
File:A Capitol Fourth - Natasha Bedingfield (2009-07-03)|Excerpt from the dress rehearsal with Bedingfield
Image:A-Capitol-Fourth-2009b.jpg|Promo
Image:NatashaBedingfieldandbigbird.jpg|Bedingfield
Image:Jimmyelmo4th.JPG|From a promo video
Image:A-Capitol-Fourth-rehearsal-from-YouTube.jpg|Rehearsal
==2014==
Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy appeared during the 2014 special, performing "This Land Is Your Land." Piggy ended the number with a costume change as The Statue of Liberty. She made a crash landing, however, leaving Kermit to fill time with an abridged version of "Rainbow Connection" with the National Symphony Orchestra.
Later, Fozzie Bear appeared, giving host Tom Bergeron some comedic lines during his introduction for Kendall Schmidt. Animal appeared with Bergeron at the program's end.
The special also featured performances by Patti LaBelle, Frankie Valli, and a new rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" arranged by John Williams.
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==2019==
The Muppets of Sesame Street appeared in the 2019 edition of the program to promote their 50th anniversary.
The Muppets (Big Bird, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Rosita, Ernie and Bert) kicked off the evening with a performance of "You're a Grand Old Flag." Soon after, Abby appeared with host John Stamos to introduce Angelica Hale. Later, Bert and Ernie assisted Stamos in introducing Lee Brice. Grover appeared solo to introduce a performance by Gone West featuring Colbie Caillat.
Following a montage of 50 years of Sesame Street, the Muppets returned to the main stage for their own musical performance, kicking off with the "Sesame Street Theme." The group, partially aided by Stamos, followed with "This Land Is Your Land," "Yankee Doodle Boy" and "Happy Birthday to You."
The Muppets re-appeared at the special's end to sing "God Bless America" with the other performers.
Other guests include Laura Osnes, Lindsey Stirling and Vanessa Williams.
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==2021==
Kermit the Frog appeared throughout the program, hosted by Vanessa Williams. Kermit appeared alongside Williams to explain that he likes to give the frog that stands in for him at the Smithsonian the Fourth of July off. Kermit also appeared trying out for the Olympics, and said that when he appears in space, he gets mistaken for Yoda, even doing an impression. He also performed "Rainbow Connection." Kermit then closed out the show with Williams and Chris Jackson.
Other guests include Jimmy Buffett, Gladys Knight, Pentatonix, Renée Fleming, Train, Jennifer Nettles, and Laura Osnes.
==2023==
Elmo and Cookie Monster make appearances throughout the program alongside host Alfonso Ribeiro. After the singer Babyface performs, Cookie quips that Elmo used to be called "Babyface Monster." Elmo wears a spacesuit while introducing a greeting from NASA astronauts on the International Space Station, and afterwards begins to float.
Guest performers include Renée Fleming, Boyz II Men, Chicago, and Belinda Carlisle.
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==External links==
* Official website
* Florida Sun-Sentinel: An interview with Elmo about PBS' A Capitol Fourth, originally published in The Washington Post in 2006
* Focus on Elmo's 2006 appearance at "A Capitol Fourth" website
* Audio interview with Elmo and Big Bird at "A Capitol Fourth" website, 2009
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Category:TV Appearances
Category:America