Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Mickey Guyton to Sing for Memorial Day
Some top country music talent has been tapped to perform at the National Memorial Day concert that broadcasts annually on PBS. Not always so inclusive of country performers, this year Alan Jackson is slated to be one of the centerpieces of the presentation as he gets ready to release his new album Where Have You Gone on May 14th—his first album in six years.
Vince Gill will also appear on the broadcast, and Mickey Guyton has been slated to perform a special rendition of The National Anthem to help open the presentation.
Other names scheduled to appear or perform include Gladys Knight, Sara Bareilles, Denyce Graves, The Four Tops, Steve Buscemi, Joe Morton, Brian d’Arcy James, Kathy Baker, Mary McCormack, Bailee Madison, General Colin Powell, and the National Symphony Orchestra will all appear during the 90-minute special. It will be hosted by Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise.
The concert special is usually filmed as a live concert experience on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol building, but due to COVID-19 concerns, the telecast will be pre-taped in 2021. It marks the 32nd installment of the National Memorial Day Concert and will honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, their families and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. This years presentation will specifically tribute Vietnam Nurses, the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, and the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and Gold Star Families.
The National Memorial Day Concert airs on PBS on Sunday, May 30 at 8 p.m. ET. It will also be streamed to troops around the world via the American Forces Network. The concert will also be available on Facebook, YouTube and PBS.org.
May 10, 2021 @ 12:19 pm
Have tremendous respect for this site.
May 10, 2021 @ 12:20 pm
Multiple comments were deleted here for being dramatically off-topic. Please keep your extremely divisive political opinions to appropriate forums. This is a country music website.
Thanks!
May 10, 2021 @ 5:35 pm
Yeah right. Like that happens.
May 10, 2021 @ 6:19 pm
I was late reading the article. I have no idea how a nice article about a Memorial Day special got so divisive so fast. I give you credit for having a comment section anymore. ESPN shut theirs down awhile ago. The Athletic turns off the comments section for articles they know will be a train wreck ahead of time. I think eventually they will do away with it all together.
It’s good seeing Alan get so much publicity.
May 10, 2021 @ 7:18 pm
The argument got pretty heated. You missed it.
It was all about whether or not the guacamole is considered a “fruit” or a “vegetable”.
I say vegetable but damn, a lot of people here take their produce very seriously.
May 11, 2021 @ 8:18 am
Huh, guess yer one of them culinary definitionist sheep then. Why do you hate America and farmers?!?!? Botanical is the one truth. Get woke.
May 11, 2021 @ 9:29 am
Apparently Avocados are nature’s fruit. Who knew?
May 12, 2021 @ 4:33 am
Why are you people so racist? Mickey Guyton sings beautifully. Her song “Black like Me” makes me cry. I was praying she would win the Grammy. I am not black, but I felt the ostracization of other children. We were very poor and my Dad worked so hard; so we could try to pay the bills, keep the lights on, and eat. You don’t have to be right on the nose to feel this song and the pain behind it. Because of that song, I went looking for a Mickey Guyton album. Sadly there isn’t one. Why? Probably because narrow minded people won’t play her music.
“What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” will rip your heart out. The lyrics are so sad and true. Girls can be the victims of sexual assualt and not be believed, we only make part of what a man makes for the same job, so many obstacles. Listen, REALLY LISTEN to the lyrics of her songs, and like me you will become a lifelong fan.
“Heaven Down Here” and “Bridges” are two more of her songs that will feed your soul and touch you if you just allow yourself to be open to listen.
May 12, 2021 @ 12:39 pm
Her music is only the faintest bit country. I think that is the main issue people on here have with her sudden ubiquity.
May 10, 2021 @ 12:57 pm
Prediction:
Vince Gill will sing some very sad songs & will be crying.
A great way to kick off the unofficial start of summer!! Haha
Gotta love Vince.
May 10, 2021 @ 4:23 pm
Mickey sure keeps popping up everywhere. Any actual country fans care to list their 5 favorite songs of hers? The ones I’ve heard so far haven’t really caught my attention.
May 10, 2021 @ 5:08 pm
Couldn’t name a single Mickey Guyton song, but Alan Jackson and Vince Gill…Bring it on!
May 10, 2021 @ 6:29 pm
Gary Sinise is one of the good guys. He has done a lot of charity work for the veterans.
Yes, Guyton is a political correct performer being pushed via the narrative. However, she can sing and there is no shame in her performing. She will represent country music well, just know why she is there.
May 11, 2021 @ 6:08 am
She’s also easy on the eyes.
May 11, 2021 @ 12:07 am
like both Alan and Gill. cannot wait to hear Alan’s new album. Vince needs to start another one as well.
May 11, 2021 @ 6:06 am
The Four Tops? They’re all dead. That’s a Four Tops tribute group now.
What exactly does “a special rendition” of the National Anthem entail? I kind of don’t like how that sounds…
May 11, 2021 @ 7:27 am
I think founding member of The Four Tops, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, would disagree. He is certainly old, but still alive and still a member of the group.
May 11, 2021 @ 7:44 am
Oh good! I thought Levi was the last remaining original when he died.
May 11, 2021 @ 8:12 am
Guyton has muscle and pipes and has Nathan Chapman, Taylor Swift’s producer, working with her.
Her music is cookie-cutter southern pop. She might be an interesting person, but who can tell? The industry treats gals like her like beautiful waitresses: they are there to deliver the goods, and no more.
If you want to call that “empowerment,” be my guest. The industry does this with male singers, too.