The event commemorates the liberation of enslaved people in the United States and aims to inform viewers about the federal holiday signed into law by President Biden last year.
Concert cast included Chaka Khan, Khalid, Yolanda Adams, Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, Billy Porter, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jayne Ecko, Killer Mike, Lucky Day, Mary Mary, Ne-Yo, Michelle Williams. Will be included. , Mickey Guyton, Robert Glasper, The Roots and Bell Bive Devo. The Re-Collective Orchestra, a 68-piece all-black symphony orchestra, will also perform.
what to expect
The show is produced by Sean G and Jesse Collins Entertainment, the creators of Live Nation Urban. Zee spoke to CNN in an interview on Thursday and explained how the show came to be.
“CNN and Live Nation did a big event called the ‘NYC Homecoming Concert,’ and there was a relationship between the companies at that event, and so CNN came back and said we wanted to do something around Juneteenth – bigger and brighter and louder. Within Live Nation, Live Nation Urban is really the one that focuses on Black culture, so when the company got the call they pointed me to the CNN team and they said if you want to do something big you have to do it. Need to do it with Sean.
As for the location? “Similarly I got a call from Hollywood Bowl a year ago and we weren’t able to do it because of the short deadline but I was able to marry the two ideas.”
Zee said the show will be multi-faceted.
“We chose a group of artists who represent a wide variety of genres,” Gee explained. “It’s not just the music, it has narrative parts as well. We’re projecting different individuals who were central in what became a federal holiday. The third thing is we’re going to make sure people know that. The fight isn’t over.”
If you tune in you’ll see that former First Lady Michelle Obama will also make special remarks. Celebrity presenters include Debbie Allen, Team USA gymnast Jordan Chillies, actors Michael Ealy, Gabourey Sidibe and Kendrick Sampson, comedians Leslie Jones and Lil Ril Howery, and ABC’s “Black-ish” stars Deion Cole, Marsai Martin and Miles Brown.
how to see
Begins with a pre-show hosted by CNN’s Don Lemon at 7 p.m. ET, followed by a concert at 8 p.m. ET. The event will be broadcast on CNN and streamed live to Pay TV subscribers via CNN.com and CNNGo, where available.