Legends on the Lawn: The Beach Boys & The Temptations Join the Star Studded 'A Capitol Fourth 2025'
Okay, hear me out. I know the phrase "timeless classics" is often just a polite way of saying "music that was popular before my phone had a camera." But this year, for its 45th anniversary, A Capitol Fourth is bringing in two bands so legendary that even your cool Gen Z cousin probably knows the words to all of their bops.
That’s right, the actual The Beach Boys and The Temptations are headlining America’s birthday party!
The Beach Boys and The Temptations are legends on the lawn of the Capitol as they join A Capitol Fourth 2025Photo: Capitol Concerts
First, you’ve got The Beach Boys. Their entire musical catalog is basically the official soundtrack for wearing shorts to a nice dinner and pretending you own a boat. Just imagine hearing "Good Vibrations" or "Surfin' U.S.A." live while actual fireworks are exploding over the Capitol dome. It's the ultimate multi-generational moment of patriotic bliss. California cool is coming to D.C., and I am so friggin ready for it!
The Temptations and The Beach Boys are legends on the lawn of the Capitol at A Capitol Fourth 2025Photo: Capitol Concerts
And as if that wasn't enough, they're adding The Temptations to the mix. These guys are so effortlessly cool they could make reading a takeout menu sound like a hit single. With harmonies slicker than a greased pig and moves that put my own dance floor shuffle to absolute shame, they're bringing that pure Motown magic. The first few notes of "My Girl" are going to make the entire West Lawn collectively swoon.
Photo: Capital Concerts / PBS
Trying to wrangle all this star power is returning host Alfonso Ribeiro. He’s back with enough charm and energy to host a stage full of icons without breaking a sweat. I’m not saying I'm expecting him to do "The Carlton" during the 1812 Overture's cannon fire, but I'm also not not expecting it.
Of course, the lineup is a whole buffet of American sound. They're also bringing in country stars LOCASH and Josh Turner, gospel queen Yolanda Adams, Lauren Daigle, Trombone Shorty and recent American Idol winner Abi Carter, just to name a few. There's literally something for everyone, which means fewer family arguments over the remote and more time singing along to classic hits with timeless American artists.
It all goes down Friday, July 4, at 8 p.m. ET on PBS, YouTube, or PBS.org. Mark your calendar. It’s your civic duty to watch TV, or something like that.