Carly Pearce delivered “The Star-Spangled Banner” alongside the National Symphony Orchestra at PBS’s A Capitol Fourth celebration on July 3rd, marking one of the most prominent performances of her career to date.
The annual event, held at the U.S. Capitol, drew thousands of attendees for the kickoff of Independence Day weekend. This year’s edition carried extra significance as part of the broader commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, making it a larger production than in previous years. Alfonso Ribeiro hosted the broadcast, which aired live for a national audience.
A Night of Country Music and National Pride
Pearce, 36, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” with members of the military Color Guard standing beside her, each carrying the American flag and flags representing individual branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. She later reflected on the experience in a statement shared to social media, calling it “an honor to be asked to perform the National Anthem with the National Symphony Orchestra for PBS’s A Capitol Fourth as part of America’s 250th.”
She was not the only country artist on the bill. Trace Adkins used the nationally televised stage to debut his new song “American Made,” while Alan Jackson contributed a previously recorded performance of “America the Beautiful.” The evening also featured tributes honoring the U.S. Military, the Team U.S.A. 2026 Winter Olympians and Paralympians, and the Artemis II crew.
Pearce Meets the Artemis II Crew
Beyond the stage, Pearce’s trip to Washington D.C. included a personal highlight: meeting the four astronauts who made up the Artemis II crew — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen — who completed a historic 10-day mission around the moon earlier this year. Pearce posted a photo alongside the crew, describing the encounter as “an incredible honor” and thanking them for “inspiring us all.”
For fans who missed the broadcast, the full A Capitol Fourth special is available to stream, with Pearce’s national anthem performance beginning at the 7:42 mark in the video below.
