Overview
- The 24-hour event began Friday at 10:00 p.m. Eastern and continues through Saturday, July 4, with a primetime Nashville finale scheduled for 8–11 p.m. ET.
- David Muir is leading coast-to-coast coverage that mobilizes nearly every ABC News anchor and correspondent and includes more than 60 live remotes and reporting from all 50 states.
- The broadcast kicked off with a Statue of Liberty illumination and a Brandi Carlile performance that included a message from Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro and required international coordination for the light show.
- Tonight’s closing special, Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash, is hosted by Ryan Seacrest and features a multi-genre lineup plus a large fireworks and drone show scored by the Nashville Symphony, and it will air across ABC networks and stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
- The marathon is part of Disney’s wider America 250 initiative that links theme-park events, a National Geographic ‘Seven Natural Wonders of America’ collaboration, and a reported $2.5 million donation to Blue Star Families, with cord-cutters able to watch via live-TV streaming services offering free trials.