American Idol Finalist Jessica Sanchez Joins Line-Up For PBS's National Memorial Day Concert

WASHINGTON, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- She's made it to the final four of AMERICAN IDOL and now talented young singing sensation, Jessica Sanchez, will grace the stage at the U.S. Capitol for PBS's NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT.   The top-rated program has become an American tradition honoring the service and sacrifice of all our men and women in uniform, their families at home and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  The concert will air live in HD on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Sunday, May 27, 2012 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET before an on-site audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120510/DC05108 )

Sanchez will perform the "National Anthem" as well as her rendition of "The Prayer" (by Celine Dion) which she performed to critical acclaim on AMERICAN IDOL.  Sanchez has a special connection to this concert since her father has served several tours of duty in Iraq and Kuwait with the Navy, while her grandfather is a retired Navy veteran.  

Sanchez will join a star studded line-up that includes concert co-hosts Joe Mantegna (CRIMINAL MINDS) and Gary Sinise (CSI:NEW YORK), distinguished American leader Colin L. Powell USA (Ret.); the multi-platinum rock band Daughtry;  nine-time Grammy award-winner, singer and songwriter Natalie Cole; country music superstar Trace Adkins; Emmy, Oscar and Tony award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn; Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actor and Vietnam veteran Dennis Franz; celebrated film and television actress Selma Blair; and world renowned tenor Russell Watson; in performance with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly. 

Production Credits

The program is a co-production of Jerry Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C.  For the 2012 event, executive producer Jerry Colbert and producer Michael Colbert has assembled an award-winning production team that features the top Hollywood talent behind some of television's most prestigious entertainment awards shows.  The team includes: Emmy award-winning producer Walter C. Miller, whose credits include the GRAMMY AWARDS and COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS; award-winning director Paul Miller whose credits include THE COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE; and veteran television writer Joan Meyerson who was honored with distinguished Writer's Guild Awards for the 2010 and 2006 broadcasts of the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT. 

Companion Web Site and Additional Press Materials

A companion web site at www.pbs.org/memorialdayconcert will feature a comprehensive viewer's guide to the 2012 concert.  The site also hosts the "Virtual Wall of Remembrance" designed to feature personal stories about war veterans and fallen or injured members from America's Armed Forces.  Viewers, or anyone who has lost a loved one to our nation's conflicts, may submit video tributes or photographs as well as written remembrances.  Broadcast quality video footage is available at the following FTP site: http://capitalconcerts.org/mediacenter/mem-day/.  Additional press materials can be found at www.pbs.org/pressroom.

Underwriters

The NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT is made possible by grants from the Lockheed Martin Corporation, the National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of the Army, General Dynamics, PBS and public television stations nationwide.  Air travel is provided by American Airlines.

SOURCE Capital Concerts