For country music legend Trisha Yearwood, the Fourth of July has always been a time for reflection, celebration, and the occasional grilled hot dog. But this year, she’s trading barbecue duties for a return to the national stage, headlining NBC’s 49th annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks special — a high-octane event boasting over 80,000 fireworks shells, a star-studded concert, and the triumphant return of two American icons: the Brooklyn Bridge and Yearwood herself.
At 60 years old, Yearwood is as grounded, witty, and heartfelt as ever. And while she admits she rarely performs on Independence Day these days, she makes one exception: “Unless it’s something really big, like this,” she says with a warm smile from her Nashville home. This year, it doesn’t get much bigger than the Macy’s fireworks event, airing live on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Hosted by Ariana DeBose, the special will feature performances from the Jonas Brothers, Lenny Kravitz, Keke Palmer, Eric Church, and of course, Yearwood — who’s preparing to sing two tracks from her upcoming album The Mirror, due out July 18. “The album is very personal to me,” she shares. “I co-wrote every song, which I’ve never done before. It’s a new level of vulnerability.”
In a world where artists are often balancing touring, recording, and public appearances, Yearwood says she has become highly selective about when and where she performs. Independence Day used to be a working holiday for her — filled with headlining concerts and patriotic crowds — but in recent years, she’s opted for quieter celebrations at home with friends, watching the fireworks from her Nashville hillside.
Still, when NBC and Macy’s came calling, she couldn’t say no.
“The Macy’s event is just iconic,” she explains. “You think of fireworks over the New York skyline, the music, the celebration of America. It’s a moment. And this year, they’re using the Brooklyn Bridge again for the first time since 2019. That’s special.”
So, she packed up her full band, loaded up on bottled water, and got ready to sing her heart out — under a sky lit up by fireworks, no less.
While fans will be thrilled to see Yearwood grace the stage, one particular someone might be missing her help back home. That someone is her husband of nearly 20 years, country superstar Garth Brooks, who recently launched Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk in downtown Nashville.
In a cheeky Instagram video posted June 19, Yearwood teased that she’d be skipping out on the bar’s 4th of July cookout. “We’re cooking out for a quarter of a million people,” she told Brooks in the video, laughing at the exaggerated number. “Macy’s got me out of it!”
And while 250,000 hot dogs is likely an overstatement, the spirit of celebration isn’t. “Nashville is expecting a quarter of a million visitors that day, and we hope they all come to the bar,” Yearwood says. “We don’t know when we’ll run out of hot dogs.”
Despite her absence, Friends in Low Places will be handing out free hot dogs on the holiday. Meanwhile, Yearwood will be doing what she does best — singing live for millions across the country.
For Yearwood, this performance carries deeper meaning. Her new album, The Mirror, marks a creative shift in her career. Having co-written every track, she says it reflects her current state of mind — introspective, faith-filled, and unafraid to be honest.
One of the songs she’s most excited about is “Bringing the Angels,” a rousing track inspired by a heartfelt conversation with her sister, Beth Bernard. After one particularly spiritual discussion, Bernard turned to her and said, “Man, we are really bringing the angels today.”
That phrase stuck. “And it was like, ‘That’s the song.’ It kind of wrote itself,” Yearwood explains.
While she’s not known for flaunting her spirituality, she says faith has always been her anchor. “I’m not a wear-it-on-my-sleeve person,” she says. “But faith is what gets you through. It’s what you lean on when life isn’t perfect — because mine hasn’t been.”
As a veteran performer of countless July 4th shows over the past few decades, Yearwood has her go-to setlist standards — and chief among them is the national anthem.
“I always do the national anthem,” she says. “There’s a power in that song that really says, ‘We are America.’”
And while she performs it straight and simple — “My parents always told me, ‘Sing the national anthem like it was written’” — she still holds deep admiration for other renditions, particularly Whitney Houston’s legendary 1991 Super Bowl performance.
“That’s the be-all, end-all,” Yearwood says. “We can’t all do it like that. So just do it your way.”
Another Independence Day favorite? Martina McBride’s “Independence Day.” While it’s not a “happy” song, Yearwood notes, it carries an emotional truth that fits the mood of the holiday. “It’s generally an up vibe,” she adds. “I’ve played that at many July 4 shows.”
Of course, there’s no escaping her 1991 breakout hit “She’s In Love With the Boy.” Fans demand it — and rightfully so.
“It pretty much works every holiday,” she says, laughing. “If I’m doing a full show and I don’t do that song, they’ll probably carry me off the stage.”
At 60, Yearwood says she feels stronger and healthier than ever — not because of any fads or tricks, but thanks to the basics: sleep, hydration, and balance.
“I drink a lot of water and get my sleep, all the things I didn’t do in my 20s and 30s,” she says. “Now I take care of myself. That’s how I stay ready.”
With her full band joining her onstage for the Macy’s show, she’s making sure everyone’s prepared to beat the July heat.
“We’ll have tons of water,” she says. “My biggest career lesson is don’t overthink it. I’ll have my water, somebody will do my hair and makeup, and I’m going to be cute. It’s going to be fine.”
While Yearwood shines in the spotlight, her husband has been keeping a lower profile amid legal controversy. Brooks is currently facing a civil suit alleging rape by a former employee — a claim he denies and is countersuing, calling the allegations a “shakedown.”
Yearwood hasn’t publicly commented on the case, choosing instead to focus on her music and performance schedule. Still, it’s clear that she’s managing her public responsibilities with grace, choosing joy, faith, and connection with fans over the noise of scandal.
This year’s NBC Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular is pulling out all the stops — 80,000 fireworks shells, music from some of the biggest names in entertainment, and iconic visuals that include the Brooklyn Bridge lighting up in patriotic glory.
But it’s artists like Trisha Yearwood — grounded, grateful, and real — who bring depth and soul to the holiday celebration.
Whether you’re tuning in for the spectacle, the music, or the Americana, you’ll be getting a front-row seat to a career-defining moment from one of country music’s most enduring voices.
“I’m still figuring out which two songs I’m going to sing,” Yearwood says. “But we’re going to make it fun.”
And if her track record is any indication, “fun” is an understatement.
The 49th annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular airs on NBC at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with fireworks beginning at 9:25 p.m. ET/PT. Viewers can also stream live on Peacock, with an hour-long encore airing at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Telemundo will broadcast its Spanish-language version at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Grab your lawn chairs, coolers, and flags — and maybe a few hot dogs in Yearwood’s honor — and get ready for one unforgettable night.