Independence Day has always been a big deal for Angel Blue—a time for family, food, and fireworks. But this year will be extra special as the two-time Grammy-winning soprano is among the impressive lineup of artists chosen to perform at “A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration” in Washington.
“I’m thrilled,” Blue told The Epoch Times in a recent interview. “ I’m overwhelmed with joy and excitement. I feel incredibly honored to have been asked because I know there are so many people who could be [asked]—who are great singers [and who] love the country like I do. Honestly, I don’t have the words for it.”
Because of her deep personal ties to the military community, Blue is always looking for an opportunity to give back to veterans and service members. Her father and uncle both served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, her aunt served in the U.S. Navy, her brother James is on active duty in the Army, and her brother-in-law served in the Navy.
“This is the way I can honor them,” she said. “My brother-in-law, who did two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, when I didn’t have a car to drive, he gave me his car. When I couldn’t pay my rent because I was trying to sing, my brother was paying my rent. They’ve been wildly, incredibly, immensely supportive of my singing. And so this is one way that I can say thank you to them. I hope that they feel that from me.”
The show starts at 8 p.m. ET July 3 on public television stations nationwide and can be seen by service members around the world on American Forces Network. The concert will also stream on YouTube and pbs.org and will be available as video on demand from July 3–17.
“Normally, my family and I always look for a place to go and see fireworks,” Blue said. “In the beginning of the day, we'd do some swimming, and definitely barbecue and have a big meal—probably eat too much food.”
Instead, Blue, who delivered a highly acclaimed performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” live on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the 2025 “National Memorial Day Concert,” will sing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” for “A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration.” Specifically, it will be the rendition from one of her own inspirations, the lyric soprano Leontyne Price.
“I’m really looking forward to this, simply because I’ve been listening to it my whole life,” said Blue. “I know her whole album [‘God Bless America’]—‘When Johnny Comes Marching Home,’ ‘Oh Shenandoah,’ ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic.’ It’s such a great album, there’s all of these wonderful patriotic songs—‘God Bless America,’ ‘America the Beautiful,’ ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ I’m happy that I get to sing the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic.’”
That evening, tributes will include a salute to the Artemis II mission and crew, who will be present, with an introduction by Emmy-winning actor Gary Sinise. There will be a special performance by Trace Adkins honoring 250 years of the courage and sacrifice of our military men and women and their families. Recognition of Team USA’s Olympic athletes will feature Olympians and Paralympians who competed in the Winter Games, as well as a salute from the National Symphony Orchestra to America’s Milan-Cortina athletes and a look ahead to the upcoming 2028 games in Los Angeles.
A native of Apple Valley, California, Blue now lives in New Jersey and looks forward to celebrating the nation’s birthday in Washington with her husband and 15-year-old stepson.
“When we come to DC, I’m always amazed at the history, the buildings,” she said. “We hope to be able to do some sightseeing. The most exciting thing for me is driving by The White House. It’s awesome. I love our country. I love our people—anything that’s a monument, the Lincoln Memorial, walking on the National Mall. I’m just happy to be a part of it. That’s very special.”
Meanwhile, Blue is deep in preparations to get her voice in top shape for the holiday performance. “Vocal training is something that will never go away,” she explained. “What it is equivalent to? I’ve been lifting weights consistently for about a year and a half now. And what I’m working on vocally is basically just adding another plate to the bench, to the bar.”
There’s also a spiritual and mental component to keeping her voice at its peak, she said.
“I always start the day with praying and reading—always,” she said. “That’s a non-negotiable. [And] I try not to get upset about things because I feel like my voice is so strongly connected to me as a person. My instrument is me. My instrument is my body; that’s part of the singing; that’s how I maintain my voice.”
Declaring one’s future plans at the age of 4, when she said she wanted to sing opera, might sound ambitious—but not to Blue.
“It actually goes back to my grandfather, who was a coal miner in West Virginia,” she said. “[He] was part of a barbershop quartet. And he was the one who introduced my dad to opera. He had some records by Enrico Caruso. So my father [a gospel singer and pastor] would listen and then became interested in opera, and he actually studied and had a wonderful voice.”
Her own passion was ignited after seeing a live performance. “My parents took me to an opera concert when I was 4 years old,” she recalled.
“I fell in love with it. I thought it was so bright. I remember looking at the lights and hearing the brass section of the orchestra—the trombones, the trumpets, and the bass clarinet, my favorite. It’s a wonderful, wonderful sound. It’s a triumphant sound to me. And I told my dad at that concert, I said, ‘Dad, I want to be like the woman in the light.’ My mom says, I said ‘lady in the light.’ And my dad just had this beautiful smile, and he looked down at me and smiled and said, ‘You can absolutely be like the lady in the light.’
“That was the beginning of my opera journey.”
