Loren Allred knows what it’s like to play illustrious venues across the world like Madison Square Garden, the Teatro del Silenzio, and the Royal Albert Hall. She also knows what it takes to share the stage with legends like Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, and David Foster. All the more reason, as she told The Epoch Times in a recent interview, for her excitement to be part of the all-star talent chosen to perform at this year’s “A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration” and even more so to be the host at its Mount Vernon location.
“I just love every opportunity to come back and perform,” said Allred about what will be her third appearance at the annual event which celebrates America’s Independence Day.
The show premieres live on July 3 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET on public television stations nationwide and can 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 to July 17.
“It brings everyone together, and reminds us of our history, and to be able to do it in D.C., in front of the Capitol, and especially this year at Mount Vernon, is just incredibly special,” she said.
For over 40 years, the concert from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol has featured a parade of superstars. In addition to Allred, the 2026 musical line-up features Chicago, Trace Adkins, Patti LaBelle, Kool & The Gang, Carly Pearce, Alan Jackson, the cast of the Tony Award-nominated Broadway smash-hit musical “Just In Time,” Angel Blue, and Maestro Jack Everly conducting the National Symphony Orchestra.
Even with her experience, the multi-platinum recording artist doesn’t take any of it for granted. “I definitely practice,” Allred said. “I schedule time with my vocal coach, and we go over every performance, just so I can stay in the moment and feel confident.”
In honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, “A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration” also features the biggest live fireworks show ever over George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the home of America’s first president, with a special patriotic performance by Allred.
“This year they really wanted to have me sing ‘God Bless America’ at Mount Vernon in front of George Washington’s home,” Allred said.
Immersed in music from a young age, Allred moved at age 14 with her parents and three younger sisters from Pennsylvania to Utah. Her father, Brady Allred, is the Salt Lake Choral Artists artistic director and conductor. Her mother, Carol Ann Allred, is a classical soprano and voice teacher.
Growing up, she was often called on to sing the national anthem at baseball games, volleyball games, before school assemblies, etc. “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Allred acknowledged, is “usually every singer’s kind of introduction to singing in public a lot of the time.”
Barbecues, family, friends, fireworks, and watching “A Capitol Fourth” were holiday traditions for the Allreds on Independence Day.
“Pretty much every year growing up, my family and I have watched the special,” she said. “It was always fun to see what lineup they have every year. Truly such a legacy.”
This year, Allred and her husband Rhett Burch—the couple recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary—will travel down to D.C. from their home in New York City on July 1 to prepare for “A Capitol Fourth.”
The road that led to Allred’s “A Capitol Fourth” concert appearances is filled with what you would expect it takes for a millennial to find success. First, a discovery on YouTube by a famous artist—R&B star Ne-Yo; then a stop on reality talent competition shows including “The Voice” in 2012 and “Britain’s Got Talent” (BGT) in 2022.
During her initial audition on BGT, she earned a Golden Buzzer [which allows contestants to skip all intermediate cuts and earn a coveted spot not subject to judge deliberation] from judge Amanda Holden when she stunned the judges by revealing she was the uncredited vocal powerhouse behind “Never Enough” from the 2017 film, “The Greatest Showman.”
“I started out in the music industry very young, 19, early 20s,” Allred said. “After a few years, I decided to take a step back and maybe thought it wasn’t for me. That opportunity with “The Greatest Showman” pushed my voice back out into the world. It was a choice to face that fear and come back and tell that story on “Britain’s Got Talent.”
“Timing is important, and it was the right time for me,” she acknowledged. “I’ve been happy and embracing everything and working on my own music now. I’m enjoying that step that I took to put ‘the face’ to the voice of the song that everyone knew.”
Throughout her musical journey, Allred has relied on the wisdom shared with her by her mother.
“My mom is an operatic soprano, and she always reminds me to tell the story of a song,“ she explained. ”It’s not all about you. It’s about you conveying the message and the energy to the audience, and that’s helped me stay grounded in what I do.”
Since putting herself back out there, Allred, who just wrapped production of her debut album in London, is appreciating every moment.
“I feel so lucky that I get to travel the world and perform for so many different people across so many cultures,” she said. “I’m living that dream right now. This will be my very first album, and I’m excited for the world to hear that. It’s the sound of who I am as an artist, not just as a singer.”
