This article was previously published on March 19, 2026. It has been updated to include ticket and viewing information.
On Sunday, July 5, 2026, The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States with two special performances of “Music & the Spoken Word”. Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will join the Choir as guest narrator for the 9:30 a.m. MDT and 11 a.m. MDT performances.
On Friday, June 5, 2026, at 10 a.m. MDT, a limited number of free tickets to the July 5 performances will be made available. Visitors can learn more at TabChoir.org/America250.
Due to ongoing construction on Temple Square, there will not be a secondary viewing location available for “Music & the Spoken Word” and a capacity crowd for both performances is expected.
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Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. |
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A live pre-show that includes an interview with Thurl Bailey and Andy Reid will begin at 9:10 a.m. MDT and will be immediately followed by the live broadcast at 9:30 a.m. MDT.
Audiences can stream the pre-show and full episode of “Music & the Spoken Word” at 9:10 a.m. MDT on the Choir’s YouTube channel.
The full episode will also be available on C-SPAN, News Nation, BYUtv, and NBC stations in Salt Lake, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Kansas City. Use this guide for a complete list of weekly TV, radio, cable, satellite and streaming media platforms.
All are encouraged to watch the broadcast as part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ recognition of this historic anniversary. Learn more about what the Church is doing to celebrate America250.
Reid, a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most respected coaches in NFL history, will reflect on the principles of unity, perseverance and faith that have shaped the American story.
“I spent more than a decade just down the road from Independence Hall [in Philadelphia], where our Founding Fathers put pen to paper on the Declaration of Independence,” said Reid. “They were the ultimate team — facing adversity, staying the course and building something that has endured for 250 years. I’m honored to join The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square to celebrate the birth of our nation in a place that reflects the same spirit of unity and faith.”
Nearly 180 years old, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square has performed in renowned venues worldwide, including the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City and multiple U.S. presidential inaugurations. U.S. President Ronald Reagan once referred to the ensemble as “America’s Choir.”
In 2003, the Choir was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush for its “extraordinary contributions to music and the art of choral singing; for the wide reach and impact of its music; and for inspiring audiences worldwide.”
Choir President Michael O. Leavitt said, “The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square lends its voice in celebrating the freedom of religion proclaimed to the world in the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago.”
The Choir’s signature program, “Music and the Spoken Word,” first aired on July 15, 1929, shortly before the Great Depression. It has been broadcast every week since, sharing music and messages of hope, peace and inspiration with audiences worldwide. More than 12 million people in more than 50 countries listen each week via radio, television and online streaming.
Tickets for regular “Music & The Spoken Word” performances will continue to be released at 10 a.m. MDT every other Monday on TempleSquare.org or through the Temple Square App approximately six weeks in advance of each weekly performance.
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