Scotty McCreery, winner of the 10th season of American Idol, will perform with the Beach Boys at Stadium of Fire inProvo.
“Scotty McCreery contributes enormously to the enthusiasm of this year’s show,” said Paul Warner, executive director ofAmerica’s Freedom Festival, in a press release. “As if The Beach Boys weren’t enough, Scotty will certainly thrill the stadium audience, as well as the million-plus military men and women watching from around the world.”
McCreery won American Idol with a record-breaking 122.4 million votes in May, 2012.
His recently released album, Clear as Day, is the first country album to debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200. “I Love You This Big,” the album’s debut single, became a Top 15 hit and enjoyed the highest charting debut for a new artist since 1984.
“It’s always good to get somebody that’s on his way up,” Warner said. “His music fits the values of our community.”
The Beach Boys will be returning to Stadium of Fire on their 50th anniversary tour, having performed 20 years ago at the event. Warner said their performance was one of the most involved shows Stadium of Fire has ever had.
This year’s show will also feature performances from winning finalists of the second annual Stadium of Fire Talent Search, an ongoing musical talent search. More than 5,000 applicants from in and around Utah auditioned this year.
The Stadium of Fire audience will select the winner live during the show.
The Stadium of Fire Talent Search adds a new dimension to the event, Warner explained.
“There’s a lot of talent here locally,” Warner said.
The top eight finalists of the talent competition will perform at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theater in Orem on June 13. Only two of the eight finalists will be selected to perform at the Stadium of Fire on July 4 for a chance to win $10,000.
Now in its 32nd year, Stadium of Fire has grown to become one of theUnited States’ leading patriotic celebrations, attracting an average attendance of 50,000 people and broadcast live to more than one million military men and women in more than 100 countries.
“Those who attend Stadium of Fire this year will come away with a greater appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy and the kind of country in which we live,” Warner said. “Stadium of Fire is a patriotic way for families to spend their Fourth of July together.”
Stadium of Fire will take place on Wednesday, July 4, at LaVell Edwards Stadium at Brigham Young University in Provo. Tickets to the event are currently available at stadiumoffire.com
