Stars Rally Around U.S. Semiquincentennial as America Marks 250 Years
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday on July 4 — the Semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence — entertainers including Carrie Underwood, Gary Sinise and Dolly Parton have publicly declared their patriotism through performances, philanthropy and social media. America250 events have been underway across the country for more than a year in advance of Saturday's milestone.
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday on July 4 — the Semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence — entertainers including Carrie Underwood, Gary Sinise and Dolly Parton have publicly declared their patriotism through performances, philanthropy and social media. America250 events have been underway across the country for more than a year in advance of Saturday's milestone.
Underwood and McEntire Lead Performer Tributes
Carrie Underwood, 43, drew attention last week when she posted a video of a 1,800-flag display near her Tennessee property to Instagram, writing that she "can't believe I get to live here." The country star previously performed "America the Beautiful" a cappella at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda during President Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2025 after technical difficulties disrupted the planned arrangement, inviting the crowd to sing along. Reba McEntire, 71, sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl LVIII in 2024, telling ABC News she viewed herself as a "representation of this song" for all Americans rather than a focal point of the performance. McEntire was first discovered at age 19 when she sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" a cappella at the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.
Sinise Anchors Veteran Advocacy
Gary Sinise, 71, stands as the most institutionally engaged of the group. The actor, who rose to prominence as wounded Vietnam veteran Lieutenant Dan Taylor in the 1994 film "Forrest Gump," formed the Lt. Dan Band in 2003 to perform free concerts for troops globally and has completed dozens of USO tours. In 2011, Sinise founded the Gary Sinise Foundation to support veterans, active-duty service members, first responders and their families. His 2019 memoir "Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service" traced his transition from personal ambition to sustained public service on behalf of the military community.
Parton, Grammer and Quaid Round Out the Field
Dolly Parton, 80, released the album "For God and Country" in 2003 — dedicated to America and the military — and in March 2026 promoted Dollywood's summer drone and fireworks show while describing herself as "a very patriotic person." Kelsey Grammer, 71, has hosted multiple American history projects for Fox Nation and the NBC series "The Great American Journey," arguing the Founding Fathers' framework remains "a unifying concept about what greatness is in a nation." Dennis Quaid, 72, starred in a Ronald Reagan biopic in 2024 and told Fox News Digital he considers himself fortunate to have been born in what he called "the greatest country ever to be on the Earth."
Norris, Voight and Evans
Chuck Norris, a U.S. Air Force veteran and author of the 2008 book "Black Belt Patriotism: How to Reawaken America," died in March at age 86. Norris spent decades supporting military members and advocating for veterans. Jon Voight, 87, has joined forces with Sinise, Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson on initiatives to support veteran entrepreneurship and hiring. Sara Evans, 55, performed at the White House on the Fourth of July in 2018 as part of a televised Hallmark Channel Independence Day special and has sung the National Anthem at major sporting events.