A second annual nationally televised Juneteenth concert will air live on CNN and OWN, the networks announced Wednesday.
This year’s celebration includes performances by Jodeci, Kirk Franklin, SWV, Coi Leray, Miguel, and Davido, with more artists to be announced later.
The concert titled “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom” takes place at the historic Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, a move from last year’s location at the Hollywood Bowl.
“We are thrilled to continue to elevate the importance of the Juneteenth holiday,” said Johnita P. Due, executive vice president of integrity and inclusion for CNN Worldwide. “I look forward to the electricity of the 2023 show. It is meticulously crafted as an expression of the excellence and resilience of the Black community and the ongoing pursuit of equality.”
The event is once again being produced in partnership with a team of Black creatives with Live Nation Urban and Jesse Collins Entertainment at the helm. Adam Blackstone and Questlove serve as musical directors of the concert for the second year in a row.
Related Story: Black Artists Bring Fans to Their Feet at 2022 Juneteenth Concert (Photos)
Juneteenth: A Celebration For Freedom returns for 2023 live at the legendary @greek_theatre! ???????
Presale tickets for the live concert experience go on sale today at 12PM EST at https://t.co/JO22Fujow8 with code LNU23. pic.twitter.com/3Cj8jst3if— Live Nation L.A. (@LiveNation_LA) May 17, 2023
The 2022 concert featured Earth Wind & Fire, Yolanda Adams, Bell Biv DeVoe, Billy Porter, Ne-Yo, Khalid, The Roots, Mary Mary, Anthony Hamilton, Michelle Williams, and other artists.
It aired on CNN and was the most-watched show with the Black audience in all of cable and broadcast television in the 8pm-11pm timeslot. This year, the event is being simulcast on OWN, which like CNN is part of Warner Bros. Discovery.
“Juneteenth continues to be deeply important to our audience and it’s this deep significance that makes this simulcast really feel like an opportunity to be of service,” said Tina Perry, president of OWN. “We are taking this day to celebrate alongside American families and reflect on this historic turning point for our nation.”
This year marks the 158th anniversary of Juneteenth. The day commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas learned about the Emancipation Proclamation, two and a half years after it was signed, marking the end of slavery in the U.S.
In 2021, President Joe Biden declared Juneteenth a federal holiday.
“Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom” takes place in L.A. on Monday, June 19. Tickets can be purchased here.
The concert airs live starting at 5pm PT/8pm ET on CNN and OWN. There will also be pre-show coverage beginning at 4pm PT/7pm ET to highlight African-American advocates, trailblazers and creators on only on CNN. OWN’s coverage begins with the concert.
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Juneteenth Concert Featuring SWV & More to Air Live on CNN and OWN