PBS Memorial Day concert pushed to TV event because of virus

coronavirus has wiped out plans to bring tens of thousand of people to U.S. Capitol for annual Memorial Day weekend concert shown on PBS, but organizers are pressing ahead went a revamped event.

Performers like Trace Adkins, Cynthia Erivo, Renee Fleming and Christopher Jackson will appear on television in songs recorded remotely, in some cases from Capitol grounds, obeying social distancing requirements.

Producers have also solicited special messs from celebrities Jennifer Garner, Jon Hamm, Dule Hill, Lisa Kudrow and Gwyneth Paltrow and ors to help fill void created by missing crowd.

31st annual Memorial Day weekend celebration will be televised on May 24 from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Eastern.

“This is such an important national holiday, and it’s such an important moment for us to come toger as a country,” said Michael Colbert, event’s executive producer.

When outbreak began, Colbert said he began planning on dual tracks — eir a live concert or a pre-recorded television event. He shifted to latter plan when government officially nixed concert about a month ago. ne of committed participants backed away, he said.

Actors Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise return as co-hosts.

“Obviously we can’t have 200,000 people sitting next to each or. That would be crazy,” Mantegna told Associated Press. But, he said, “I think it will be great. It’s going to be uplifting at a time we really need that.”

Mantegna has been a part of event since 2002, when he was asked to read what some New York City firefighters had written about Sept. 11 terrorist attack, with National Symphony Orchestra playing behind him.

Being out in front of so many people “weakens knees,” he said.

“I thought I was going to levitate off st,” Mantegna recalled. “I realized this was as big an event as I’ve ever done in my life, and it continues to be.”

Celebrating Americans who died fighting for country is holiday that makes all or holidays possible, he said. This year’s show will be expanded to salute medical workers struggling to treat people sick with COVID-19.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell will be making his 26th appearance on show. U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, will also deliver a mess.

show will also feature some performances recorded in previous years, including by National Symphony Orchestra, and readings by actors like Sam Elliott and Laurence Fishburne.