Muppets' Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog to perform at televised Fourth of July concert

Muppets fans will want to tune in on July Fourth to see what fireworks develop between Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog, who have been invited to celebrate America’s 238th birthday with viewers of “A Capitol Fourth.”

The stars of the recent release of “Muppets Most Wanted” will be performing the Oscar-nominated song “Rainbow Connection” with the National Symphony Orchestra. The PBS holiday special, which is in its 34th year, is broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. It airs on PBS from 8 to 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday, July 4, as well as to U.S. troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. The program also can be heard live over NPR member stations nationwide.

“I love Washington D.C. Not only was it built on a swamp, but this is where I got my start in show business – on a local TV show in 1955,” said Kermit the Frog in a press release. “Being in D.C. is like coming home.”

Recording artist and songwriter Phillip Phillips also will headline “A Capitol Fourth,” performing his hit single “Raging Fire.” The show will be hosted by Emmy Award-winning television personality Tom Bergeron and also will feature performances by Frankie Valli, Patti LaBelle, Jordin Sparks, Michael McDonald, Sara Evans, Kendall Schmidt and Kelli O’Hara. In celebration of the 200th anniversary of our national anthem, five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williams will conduct his special new arrangement for orchestra and chorus of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

“Moi is thrilled to be part of this glorious patriotic celebration,” Miss Piggy said.

Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted” will be available for purchase on Blu-ray Combo Pack, Digital HD, DVD, Disney Movies Anywhere, and On-Demand on August 12.

Want to get your red, white and blue vibe going early with the Muppets? You always can check out the MuppetVision 3D show at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios before the Fourth. After all, there you will get a glimpse of a production number that Sam the Eagle calls “A Salute to All Nations, But Mostly America.”

Well, you’ll see parts of it anyway, before the chaos kicks off and the fireworks really explode, though not as planned. If you want something more star-spangled and less debris-splattered, you’ll probably do better by watching the “Capitol Fourth” presentation.

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