Tag Archives: Chrissy Metz

Vanessa Williams on the 40th Anniversary of A Capitol Fourth

It’s the 40th Anniversary of A Capitol Fourth and co-host Vanessa Williams reveals what viewers can expect.

By Heather Newgen

The award-winning A Capitol Fourth has been a longstanding American tradition and this although year will be virtual due to Covid-19, the show will still be meaning, moving and magnificent.

Vanessa Williams and John Stamos will co-host the upcoming event and pay tribute to our first responders, the doctors, nurses and paramedics, grocery store workers and truck drivers, scientists and mail carriers, new American heroes putting their lives at risk now on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis. “These workers are committed to keeping us safe, keeping us fed, healing the sick and keeping the country going during this pandemic,” commented Stamos. “It’s important for all of us to take a moment in our show to thank them and honor them for their spirit and courage.” The segment honoring them will include a musical performance of the Oscar-nominated song “I’m Standing with You” by SAG Award-winning and Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actress Chrissy Metz (This Is Us, Breakthrough).

A Capitol Fourth will feature incredible performances by Grammy Award-winning legend Patti LaBelle; Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty; world-renowned four-time Grammy Award-winning soprano superstar Renée Fleming; legendary Motown stars The Temptations celebrating their 60th anniversary; country music star and Grammy-nominated member of the Grand Ole Opry Trace Adkins; multi-platinum singer/songwriter Andy Grammer; five-time Grammy Award-winning Gospel vocalist extraordinaire Yolanda Adams; hard-rocking multi-platinum country music singer/songwriter Brantley Gilbert; platinum-selling country music star Lauren Alaina; Tony Award-winning Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell; Tony Award-winning Broadway star Kelli O’Hara and Broadway and television star Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton, In the Heights); with members of the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly. To mark the program’s 40th anniversary, the broadcast will also feature highlights of iconic performances from previous concerts.

The 40th annual broadcast of A Capitol Fourth airs on PBS Saturday, July 4, 2020 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. The program can also be heard in stereo over NPR member stations nationwide. The concert will also be streaming on Facebook, YouTube and www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth and available as Video on Demand for a limited time only, July 4 to July 18, 2020.

“This is Us” star Chrissy Metz talks giving back and what’s happening with Toby and Kate

Chrissy Metz talks about the personal reason behind supporting St. Jude and dishes on what’s happening with her character Kate Pearson on “This is Us.”

By Heather Newgen

Fan-favorite Chrissy Metz has been making headlines since her breakout role on NBC’s hit show “This is Us” for her incredible talents, natural ability to be totally relatable to viewers and her braveness to incorporate real-life experiences to portray her character Kate Pearson’s struggles.

While the show has launched her into superstardom and she enjoys the perks of her new status, the Emmy-nominated actress has remained gracious, humble and uses her platform to help others.

RELATED: Gary Sinise on taking a break from Hollywood and advocating for U.S. troops

“I think you can only keep what you give away. I think if everybody felt that way we would all be taken care of.  I’ve been gifted and blessed with so much that I’m like, ‘how can I help? How can I give back? So anyway I can I try.” Metz said at the NBC Television Critics Association panel.

And one of the ways she gives back is supporting St. Jude Children’s Hospital where no child is denied treatment regardless of the family’s ability to pay.

“I came from a family where there were times we didn’t have health insurance. Medical expenses are something you can be in debt with forever. It’s just heart-wrenching,” she told The Voluntourist.

“St. Jude is something that’s always been important to me. I used to represent [when I was an agent] a little boy who was born with a heart condition. People don’t realize how expensive medical bills add up to. I just felt so bad for the family. There was just so much red tape and hoops to jump through,” Metz added.

Chrissy Metz THIS IS US — “The Pool: Part Two” Episode 402 — Pictured: (l-r) Chrissy Metz as Kate, Baby Jack, Chris Sullivan as Toby — (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)

While chatting with The Voluntourist, Metz also gave her perspective on what’s happening with Toby and Kate.

“It has nothing to do with the weight. Weight has never been the issue. It’s about keeping secrets and being dishonest,” Metz explained. “Real intimacy is honesty and when that is fractured in a relationship, where do you go? How do you ever regain someone’s trust? Now that they have a child together, there’s things that have to be fixed and tried to sort out, but it’s not going to be easy.”

She added, “I think there’s so much guilt and I think there’s shame when he’s pursing a weight loss. Whether it comes from a place of insecurity… a lot of people experience relationships where the child takes the first place and is the front runner. We talked about last season how Toby really was like, ‘I don’t know how to handle this. We have a kid who has special needs.’ First of all having a child is complicated, having a child with special needs really plays into how do I do this? Am I enough of a father. Am I enough of a human? What can I control in my life? And I think for Toby what he could control was his weight.”

In addition, Metz chatted about her upcoming album.

“Music was always my first love, much like Kate [Pearson]. It wasn’t ever supported or encouraged. It was something that I’ve always wanted to pursue, so to do it in such a grand scale with Diane Warren, who I’ve been listening to since I could even hear, it’s like a dream come true. All of this is beyond exciting.”

The two originally teamed up on the film Breakthrough and are now recording Metz’s first album.

“The single will be coming out in February, but we are working on an album. The single is called ‘Talking to God.’ I did not write the single, but many of the writers I’ve been co-writing with. So other tracks will be co-written,” she said.

“This is Us,” returns Tuesday, January 14th on NBC.