Cyrus provides spark at the Stadium of Fire
Event features 3 families talking with their soldiers in Iraq
The instant the 15-year-old singer and actress, best known for her role on Disney's "Hannah Montana," appeared and started singing "Start All Over" into a rhinestone-studded microphone, LaVell Edwards Stadium erupted with thousands of girls screaming, clapping, cheering and singing along.
Stadium of Fire, a massive concert-and-fireworks show, is the "crowning jewel" of America's Freedom Festival at Provo — and the ultimate Fourth of July celebration for many Utah residents. Some 58,000 were expected to attend the event.
Emcee Glenn Beck, CNN's popular talk-show host, thanked Utah for a warm welcome.
"I have been to Fourth of July celebrations with my family in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., been to New York, but I mean it with every fiber in my being," Beck said. "There is no place like being here on the Fourth of July. You are incredible people."
And with that, he put on a Brigham Young University hat to tremendous applause. After a pledge, the National Anthem and a fighter-jet flyover, 1,300 dancers, along with 150 athletes, re-enacted every event in the Summer Olympics — in just seven minutes.
"I love you, baby," said Staff Sgt. Brock Jones via video screen, as he addressed his wife, Amy-Jo, in the audience. "It's so good to see you guys."
After the patriotic celebrations, Blue Man Group burst on stage with shiny heads and large white pipes shortened or elongated to create sounds. Teaching the crowd how to "be a rock star," the group had the whole crowd waving their hands in the air, doing the one-hand fist pump and head-banging, all while creating guitar-backed pipe music.
But it was Cyrus who really got the cheers, with songs like "Good and Broken," "7 Things" and "See You Again."
Cyrus' popular show began in 2006. She now has fans around the world.
Among those fans are Zoee Pinter and Karlie Renner, both 10, who walked into LaVell Edwards Stadium with looks of excitement and awe.
Clad in pink "Hannah Montana" hats and matching shirts, they squealed with excitement and hugged each other as they tried to explain how excited they were. On the other side of the stadium, Karli Wennerholm, 13, was with a group of friends all wearing matching, homemade Miley Cyrus shirts. They've all been watching the show since it came out.
However, Cyrus, who performed at the massive fireworks show, which ended the Independence Day celebration, wasn't the selling part for the parents.
Recent comments
Does anyone know if it is possible to purchase a copy of the entire...
wondering | July 9, 2008 at 10:27 a.m.
I found the show to be very entertaining! And of course like all...
Entertained | July 9, 2008 at 8:25 a.m.
Simply put: NOT WORTH THE MONEY I PAID FOR THE TICKETS! Not by a...
Brad | July 8, 2008 at 2:59 p.m.
