The Performers for the 2026 National Memorial Day Concert

Update: Joe Mantegna has pulled out from hosting the National Memorial Day Concert and will be replaced by Mary McCormack.

The National Memorial Day Concert is back again, this time in the year of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Broadcast from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., this annual tribute to military personnel and their families mixes personal stories from the military with musical performances by celebrities, the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jack Everly, and various military performing groups. It is once again hosted by actors Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise, who both have Chicago ties.

It airs on WTTW Sunday, May 24 at 7:00 and 8:30 pm and is available to stream via the PBS app at the same time. 

Jonathan Banks

Banks is an actor known for playing FBI Special Agent Frank McPike on Wiseguy and hitman Mike Ehrmantrout in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.

Andy Grammer

A busker turned popular performer, Grammer has turned out several hit singles, including "Honey, I'm Good."

Mickey Guyton

Guyton is a country artist who released her debut EP in 2015 but achieved widespread notice in 2020 when she released her song "Black Like Me." She followed it up with the debut album Remember Her Name, hosted the Academy of Country Music of Awards, sang the National Anthem at a Super Bowl, and hosted A Capitol Fourth.

Alan Jackson

One of the best-selling music artists of all time, Jackson is a neotraditional country singer and songwriter who has nine records that have gone multi-platinum, two Grammys, and membership in the Grand Ole Opry and numerous halls of fame. 

Jamey Johnson

A performer in his own right, Jamey Johnson has also co-written songs for such country legends as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and George Strait.

Melissa Leo

Melissa Leo has had a varied career as an actress, appearing in the soap opera All My Children, the police drama Homicide: Life on the Street, and winning an Academy Award for the film The Fighter, among others. 

Mary McCormack

McCormack is a film, television and stage actor. She was nominated for a Tony for her role in Broadway’s Boeing-Boeing, and she has appeared on The West Wing, Heels, The Newsroom, Scandal, House of Lies, and more.

Blessing Offor

Offor is a gospel singer who appeared on The Voice and numerous albums to his name, as well as a record of supporting artists with disabilities; he is blind in one eye and has limited vision in the other. 

Laura Osnes

Osnes has starred in numerous shows on Broadway, from Grease to South Pacific to Bonnie and Clyde.

Noah Wyle

Wyle has been experiencing a resurgence of late, as the lead in the popular medical drama The Pitt. He made his name in a different medical drama, ER.