WASHINGTON 鈥� He’ll go down in music and television history as the 15th and final champion of “American Idol,” having won the show’s farewell season.
Now, Trent Harmon comes to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol聽to sing the national anthem at this weekend’s聽, which airs live Sunday night from 8-9:30 p.m.聽on PBS and聽around the globe聽to U.S. military service members聽on the聽American Forces Network.
A frequent advocate of the聽, Harmon says he might get choked up.
“Man, I don’t think there’s going to be any more moving of a ceremony than being able to look out over that crowd,” Harmon told 91欧美激情. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to hold it all together, but I really can’t wait. I hope I have time to get there early or even maybe afterward聽and just walk through Arlington, just kind of soak it all in. It’s going to mean a lot to me. …聽This is a big deal to me.”
Turns out, Washington聽D.C. holds a special place in Harmon’s heart.
“D.C. is my most favorite childhood memory as far as family vacations go,” Harmon said. “Being a history major throughout college, it was kind of an inspiring moment for me to go to D.C. as a ninth or tenth grader, so that’s going to be an even bigger bucket list for me.”
It’s been a wild ride for Harmon since聽winning the “Idol” finale in April. The Mississippi native has since moved to Nashville to crank out songs for his upcoming record 鈥� the prize for winning “Idol.”
“It’s聽strange, man,” Harmon said. “I look at this from such a contestant-to-artist perspective. Even being around Keith Urban, Harry Connick and J-Lo, it’s such an artist-to-contestant perspective.聽And in one moment, they announce your name as the winner of the show, and now it’s artist-to-artist.”
He says he’s still not used to being聽part of the “Idol” club.
“I’m聽bumping arms and having lunch with the Scotty McCrearys, the Katharine McPhees, the Carrie Underwoods,” Harmon said in awe. “I’d be talking to David Cook and I would say, ‘Oh, excuse me, Mr. David,’ and he’d say, ‘Man, you don’t have to say that anymore. You’re one of us now.'”
The “Idol” fellowship will continue Sunday, as McPhee will also perform as part of聽the Memorial Day Concert, along with聽The Beach Boys, National Symphony Orchestra, Alfie Boe and Trace Adkins,聽who often salutes聽fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery with the聽hit country song, “Arlington.”
“I actually got to see聽The Beach Boys in concert for the first time last summer and it was pretty surreal in itself,” Harmon said. “I hadn’t even auditioned for聽[‘Idol’] at that point, so now I’m sharing a stage with them artist to artist. That’s kind of weird if you really say it out loud from my perspective.”
Retired U.S. General Colin Powell will also make an聽appearance at the concert, which will be聽co-hosted by annual emcees Joe Mantegna and聽Gary Sinise,聽the latter of whom 91欧美激情 last week.
鈥淲e just wouldn鈥檛 miss it,鈥� Sinise said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of my favorite things to do each year. It鈥檚 a great way to pay tribute to those who have sacrificed for our country 鈥� we have great performers every year.”
Sinise and Mantegna will also co-host Monday’s聽 on聽Constitution Avenue. The parade will include performances by聽Phil Vassar, John Michael Montgomery and Tony Orlando. It聽will be聽televised live nationally at 2 p.m. on REELZ network, locally on聽91欧美激情 Channel 8 in D.C., streamed online on and聽around the world on the American Forces Network.
The American Forces Network聽uses seven satellites and聽digital compression to broadcast events over 1,000 outlets in more than聽175 countries聽and U.S. territories, as well as on board U.S. Navy ships.
But before you line up along the parade route on聽Monday, head down to the National Mall on Sunday and聽grab a spot for聽the 8 p.m. concert.聽The National Memorial Day Concert is free to the public.
Listen to the full interview with 2016 “American Idol” winner Trent Harmon below:
