Guitar wiz Susan Tedeschi headlines this year’s 40th anniversary of the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Esplanade. Joining the Norwell native will be Howie Day, Ellis Hall, and Ayla Brown. But those artists are not the only noted musicians to have shared the stage with the Pops for the yearly Hub tradition. Take a look at past “Spectacular” celebrity guest performers.
Guitar wiz Susan Tedeschi headlines this year’s 40th anniversary of the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Esplanade. Joining the Norwell native will be Howie Day, Ellis Hall, and Ayla Brown. But those artists are not the only noted musicians to have shared the stage with the Pops for the yearly Hub tradition. Take a look at past “Spectacular” celebrity guest performers.
Taylor Crothers
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2012 - Jennifer Hudson
The former “American Idol” finalist, who went on to win an Oscar for “Dreamgirls,” brought some flair to the Pops’ stage.
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2012 - Dropkick Murphys
In a stark contrast to Hudson, the local punks got the crowd going with hits like “Shipping Up to Boston.”
AP Photo/Michael Dwyer
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2011 - Martina McBride
McBride stepped up at the last moment to fill in for Lionel Ritchie, who canceled due to strained vocal chords. She was the second country headliner in as many years.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff
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2010 - Toby Keith
The country superstar added a little twang to the 2010 Spectacular.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff
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2009 - Neil Diamond
The beloved songwriter behind Fenway favorite “Sweet Caroline” got the crowd involved.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff
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2008 - Rascal Flatts
The country rock superstars took the stage with the Pops to rock the Fireworks Spectacular. They had released their album “Still Feels Good” earlier in the year.
Travis Dove for The Boston Globe
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2007 - John Mellencamp
Acclaimed rock singer-songwriter John Mellencamp had a good year in 2007. In January, he released his record “Freedom’s Road,” which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 album sales chart. Shortly after his July 4 performance with the Boston Pops, he began recording his 18th album of original material, which would be released as “Life, Death, Love and Freedom” in 2008.
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2006 - Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
These two rockers and members of Boston-bred Aerosmith did not let the lack of their full band stop them from putting on a wild performance at the 2006 Esplanade event. This particular performance was Tyler’s first since his surgery for throat cancer in early 2006, and proved that the rock band was still going strong.
William Moore for the Boston Globe
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2006 - Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
Tyler had a little fun with conductor Keith Lockhart.
William Moore for the Boston Globe
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2005 - Big and Rich
Country rockers Big and Rich were at the time preparing to release their album “Comin’ to your City.” The popular title track featured the singles “Never Mind Me” and “8th of November.”
REUTERS/M. J. Masotti, Jr.
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2005 - Gretchen Wilson
Along with Cowboy Troy, Wilson joined Big and Rich on a country-heavy bill.
REUTERS/Ethan Miller
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2004 - David Lee Roth
Despite a tumultuous relationship with his former band and a brief talk-radio career, the then-former Van Halen vocalist brought his rock ‘n’ roll edge to the 2004 Pops performance.
AP Photo/Lisa Poole
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2003 - LeAnn Rimes
This young country superstar was invited to perform during the Fireworks Spectacular in 2003. After a somewhat lackluster response to her album “Twisted Angel” in 2002, Rimes was in the midst of a return to her country roots that would culminate in her release of “This Woman” in 2005.
Harry Scull Jr.
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2002 - Katie Harman
Stage actress and classical vocalist Katie Harman won the title of Miss America 2002 late in 2001. She took the opportunity by performing with the Boston Pops to show off both her patriotism and musical skills.
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2001 - Cyndi Lauper
The “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” singer leaned on Lockhart when she brought her sound to the Pops in 2001 after about two decades performing for fans.
David Kamerman for the Boston Globe
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2001 - Debbie Reynolds
The singer and actress joined Lauper on the bill.
David Kamerman for the Boston Globe
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2001 - Arlo Guthrie
The folk legend behind “Alice’s Restaurant” performed.
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2000 - Linda Eder
Singer and Broadway star Linda Eder was one of a handful of well-known performers to grace the Hatch Shell during the millennium Fireworks Spectacular.
Michael J. Lutch
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2000 - Don McLean
The “American Pie” singer graced the milennial stage.
AP Photo/Scott Newton, File
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2000 - Arturo Sandoval
Eder, the “Jekyll and Hyde” stage star, was joined by this Latin trumpeter in a diverse night of performances.
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
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1999 - Trisha Yearwood
Grammy-winning country artist Trisha Yearwood was a force to be reckoned with in ‘90s country music, filling the decade with hits like “She’s in Love With the Boy” and “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl).” In 1999, she was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, showing her prominence in the country music world. Thus, it was only fitting that she represent the genre that year with her Pops performance.
AP Photo/John Bazemore
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1998 - Buckwheat Zydeco
This accordionist’s unique style of American folk music, known as zydeco, made him one of the genre’s few mainstream successes. In 1998, he performed with the pops on a diverse ticket..
AP Photo/Robert Mecea
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1998 - Melissa Manchester
Manchester, a Grammy-winning singer and songwriter, joined Buckwheat Zydeco.
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1997 - Roberta Flack
Veteran R&B, blues, and jazz singer Roberta Flack gained fame long before her performance with the Boston Pops in 1997. She is one of only two artists (the other was U2) ever to win back to back Grammy awards for record of the year.
Pat Greenhouse for the Boston Globe
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1996 - Bebe Neuwirth
The theme of 1996’s Fireworks Spectacular was “A Salute to the American Musical,” and so it was appropriate that Broadway actress Bebe Neuwirth was featured during the performance. After all, before achieving TV stardom with the role of Dr. Lilith Sternin on “Cheers” and then “Frasier,” she was noted for her lead role in 1996’s revival of “Chicago.” During the performance, she even conducted the Pops for a song. At right, she hands
Pictured: She handed the conductor’s baton back to Pops conductor Keith Lockhart.
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1995 - The Pointer Sisters
The Pointer Sisters’ career has spanned many genres and many decades, and though they saw the height of their success in the early 1980s with their album “Break Out,” they were able to bring their years of experience performing together to the 1995 July 4 celebration. That was also the year that Keith Lockhart began at the Pops.
Pictured: The sisters in the musical "Ain't Misbehavin"
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1994 - Anita Baker
This was John Williams’ last year as conductor of the Boston Pops, and Anita Baker helped him go out with a bang during that year’s Fireworks Spectacular. The immensely successful R&B singer was then working on her album “Rhythm of Love,” which would win her an eighth Grammy award for the song “I Apologize.”
AP Photo/Reed Saxon
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