SUPERSTAR PERFORMERS NICK LACHEY AND LIONEL RICHIE TO SERVE AS MUSICAL GUESTS ON NBC'S ANNUAL 'MACY'S FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS � SPECTACULAR,' TUESDAY, JULY 4th (9-10 p.m. ET)

NBC's "Today" Weekend Edition Co-Anchors Campbell Brown and Lester Holt Host the Live Telecast

NEW YORK � June 27, 2006 � NBC and performers Nick Lachey and Lionel Richie celebrate the nation's 230th birthday extravaganza with the "Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks� Spectacular" broadcast live. Hosted by NBC's Today Weekend Edition co-anchors Campbell Brown and Lester Holt, the show will air on Tuesday, July 4th, 9-10 p.m. EST (all time zones). Pop icon Richie � who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide in his career � headlines with Lachey whose album "What's Left Of Me" debuted at No.2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. His Single "What's Left Of Me" is currently Top 10 on Pop & AC radio formats. This marks NBC's seventh consecutive exclusive broadcast of the "Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks� Spectacular."

The country's largest Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza will feature nearly 40,000 brilliant shells exploding over New York and New Jersey set to a sweeping original medley performed by The New York Pops. The score composed by Macy's Annual Events Creative Director William Schermerhorn and Broadway composer Doug Katsaros, will serve as the musical backdrop to the pyrotechnic splendor. Over 1,000 pyrotechnic shells are fired every minute, the first shells explode and begin their choreographed pyrotechnic dance. Painting the sky this year will be new shells from around the globe, as well as Macy's signature Golden Mile element with its awe-inspiring explosion of gold. A total of five fireworks barges strategically located across New York City at our traditional East River and South Street Seaport locations. The Macy's Fireworks also will include a special tribute to Lady Liberty with a barge located between Ellis and Liberty Islands in New York Harbor.

Legendary singer, songwriter, producer and five-time Grammy award-winning Island recording artist Richie recently has completed "Coming Home." The album, featuring nine songs written/co-written by Richie, is an all-star collaboration with today's most prolific contemporary hitmakers, including Jermaine Dupri, Raphael Saadiq, Dallas Austin, Sean Garrett, Chuckii Booker, and others. Set to arrive in stores on Sept.12, the new album is preceded by the first single pick "I Call It Love."

Today, Lachey is dedicating himself to his true passion, music via the 12 robust tracks on "What's Left of Me." Already, the title track has stormed top 40 radio as one of the fastest-rising singles of Spring 2006. The song debuted on AOLMusic.com in February and became the top-performing promotion in the site's two-year history. The artist contributed to the writing of eight songs on the collection, which, while unflinchingly personal and honest, are most notable for their exuberant, richly orchestrated, classic pop sound.

Robin Hall, Macy's Group Vice President of Annual and Special Events, said, "2006 will truly be a banner year for Macy's 4th of July Fireworks because Macy's has a lot to celebrate." He adds, "In addition to the Independence Holiday, Macy's 4th of July Fireworks marks its 30th Anniversary this year. We've planned a vivid all-encompassing show that will virtually surround Manhattan, extending from the United Nations at 42nd Street to the South Street Seaport on the East River to the Statue of Liberty and Liberty State Park on the Hudson."

Macy's East is a division of Federated Department Stores (NYSE:fds), operating 93 Macy's stores throughout the Eastern United States in 11 states and Puerto Rico including: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Louisiana. World-renowned for their fashion and affordable luxury, Macy's is also known for its spectacular events including the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade �, Macy's 4th of July Fireworks � and Macy's Flower Show �.

Lionel Richie's string of 15 consecutive top 10 R&B hits between 1981 and 1992 (five of which hit #1) � 13 of which were consecutive top 10 pop hits (also including five #1's) � stands as one of the most enviable achievements in chart history. His countless awards, including multiple Grammys, American Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, People's Choice Awards, ASCAP Awards, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, World Music Lifetime Achievement Award, and more, were capped when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2003. Lionel Richie is an artist for the ages.

Nick Lachey continues to be a presence on-screen, after landing a six-episode role in the WB series "Charmed," as well as a guest spot in ABC's "Hope & Faith," both in 2004. In addition, he starred as a stockbroker-turned-jeweler in "The Hard Easy," in 2005. In 1997, "Invisible Man" became the first of a string of smash hits for 98 Degrees, reaching No. 12 on the charts and assisting the group's self-titled debut album to gold status. The group again reached the top 40 with its holiday anthem, 98 Degrees reached the coveted No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and spent half a year on the single sales tally in 2000. In 2002, the group put its partnership on hiatus with the 13-track "Ninety-Eight Degrees: The Collection." In total, Nick, Drew, Jeff and Justin sold 7 million albums.

Campbell Brown started her career in local news as the political reporter covering Kansas politics for KSNT-TV, the NBC affiliate in Topeka, Kan. She then moved to WWBT-TV, the NBC affiliate in Richmond, VA. Brown also reported for WBAL-TV in Baltimore, Md. and WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. before joining the network. Brown grew up in Louisiana, and graduated from Regis College in Denver, Colo. with a B.A. in Political Science. After graduation, she spent a year teaching English in the former Czechoslovakia. Brown currently resides in New York with her husband.

Lester Holt worked as a reporter at WCBS-TV in New York City from 1981-82. In 1982, he transferred to sister station KCBS-TV in Los Angeles as a reporter and weekend anchor and returned to WCBS-TV a year later as a reporter and weekend anchor. Holt majored in government at California State University in Sacramento. He resides in New York City with his wife and family.

The telecast is a production of NBC Universal Television Studio in association with Macy's East. Bob Holmes is the executive producer.