ED SHEERAN JOINS ALL-STAR LINEUP OF PERFORMERS FOR NBC'S ANNUAL "MACY'S 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR"

Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, Brad Paisley, Flo Rida and Meghan Trainor also set to perform

NEW YORK - June 29, 2015 - NBC's annual "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" celebrates the nation's birthday with all-star performances from multiplatinum singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran. The six time Grammy nominated singer joins Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, Brad Paisley, Flo Rida and Meghan Trainor. "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" airs Saturday, July 4 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT) with an hour long encore presentation at 10 p.m.

Emceed by "TODAY" show co-hosts Willie Geist and Tamron Hall, America's most spectacular party will take place from two locations on the East River in midtown and within the South Street Seaport district. The 39th annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks will be fired from four barges positioned between 23rd and 37th streets in midtown and from one double-barge positioned below the Brooklyn Bridge.

The presentation will include more than 50,000 pyrotechnic shells and effects during a 25-minute synchronized display. New shells and effects include multi-colored transformation ghosts, blue and red octopi, crescent moons, patriotic stars, double hearts, roaring dragons, screaming banshees, purple rain, and spider webbed shaped shells. In honor of this year's bravery theme, the show will combine these mesmerizing effects in 22 different colors, including new neon highlighter yellow, green and pink.

The 24-year-old global phenomenon, Ed Sheeran, released his latest album "x," pronounced multiply, in 2014. Since its release "x" has gone #1 in 14 countries around the world, including the United States and Sheeran's native United Kingdom. "x" includes a trio of platinum singles with "Sing," "Don't" and his biggest hit to date "Thinking Out Loud." "x" won Best British Album at the 2015 BRIT Awards in addition to an Album of the Year nomination at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. Sheeran's latest single "Photograph" is already starting its ascent up the charts with the heart-warming, companion music video garnering over 1 million views in its first 24 hours. Sheeran is currently in the midst of a worldwide tour that includes three sold out nights at Wembley Stadium in London next month and his first NFL stadium show at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, in September.

The telecast is a production of Universal Television in association with Macy's. It is produced by Brad Lachman Productions with Lachman serving as executive producer. Bill Bracken is producer.

Lachman's credits include a variety of NBC specials, including the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," in addition to the last four years of "Michael Bublé's Christmas Special".

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