How to Watch CNN’s ‘Independence Eve Live’ Special With Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper

By Jonathan Zavaleta

Jonathan Zavaleta

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The Fourth of July has historically been celebrated on, well, July 4, but CNN is hoping to start a new tradition with Independence Eve Live. Hosted by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, the July 3 special will likely look to capture some of the unpredictable energy the co-hosts bring to their long-running New Year’s Eve special.

Independence Eve Live arrives amidst the backdrop of other 250th-anniversary celebrations, some of which have been going better than others. And if you thought a ball drop was reserved for the new year, think again; the special will feature a ball drop honoring the nation’s semiquincentennial.

At a Glance: How to Watch CNN’s Independence Eve Live Special

• Date, Time: July 3, 8:00 p.m. ET
• Channel: CNN
• Streaming: DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling

If you’re looking to stream the special live, it kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET on CNN, and will feature an “array of special guests — including celebrated American icons, cultural legends, and inspiring everyday heroes,” according to the network.

Coverage will continue on July 4, with musical performances from across the country, including Charlie Puth, Josh Groban, Kane Brown, Goo Goo Dolls, and Maren Morris, as well as Lil Wayne, AJR, Kool & the Gang, and Chaka Khan from BottleRock Napa Valley.

Anderson Cooper will return to anchor CNN’s coverage of Boston’s fireworks display, which will feature performances from Lainey Wilson, Chance the Rapper, and Trombone Shorty. That event will kick off at 6:00 p.m. ET, and the Boston Pops fireworks display will be available to stream for free on CNN’s site.

Programming will continue with fireworks from Boston, Washington, and New York, in addition to displays from a dozen other cities, including Philadelphia, Nashville, Houston, and San Diego.

How to Watch CNN’s Independence Eve Live

If you’re looking to stream CNN’s July 3 and 4 coverage and you don’t have cable, you can catch CNN with a subscription to a live-TV streaming service like DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling. Here are a few options.

DirecTV

➤ Five-day free trial ➤ $39.99+ /month ➤ Up to 185+ channels

DirecTV is available with a five-day free trial, and includes CNN in its Entertainment plan or above, as well as the more affordable MyEntertainment package.

Hulu + Live TV

➤ $89.99/month ➤ Three-day free trial ➤ 95+ channels

Hulu + Live TV is another option; it comes with a three-day free trial and includes CNN, as well as other news channels like MS NOW and CNBC.

Sling

➤ $19.99+ /month ➤ Up to 46 channels ➤ Short-term passes

While Sling does not have a free trial, it is available with a one-, three-, or seven-day pass. The Sling Orange plan includes CNN, in addition to channels like ESPN, TNT, and others.

Date, Start Time

Independence Eve Live starts on July 3 at 8:00 p.m. ET, with hosts Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.