CBS to Air John Lewis Tribute

CBS will air a tribute to John Lewis tonight (Aug. 4) at 10 p.m. ET in honor of his life service to racial equality. The event will be hosted by Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Gayle King, and Brad Pitt.

What We Know:

  • The tribute called “John Lewis: Celebrating a Hero”, will not only air on CBS but various other media sources including BET, MTV, OWN, and Smithsonian.
  • The tribute will consist of interviews, conversations, and musical performances. The musical performances will feature John Legend, Common, Jennifer Hudson, and many more.
  • Many notable politicians, government officials, and celebrities have shared in the mourning of John Lewis. At his funeral Thursday, Obama spoke on his passing saying “America was built by John Lewises. He, as much as anyone in our history, brought this country a little bit closer to our highest ideals…”
  • John Robert Lewis was an American politician and longtime Civil Right’s activist. Lewis served in the United States House of Representatives for Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District from 1987 until his death.
  • “John Lewis: Celebrating a Hero” comes in response to John Lewis’ death in early July from pancreatic cancer. His body will lie in the state capitol making him the first Black lawmaker to be recognized in such a distinguished way.

“John Lewis: Celebrating a Hero” is a one hour special to commemorate a life lived fighting for others and dedicated to fixing what often seems like the impossible.