Talk-show host Beck to speak at Provo festival

PROVO — Radio and cable news personality Glenn Beck will speak at the patriotic service held in conjunction with America's Freedom Festival at Provo.

Beck, who hosts his own cable news talk show on CNN Headline News, as well as his own radio show, is known for his candid opinions and strong sense of patriotism.

In addition to Beck, the June 29 service at Brigham Young University's Marriott Center will feature singer Michael Ballam.

The service will also include performances by the Freedom Festival Concert Band.

The 7 p.m. event is free to the public.

"We're honored that Glenn would accept our invitation to speak at this year's patriotic service," event Chairman Boyd Craig said in a statement. "He joins a long, distinguished string of national, state and local leaders who, over the decades, have set aside political and other differences, and addressed the community as fellow Americans, unified in an Independence Day celebration of our common American heritage of family, freedom God and country."

Beck will also host the 2008 Stadium of Fire event on the Fourth of July at BYU's LaVell Edwards Stadium.