Five for Fighting frontman and Grammy-nominated platinum artist John Ondrasik says he is honored to headline a special July 4th performance on the USS Nimitz to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, as reported [1] by Breitbart.
The concert, part of the Freedom 250 festivities, will take place in New York Harbor and feature Ondrasik performing his signature hit “Superman (It’s Not Easy).”
He will be joined onstage by freed Israeli hostage Alon Ohel, performing before an audience that includes 9/11 heroes, members of the New York Fire Department, the city’s police, wounded warriors, Gold Star Families, U.S. sailors, and other invited guests.
Organizers view the USS Nimitz event as a centerpiece of the broader national commemoration, one that brings together U.S. and international naval forces, tall ships, aircraft, and representatives from more than 50 nations.
Ondrasik told Breitbart News that the invitation to perform carries a deep meaning for him.
“It is an honor of a lifetime to recognize our sailors, first responders, and Gold Star families by performing ‘Superman’ on the USS Nimitz for Freedom 250 this Independence Day,” he said.
“America has always been the Great Hope of the world and we are just getting started!”
After the announcement, the singer released an additional statement expressing gratitude for the opportunity.
He said he is “honored to participate” in the Freedom 250 events and reflected on the country’s legacy, calling America “the greatest force for good, freedom, and human rights our world has ever known.”
Ondrasik also took the moment to thank those in uniform and their families.
“Thank you to all our vets, active, and military families who are the heart and spine of our great nation. Happy 250th Birthday, America! I Love You!” he added.
His song “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” has continued to evolve in meaning. In 2025, the song became a renewed anthem of courage and perseverance when it was featured in a video titled “Superman for Alon and the Hostages.”
The video, performed by Ondrasik alongside Alon’s brother Ronen, his mother Idit Ohel, and friends gathered in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, resonated globally.
Its updated lyrics transformed personal grief into an expression of unity and resilience for those enduring captivity.
At 24 years old, Ohel had spent over 700 days held hostage by Hamas. Ondrasik’s tribute gave his story new emotional reach, emphasizing the human spirit’s ability to persist under extraordinary pressure.
Beyond this project, Ondrasik’s career has spanned decades of success, earning critical and commercial acclaim. His catalog of hits includes “100 Years,” “The Riddle,” “World,” “Chances,” and “Easy Tonight.”
With more than two billion global streams and multiple Top 10 charting songs, he has been recognized as one of the top five Adult Contemporary artists of the 2000s, cementing his reputation as both a storyteller and a performer whose work often blends reflection with hope.
The upcoming Freedom 250 concert continues that tradition, connecting Ondrasik’s deeply patriotic artistry with the generations of Americans he says he feels privileged to honor through song.