Worldwide Media Coverage Celebrates 'Music & the Spoken Word'

On Sunday, July 13, 2025, over 11,000 spectators gathered in the Conference Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City to watch the live broadcast of the 5,000th episode of the non-denominational program “Music & the Spoken Word.”

Journalists and media outlets from around the world reported on the celebration and reflected on the impact the program has had as the world's longest continuous broadcast, dating back more than 96 years.

The New York Times: Showtime, for the 5,000th Time, With the Tabernacle Choir

The New York Times featured a front-page tribute to the long tradition of “Music & the Spoken Word” and the history and significance of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

“What started as a live, local broadcast, captured by the organist’s son standing on a ladder and holding a microphone toward the choir, now airs on more than 2,000 radio and television stations around the world. Newer ventures include a Spanish-language version and a behind-the-scenes podcast.”

CBS News: Tabernacle Choir's “Music and the Spoken Word” airs its 5,000th episode

Jericka Duncan reported on the milestone Sunday evening for CBS, taking viewers from the rehearsal to the broadcast while looking back on memorable moments, including the times Charles Osgood and Walter Cronkite, former anchors for CBS, served as guests for “Music & the Spoken Word.”

Fox News: 'America's Choir' celebrates 'unprecedented' milestone nearly 100 years after first broadcast

Fox News reported on the 5,000th episode, highlighting the song “The Morning Breaks.” The article also featured reflections from Church President Russell M. Nelson on his lifelong connection to the broadcast.

The Hill: Tabernacle Choir marks 5,000 episodes of ‘Music and the Spoken Word’

The Hill recognized the legacy of “Music & the Spoken Word” and included commentary from Perry Sook, joint board chair of the National Association of Broadcasters and the chair and CEO of Nexstar Media Group, who participated in the postshow celebration at the Conference Center. 

“‘The 5,000th episode of Music & the Spoken Word represents more than longevity and international reach,’ said Perry Sook, joint board chair of the National Association of Broadcasters and the chair and CEO of Nexstar Media Group, which is the parent company of The Hill.  

“It represents unwavering excellence, a commitment to public service and the enduring power of faith and music to unite us all.”  

Teknomers: The Tabernacle Choir celebrates the historic 5,000th episode of its Mormon broadcast program.

Teknomers, a French-language magazine, pointed to the universal language of music that shares the messages of the Choir far and wide.

KSL-TV: Music & the Spoken Word celebrates 5,000th broadcast

Salt Lake City-based NBC News affiliate KSL-TV also provided multiple television reports on the rich history of the program.

Deseret News: 5,000 episodes: The power and reach of 'Music & the Spoken Word'

Deseret News anticipated the broadcast Friday, July 11, through the eyes of Rabbi Jarrod Grover, who was invited from Canada to watch the broadcast live after writing in to the show.

“'I bet you nobody would think that a rabbi in Canada is watching this broadcast as part of his ritual every week. I'm going to write an email and shock them,' he recalled thinking.

But it was Grover who got the bigger shock when he received an email from [Derrick] Porter on Easter Sunday, inviting him to Salt Lake City for the 5,000th episode on July 13.”

Deseret News then reported on Sunday's main event, summarizing the broadcast and its notable moments.

Church News: 'Beacon of light': Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra presents the 5,000th episode of 'Music & the Spoken Word'

Church News detailed the full program, including the pre- and postshows, giving readers a comprehensive look at the full scope of the celebration. 

ABC4: Music and the Spoken Word celebrates 5,000th episode

Salt Lake City-based ABC News affiliate ABC4 reported on how the show has impacted the lives of millions, a sentiment echoed in remarks by Perry Sook, who praised the program's inspirational legacy.

Telemundo Utah: Coro del Tabernáculo famous program number 5,000

Telemundo Utah provided Spanish-language coverage on Sunday, July 13. In 2023, “Music & the Spoken Word” began producing a Spanish version of the broadcast , and Telemundo started airing the program in June 2025 .

Beliefnet: 5,000 Sundays of Hope: The Tabernacle Choir's Historic Broadcast

Beliefnet, a Christian lifestyle website, emphasized the messages of hope that “Music & the Spoken Word” has continuously delivered, particularly during difficult times.

“To the casual observer, Music and the Spoken Word may appear as just another musical performance. But to the millions who have tuned in over the decades, it is much more—it's a place of calm in chaos, a pause in a noisy world, and a regular reminder of what really matters.”

Patheos: The Tabernacle Choir & Its 5,000th Music & The Spoken Word

The non-denominational online media platform Patheos featured an article listing fun facts about The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, detailing the history of the broadcasts.

Axios: Pic of the day: 5,000 weeks of music and words

Axios highlighted the program's accomplishment as the longest continuously running network broadcast in the world and encouraged readers to attend the free, weekly live broadcasts.

KVNU , KUER , Radio Ink, Meridian Magazine, Davis Journal , Latter-day Saint Life Hacker and LDS Daily also provided coverage.

Newsroom's full article and video on the 5,000th episode can be viewed here.