Kool & The Gang Re-Record Celebration for America250

Kool & The Gang to Re-Record ‘Celebration’ for America’s 250th Birthday

Executive produced by Emilio Estefan, the new version of the 1980 hit anchors the “America’s Soundtrack” project for the 2026 Semiquincentennial.

Marcus J. Delany

Mar 26, 2026, 4:43 PM PT · 1 min read

Kool & the Gang performing live — Photo: Foto: Andreas Lawen, Fotandi / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

THE RUNDOWN

Kool & The Gang are re-recording "Celebration" for the 250th anniversary of the U.S.
Multi-Grammy winner Emilio Estefan is the executive producer for "America’s Soundtrack."
The project announcement officially marks the 100-day countdown to July 4, 2026.
America250 chair Rosie Rios is overseeing the national Semiquincentennial celebrations.
The original version of "Celebration" was released by the group in 1980.

The party of the century officially has its theme song. Kool & The Gang are heading back into the studio to re-record their 1980 chart-topping hit "Celebration." This updated version serves as the centerpiece for "America’s Soundtrack," a musical initiative by America250 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Legendary multi-Grammy winner Emilio Estefan is serving as the executive producer for the project. The announcement arrived on March 26, 2026, timed to coincide with the start of the 100-day countdown to the Fourth of July. Estefan and America250 chair Rosie Rios are leading the effort to unite the nation through a collection of iconic songs and new artistic collaborations.

Robert "Kool" Bell, the founding member of Kool & The Gang, expressed his pride in the contribution. Bell told the Las Vegas Sun that it is a distinct honor to have their music represent such a historic national milestone. The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission plans to feature the track across its 2026 events, celebrating two and a half centuries of American independence.