'America’s Choir' celebrates 'unprecedented' milestone nearly 100 years after first broadcast

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performed the 5,000th episode of a long-standing Mormon music program on Sunday, marking a monumental milestone since it began nearly 100 years ago.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported in a statement shared with Fox News Digital that the "Music & the Spoken Word" broadcast was performed at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Over 11,500 people attended. (See the video at the top of this article as the choir performs "The Morning Breaks.") 

The program began on July 15, 1929, just months before the Great Depression began.

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The LDS Church said "Music & the Spoken Word" is the longest-running consecutive broadcast of its kind. More than 6 million people listen to the broadcast every week.

Choir volunteer Heidi Swinton noted in a release that the program has weathered multiple calamities over the years, including the Great Depression and the COVID-19 pandemic.

"[The Choir] can be a voice that says, ‘We can do this. We can get through this,’" Swinton said. 

She added, "Ronald Reagan called it ‘America’s Choir,' and I think it’s because of its longevity, because since the beginning of radio, the Choir has been out there in front heralding the good things that happen and the hard things that happened and saying, 'Lock arms and we’ll get through this.'"

In the LDS Church statement, 101-year-old Warna Huff said she remembered listening to the first broadcast.

"It was something you don’t forget," she recalled.

Huff, who was five years old in 1929, also said that she watches the program every week.

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"It just makes you feel good," the worshiper observed. 

"It just makes you feel something that you need. The music’s beautiful."

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Russell M. Nelson, president of the LDS church, also recalled listening to early broadcasts.

"I cannot remember life without ‘Music & the Spoken Word,’" the leader recalled. 

"I was born in 1924 … I can remember, as a little boy, listening to Sunday broadcasts."

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In a statement, the LDS Church called the performance an "unprecedented achievement [that] underscores the weekly program’s enduring legacy and its profound global impact."

"Music is the universal language of the Spirit," Nelson said. "Music communicates to the heart and soul of individuals in a way that written words cannot duplicate."

Gunther defeats Goldberg in WWE legend's retirement match; Seth Rollins appears to suffer knee injury

WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg gave it his all in an effort to capture the World Heavyweight Championship from Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event but came up just short.

It the final match of Goldberg’s illustrious career on Saturday, which took place in Atlanta at the State Farm Arena. For weeks, Gunther taunted Goldberg and goaded him into one final match of his pro wrestling career.

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Goldberg came out to a crowd eager to get one final glimpse of the legend. Unfortunately, for him, Gunther was on his A-game throughout the match. Gunther avoided a spear, which took out referee Charles Robinson.

Gunther used the opportunity to remove Goldberg’s knee brace and use it as a weapon. But Goldberg had one, final sign of life. As Gunther got back into the ring, Goldberg stalked him and hit him with the spear. He then lifted Gunther up and hit the Jackhammer. Goldberg crawled over for the pin as a new referee entered the ring. But Gunther kicked out right before the count of three.

Gunther was able to take over from there and put Goldberg into a sleeper hold. Goldberg passed out and Gunther was declared the winner.

As the dust settled, Goldberg thanked friends, family and fans for coming out to support him one last time.

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Before the main event match took place, WWE fans were thrown for a loop when LA Knight pinned Seth Rollins in a shocking upset.

Rollins appeared to suffer a knee injury during the match. He needed to have medical personnel come to check out him for a few minutes. He gave it a go for another few minutes, but Knight ended the match quickly.

It appeared Rollins suffered the tweak on one of the aerial moves he performed on Knight. Videos posted to social media showed Rollins getting helped to the back.

Elsewhere, Solo Sikoa retained the United States Championship over Jimmy Uso. 

Randy Orton, with Jelly Roll in his corner, defeated Drew McIntyre, who had Logan Paul backing him. McIntyre got the last lick in when he dropped Jelly Roll with a Claymore.

It appears Orton and Jelly Roll are angling toward a tag-team match against McIntyre and Paul in less than a month.

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