The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Music & the Spoken Word network broadcast will reach a milestone April 30 when it airs its 4,000th consecutive program.

Recognized as the world's longest-running continuous network radio broadcast, the program's milestone event will be observed with a nationwide radio and television broadcast of a special Music & the Spoken Word program featuring a recorded message from President George W. Bush at 9:30 a.m. (MDT).

Also included on the 4,000th broadcast will be Jerold Ottley, who served as music director of the choir for nearly 25 years.

In addition to the broadcast, the observance in the Conference Center will be celebrated by a half-hour retrospective special entitled "A Legacy of Music Through 4,000 Broadcasts." The retrospective, which will begin at 9 a.m., will be narrated by CBS newsman Charles Osgood and shown on the large screens in the Conference Center. The specially produced program will take a look at the history of the Music & the Spoken Word programs through the years.

At 10 a.m., after the 9:30 a.m. broadcast, a live brief program will include the reading of proclamations from U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch and Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., and remarks from President Gordon B. Hinckley, Bonneville International President & CEO Bruce Reese, Mormon Tabernacle Choir President Mac Christensen, and Mormon Tabernacle Choir Music Director Craig Jessop.

The half-hour special with Mr. Osgood will be broadcast in the Salt Lake City market on KSL 5 TV (NBC affiliate) at 10 a.m., immediately following KSL's live airing of the 4,000th broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word. The retrospective also will be rebroadcast on KBYU TV that same day, April 30 at 3:30 p.m., following a 3 p.m. rebroadcast of the Music & the Spoken Word program.

Also on April 30, BYU TV (cable and satellite providers) will rebroadcast the 4,000th program at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and it will air the retrospective at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. BYU TV also will feature additional rebroadcasts at various times during the month of May.

"Four thousand broadcasts over a period of more than 75 years is a truly remarkable achievement and a notable affirmation of Music & the Spoken Word's enduring quality and appeal across a wide spectrum of listeners and viewers," Brother Christensen said. "And, we're deeply honored to have President Bush, President Hinckley, Sen. Hatch, Gov. Huntsman and others take time to honor us for this notable achievement."

The events in the Conference Center on April 30 are open to the public. Guests (limited to those 8 years of age and older) should be in their seats in the Conference Center by 8:45 a.m.