Yamaguchi is joined by Olympic Gold medallist Ilia Kulik, four-time World Champion Kurt Browning, two-time Olympic Silver medallist Brian Orser, Olympic Silver medallists Paul Wylie and Rosalynn Sumners, two-time World Professional Dance Champions Renee Roca and Gorsha Sur, and U.S. Pro Am Champion Caryn Kadavy.
Yamaguchi’s professional skating success follows a tremendous amateur career. She was one of the first American women to compete in both pairs events and ladies' singles as she and her partner (Rudi Galindo) were the 1988 World Junior Pairs Champions. In that same championship, Yamaguchi also won the Ladies' World Junior Championship title. She ultimately decided to focus on singles skating and, in 1991, won the World Championships. In 1992, she won the U.S. National Championship, fulfilled a life-long dream by winning the Olympic Gold Medal in Albertville and defended her World title in her hometown of Oakland. In 1998, Yamaguchi returned to the U.S. National Championships to be inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame and, during 2002, served as the official Ambassador of Good Will for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Art Garfunkel of the legendary Simon & Garfunkel will be joining the skaters as a featured entertainer. Five-time Grammy winners Simon & Garfunkel recorded such hits as "The Sound of Silence," "Mrs. Robinson," and "Cecilia," in addition to many others. Garfunkel has been solo since 1973, recording such albums as Everything Waits to Be Noticed (2002), Across America (1997), and Up 'Til Now (1993). He is also a poet and actor, having appeared in such films as Mike Nichols' Catch-22 (1969) and Carnal Knowledge (1971), opposite Ann-Margaret, Candice Bergen and Jack Nicholson.
Grammy Award winner and author Michael W. Smith will also been joining the skaters. Smith most recently won Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album at the 2004 Grammys for his album Worship Again. During his twenty-year career, Michael W. Smith has become one of the most influential artists in the Christian music industry, recording eighteen albums that have yielded forty Dove Awards, numerous Grammy nominations, three Grammy Awards, and an American Music Award. His albums have sold more than twelve million copies, five reaching platinum and twelve achieving gold certification.
Additionally, Kimberley Locke has been set for the production. Locke rocketed to stardom after sharing the stage in 2003 with Ruben Studdard and fellow finalist Clay Aiken on the Fox Television hit, American Idol. Locke’s debut album, One Love features the #1 Billboard single, "8th World Wonder" and is currently nominated for Favorite Love Song at the Teen Choice Awards by Teen People Magazine.
McCormick Presents Kristi Yamaguchi’s Salute to American Music was taped live for a November 28, 2004 airing on the NBC Television Network from 4-6 p.m. eastern time. In addition to McCormick as title sponsor, the production was also supported nationally by AFLAC, Campbell's, John Paul Mitchell Systems, Kleenex, Marshall's, Orbitz, Smucker’s, and the United States Postal Service. A piano was also provided by Yamaha Pianos to be played by Michael W. Smith as well as a member of Art Garfunkel’s band. The show was sponsored locally by The Outlets at Hershey.