Instead it was their husbands, who are deployed with the U.S. Army in Iraq.

Stadium of Fire organizers arranged to have the women receive a live greeting on the stadium's video screens from their husbands - Staff Sgt. Brock Jones, Sgt. Whitney Houston and Spc. Douglas York.

"I can't believe I kept the surprise," Houston said over the satellite connection. "I miss you."

The wives were taken completely by surprise. Brad Pelo, Stadium of Fire's senior executive producer, said the women were told they were selected to give a greeting to U.S. soldiers, sailors and airmen watching the show on the American Forces Network.

"It was unbelievable," agreed Robynn Houston, a Cedar City resident who is expecting a child.

The exchange brought cheers from the audience - until Jones, a University of Utah football fan, took out a Utah Jersey and yelled, "Go Utes!" That resulted in boos from the crowd at Brigham Young University's LaVell Edwards Stadium.

But for most of the people, the highlight of the show was Cyrus, the star of Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana." Cyrus performed selections from her new album, "Breakout," getting the audience on its feet and dancing in the aisles and on the grass.

"Tonight is all about having a good time," Cyrus told the audience. And the audience, especially young girls, seemed to agree, shouting and jumping to the beat of the music.

The Blue Man Group also brought its unique brand of percussion and dance to the show, getting the audience to join it in "signature rock concert moves" such as one-armed fist pumps and head bobbing. In addition to opening for Cyrus, the blue-faced trio also performed before the fireworks show.

This year also saw the return of conservative talk show host Glenn Beck as master of ceremonies. Beck said Utah's history, especially the Mormon pioneers' epic crossing of the Rocky Mountains into the Great Basin, gives him hope that America will make it through the current difficult times.

"We are facing nothing more difficult than those mountains," Beck said, "and we've made it over them once."

Pelo said this year's show established a record in the number of dancers on the field. He said 1,400 dancers - 400 more than last year - were recruited to perform with athletes to showcase all the events of the upcoming 2008 Summer Games - including equestrian events.

David A. McDougal, Freedom Festival chairman, said Stadium of Fire was a fulfillment of John Adam's declaration that American Independence should be celebrated with "bonfires and illuminations."

"I wish John Adams could see you tonight," McDougal said.

The fireworks program concluded a day that began with the Grand Parade in Provo. An estimated 250,000 people lined University Avenue and Center Street - some camping out the night before - to watch as floats, horse-drawn wagons and antique military vehicles passed in review for America's Freedom Festival at Provo's Grand Parade.

"That's what we enjoy," Paul McSweeney said just as a formation of F-16s and a KC-135 refueling plane flew overhead, signaling the parade's start.

The McSweeney family has been coming to the parade for the last 16 years, since it emigrated from Australia. Paul spent the pre-parade program cooking pancakes and sausage on a camp stove for his extended family.

While a new city ordinance barred people from claiming parade spots until 3 p.m. the day before, McSweeney was at his spot on the 400 North block of University Avenue at 1 p.m. Thursday. He and his wife took turns holding the choice spot during the night; the city ordinance also requires people reserving a parade spot to physically occupy it.

The parade was punctuated by the pop of snaps thrown into the street by children. While there was no glaring sun, the weather was warm enough that Utah County's fire crew used a water cannon on its brush truck to cool down paradegoers.

Lori Gilson, 34, has been coming to the parade since she was an infant. The Eagle Mountain resident said the event keeps getting better each year.

"The kids like the large balloons," Gilson said, referring to the balloon figures similar to the ones used in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

dmeyers@sltrib.com