The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation’s twenty-sixth annual A Celebration of Reading fundraiser, originally scheduled for last April, was postponed due to COVID-19. Now it has been rescheduled for October 17 and a primetime television spot—no invitations, no passwords, no ticketing required.

The program will be broadcast, commercial-free, from 7 to 8 pm on Saturday, October 17 on Houston’s KPRC, channel 2. The rescheduled event includes even more authors than originally scheduled, along with an entertainment component.

The lineup of New York Times bestselling authors featured on the prerecorded program include Kathy Reichs, John Grisham, Kevin Kwan, Texas historian H. W. Brands, T. D. Jakes,  Jeff Kinney, Brad Meltzer, James Patterson, and Jean Becker, former chief of staff for President George H.W. Bush and ghost writer of the recently released Pearls of Wisdom about First Lady Barbara Bush.

Entertainment will include the Texas Southern University Choir and the Houston Children’s Chorus. Also joining the program will be President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

“While we were disappointed that our traditionally in-person event was impacted due to the coronavirus outbreak, we are grateful for the partnership with KPRC and the contributions from our loyal and generous donors, enabling us to transform A Celebration of Reading into a special program and broadcast it throughout the entire Greater Houston region,” said Neil Bush, co-founder of the foundation with his wife, Maria. “Mom would be especially pleased that more people will be able to celebrate the power of reading and enjoy the many authors who enrich our lives though their books.”

The annual event has brought in revenues of $1.8 million for the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.