New York, June 9 – EXCLUSIVE – It was a hot, sticky night down on the Brooklyn waterfront, and fans gathered to hear Sheryl Crow’s Fourth of July concert. “Happy Birthday America!” rocker Crow yelled into the mike, the lights of the Brooklyn Bridge glittering in the background.

Oh wait, it’s only June 9. We’d stumbled onto the strictly “no press” taping of NBC’s July 4 concert, this year featuring Crow. We got a terse “No” when we asked the startled Crow if her boyfriend, bicycle champ Lance Armstrong, was with her in New York.

The free concert attracted only a small crowd, no more than 200. How did the fans patiently waiting in line get wind of the under-wraps concert? “They’re fan club members”, a rep told us. Locals out for a stroll also wandered in, although organizers wouldn’t allow dogs into the crowd.

A source told us the network usually tapes the concerts in advance so NBC staffers don't have to work on Independence Day.