Several musicians landed in Washington DC to perform at the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris at the United States Capitol.
The Inaugural Presidential Committee (PIC) announced last week a star-studded schedule for the inauguration ceremony, as well as a series of top-notch artists who will appear at additional events aired after Biden and Harris took office.
On stage for the ceremony will be Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez with their respective presentations. Both artists are more than equipped to entertain large crowds, as each has performed in the Super Bowl. Joining them in an impressive announcement made just a few days ago is country icon Garth Brooks, who joked earlier this week that he may be the “only Republican” present.
While the ceremonial events are largely virtual, there are a number of streaming events, as well as a primetime special on Wednesday. Below is an analysis of historical events and the stars you can expect to see.
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Opening Ceremony
Lady Gaga
The Grammy and Oscar winner is no stranger to performing at political events. A few months after performing at a rally in Pittsburgh, Penn. alongside Biden, Gaga is due to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” in person at the Capitol on Wednesday.
Lady Gaga will sing the National Anthem at the opening ceremony of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Wednesday. Here, the artist performs national music at the Super Bowl 50.
(Christopher Polk / Getty Images)
Fox News spoke to the singer’s father, Joe Germanotta, last week, who said he was thrilled with his daughter’s participation.
“I am extremely proud,” said Germanotta, a New Yorker. “I look forward to watching.”
The artist’s father also wished for a “calm day”, as the ceremony takes place just two weeks after the Capitol was violently violated by protesters, leaving at least five dead.
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Last Tuesday, Gaga shared his own statement about his hope for security for everyone.
“I pray that tomorrow will be a day of peace for all Americans,” she said on social media on Tuesday. “A day of love, not of hate. A day of acceptance, not of fear. A day of dreaming of our future joy as a country. A non-violent dream, a dream that gives security to our souls.”
Jennifer Lopez
Lopez will be performing on the West Front of the US Capitol when Biden takes office as the country’s 46th president next Wednesday.
(AP Photo / David J. Phillip)
Latin superstar Jennifer Lopez will follow Gaga’s performance with a musical performance of her own. Little was released about the songs Lopez will perform, but her fiance, Alex Rodriguez, earlier this week promised that viewers would be “surprised”.
On Tuesday, Lopez teased on Instagram that he landed in the country’s capital. In photos shared on her Instagram, Lopez poses for selfies with the military.
“What an honor to spend a few moments with these brave men and women. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. I honor them today and every day. 🇺🇸 Tomorrow I sing for you and all Americans. ❤️🤍💙 # inauguration2021.”
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Garth Brooks
The country star will also perform at the ceremony. Brooks said that Dr. Jill Biden called in person to invite him to perform.
Garth Brooks joked this week that he will be the ‘only Republican’ to attend the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, where he is expected to perform.
(Roy Rochlin / WireImage)
“I played for all the presidents that exist since Carter, with the exception of Reagan. It’s an honor for me to be able to serve … and it’s one of the things that, if my family is around, no matter who the president-elect is, it’s an honor to be invited, “he told reporters, according to Entertainment Tonight.
Brooks’ participation surprised his fan base because he is a well-known Republican. Some fans claimed they were “looking forward” to seeing him on stage on Wednesday, while others claimed to have “stopped following” the star after the announcement was made. However, he made it a point to note that his presence there is to bring people together, not politics.
PIC announced the theme of the Biden ceremony as “United America”.
“In a time of unprecedented crisis and deep divisions, America United reflects the beginning of a new national journey that restores America’s soul, unites the country and creates a path to a brighter future,” the organization said in a statement. the press .
“Parade Across America”
There is also a virtual “Parade Across America” on the opening afternoon at 3:15 pm, hosted by actor Tony Goldwyn with appearances by Jon Stewart, Earth Wind & Fire and the New Radicals – brought together after more than two decades – among many others.
“Our White House”
Actress Keke Palmer will also present “Our White House: An Inaugural Celebration for Young Americans”, with the participation of Dr. Jill Biden. This is a live broadcast for children from 10 am to 12:30 pm and will include a message from the new first lady.
Special “Celebrating America”
Tom Hanks will present a primetime special entitled “Celebrating America” that will air on several networks, including Fox NewsNow, ABC, CBS and Amazon Prime Video, starting at 8:30 pm. Those without access to any of these platforms can also tune to PIC social media pages.
In addition to Hanks, stars like Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Ant Clemons and Jon Bon Jovi are expected to perform during the special.
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Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato and Tom Hanks will participate in the special ‘Celebrating America’ during prime time on Wednesday night.
(Getty Images)
Foo Fighters, John Legend, Katy Perry Lin-Manuel Miranda and Bruce Springsteen will also entertain viewers.
Presenters Kerry Washington and Eva Longoria will join basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, chef Jose Andres, labor leader Dolores Huerta and Kim Ng, the first female general manager in MLB history.
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Lady Gaga arrives at the West Front of the US Capitol before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony, Wednesday, January 20, 2021, in Washington.
(AP)
On Tuesday night, Legend’s wife, Chrissy Teigen, confirmed that they were in Washington DC with several photos shared on Instagram. She sided with members of the National Guard, whom she called “literal heroes of the king”.
Country artists Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard are also participating in “Celebrating America” with a duet for their new song “Undivided”. McGraw and Hubbard debuted the track last week. In their lyrics, musicians call for unity among people, despite their racial, political and religious beliefs. The song’s release comes at a time when tensions are rising across the country, following a deadly rebellion on the United States Capitol two weeks ago.
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The history of celebrities performing at inaugurations dates back to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s third inauguration in 1941, when a gala the night before had performances by Irving Berlin, Mickey Rooney and Charlie Chaplin, said Lina Mann of the White House Historical Association. “Chaplin presented his monologue for ‘The Great Dictator’,” notes Mann.
The celebrity component only increased over time, and one of the most famous inaugurations was that of John F. Kennedy in 1961. This celebration, organized by Frank Sinatra, attracted Harry Belafonte, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Gene Kelly, Ethel Merman, Laurence Olivier, Sidney Poitier and other celebrities.
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Fast-forward to Barack Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, where Aretha Franklin sang “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” in the oath, and the new president and his wife, Michelle, were accompanied by a Beyoncé serenade singing “At Last” at an inaugural ball.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.