Unlike four years ago, Donald Trump was struggling to land big-name musical acts for his presidential inauguration. Celine Dion, Elton John, Kiss, and other artists reportedly turned him down, but, hey, he did book the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, country singer Toby Keith, and rock band 3 Doors Down for the festivities. This time around, for Joe Biden’s swearing-in, the musical lineup is looking a little more promising
Tom Hanks will host ‘Celebrating America’, an evening TV special to punctuate Inauguration Day 2021. The official start to President- elect Joe Biden and Vice President- elect Kamala Harris’s team in the White House.
Alongside Hanks, musical guests Demi Lovato, Lady Gaga. Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Bon Jovi and Ant Clemons will perform.
The Performers Announcement
The announced performers have all previously delved into the world of politics. Timberlake crashed a Zoom meeting of Pennsylvanian phone bankers for Biden on Nov. 2 to thank them for their behind-the-scenes work. He also teamed up with Clemons for the song “Better Days,” which he said they will perform at inauguration after it was initially created for December’s Rock the Runoff virtual concert fundraiser organized by Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight.
“We have a long way to go to fix, undo, and rebuild this country… but I hope now, despite the past four years, we’re on our way,” Timberlake recently tweeted
Justin Timberlake Promising Tweet
Timberlake announced on Instagram and Twitter that he and Clemons will perform their recent collab, “Better Days,” for the celebration. The song, which they wrote together during lockdown, reflects Biden’s inaugural theme of unity. (JT said he even recorded his vocals on election night.)
J.T. And Clemon’s Music Related Tweet
Lovato has been an outspoken supporter of the Biden-Harris campaign and recently took a political stance in her music with her anti-Trump song “Commander-in-Chief.” Bon Jovi, who previously served on Barack Obama’s White House Council for Community Solutions, performed at several Biden campaign events this election season.
Demi Lovato’s Inaugural Day IG Post
Lady Gaga is set to sing the national anthem for the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Jan. 20.
Biden Inaugural Committee Tweet
A Lady Gaga national anthem is not an untested commodity. She won praise for her rendition at the opening of Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
The Biden-Harris inaugural committee confirmed that Gaga is on board to perform “The Star Spangled Banner” for the swearing-in ceremony, which typically begins around 11:30 a.m. ET on the West front of the U.S. Capitol. Also on deck for the ceremony: Jennifer Lopez will perform; Andrea Hall, a career firefighter, will lead in the Pledge of Allegiance; Amanda Gorman, the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate (and a Los Angeles native), will recite a poem; an invocation will be delivered by Father Leo O’Donovan, and a benediction by Reverend Dr. Silvester Beaman, both longtime friends of the Biden family.
JLO Inauguration Day IG Story
Gaga was previously on the campaign trail with Biden, appearing alongside the then-candidate in western Pennsylvania a day before the U.S. presidential election. She is also no stranger to the anthem having performed it at Superbowl 50.
Lady Gaga Inauguration Day IG post
When he was Vice President, Biden worked with Gaga on his It’s On Us awareness campaign to addess sexual assault on college campuses.
After the 2020 race was called for him, she tweeted, “Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and the American people, you just gave the world one of the greatest acts of kindness and bravery humanity has ever seen… Nothing but love for our new Commander in Chief and the 1ST female VP elected to the White House. Also, way to go PA.”
The reference to the Keystone state was a nod to the election-eve appearance Gaga made in Pittsburgh on Nov. 2 at a drive-in campaign rally, where she stated plainly, “Vote for Joe. He’ a good person.” Addressing men, she also called his Republican incumbent opponent Donald Trump “a man who believes his fame gives him the right to grab one of your daughters or sisters or mothers or wives by any part of their bodies.”
Biden also tweeted the message, saying at the time, “Honored to work with a woman of great courage, my friend Lady Gaga. With her leadership, and your help, we can change the culture.”
Unlike previous inaugurations, Biden’s foray into the presidency will look slightly different. In light of the recent attack on the Capitol, while Biden is still expected to be sworn on the Hill, the ceremony will not be followed by a motorcade parade. In addition, the traditional inaugural balls will not take place due to coronavirus regulations. Instead The new Democratic ticket is expected to draw a starry lineup of industry supporters to participate and perform for inaugural festivities. In addition to the swearing-in ceremony, a virtual parade and other events are scheduled for live streams on Jan 20th.
The program will air live on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and MSNBC, along with streaming live on the PIC’s YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch channels. Additionally, it will be carried live on Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNOW from Fox, and AT&T DirecTV and U-verse.