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Several well-known artists are performing at the inaugural balls including rapper Nelly.
WASHINGTON — Country singer Carrie Underwood will perform “America the Beautiful” at the inauguration of Donald Trump Monday, signaling a thawing relationship between Trump and some of the A-list of Hollywood.
Several other well-known artists are performing at one of the inaugural balls including Rascal Flatts, Gavin DeGraw, Jason Aldean, The Village People and Nelly. Rapper Snoop Dogg performed at a pre-inaugural “Crypto Ball” on Friday night.
Underwood is set to perform Monday shortly before Trump takes the oath of office in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 20.
“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood said in a statement about her role in the event. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
The Grammy-winning artist is notably a higher-tier celebrity than Trump traditionally attracts at his events. Many leading music and film celebrities were prominent anti-Trump voices during the past three elections.
Other inauguration ceremony performers will include two of the president-elect’s musical favorites, country singer Lee Greenwood and opera singer Christopher Macchio.
Greenwood will perform as Trump walks out to take the oath, according to Trump’s inaugural committee. Macchio is Trump’s choice to perform the National Anthem at the end of the program.
Are the Village People performing at the Inauguration?
The Village People aren’t performing at the inauguration ceremony, but the American disco group is set to perform at one of Trump’s inaugural balls over the weekend and a rally he’s holding in Washington the day before he’s sworn in.
“We know this won’t make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics,” the band said in a post on its Facebook page Monday. “Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost. Therefore, we believe it’s now time to bring the country together with music which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump.”
The band is best known for their hit song, “Y.M.C.A.,” which is widely considered a gay anthem — and became a staple of Trump’s rallies in the last election, along with “Macho Man.”
Who else is performing at the inauguration?
Kid Rock, a longtime Trump supporter, and Billy Ray Cyrus will join Lee Greenwood and The Village People at the “Make America Great Again Rally” at Capital One Arena in downtown D.C. on Sunday, along with a choir from Liberty University.
Jason Aldean, a five-time Grammy nominee behind the controversial song “Try That in a Small Town,” is set to perform at The Liberty Ball on Monday night, alongside The Village People and rapper Nelly.
Country group Rascal Flatts will be at the Commander-in-Chief Ball, focused on military service members, with Texas-based singer-songwriter Parker McCollum.
The Starlight Ball, focused on high-dollar donors, will feature a performance from Gavin DeGraw, a singer-songwriter best known for the song “I Don’t Want to Be,” which was used as the theme song for the CW show “One Tree Hill.”
Who performed at Trump’s first inauguration in 2017?
Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 featured performances from the Rockettes, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and 16-year-old “America’s Got Talent” singer Jackie Evancho.
Who performed at Biden’s inauguration in 2021?
Biden’s inauguration, after beating Trump in the 2020 election, featured several celebrities of the caliber that traditionally shunned Trump and other Republicans. Lady Gaga, J. Lo and Garth Brooks all took to the stage to celebrate the inauguration.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
