Preparations are in full swing for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration weekend, which will begin with fireworks and conclude with three events where he will speak, the committee planning the ceremony announced on Monday.
Singer Carrie Underwood is scheduled to perform at the Republican's second inauguration to be held on January 20.
Underwood, who rose to fame after winning the fourth season of American Idol, will perform "America the Beautiful." The 41-year-old Oklahoma native has remained politically neutral for now.
She did, however, troll Trump during the 2017 Country Music Awards with a musical parody featuring Brad Paisley. A remixed version of the hit Before He Cheats referenced the Republican mogul's Twitter habits at the time, with the pair singing: "It's fun to watch, yeah, that's for sure / Until little Rocket Man starts a nuclear war."
Underwood has won three Grammy Awards and has had hits such as Inside Your Heaven, Jesus, Take the Wheel and Cowboy Casanova.
Victor Willis, the Village People's lead singer, also announced that the band would "participate in inauguration activities," including an event with Trump. "We know this may not be pleasant for some of you to hear, but we believe that music should be performed without regard to politics," a Facebook post said. "Our song YMCA is a universal anthem that we hope will help unite the country after a tumultuous and divisive election campaign in which our preferred candidate lost."
Joining Underwood on stage at the “Victory Rally” on Sunday at the Capital One Arena in Washington will be Kid Rock. Rock – real name Robert James Ritchie – often calls Trump a “great friend” and one of his “besties.” The American musician and singer donated $50.000 to the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe, to an account set up for the victims of the armed attack on the former US president at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
Lee Greenwood will sing "Proud to Be an American" as Trump takes the oath of office, and opera singer Christopher Macchio will perform the national anthem, according to Axios.
For Trump's 2017 inauguration, performers included America's Got Talent runner-up Jackie Evancho, Toby Keith, and the band 3 Doors Down, which faced backlash from its fans. Guitarist Chris Henderson later defended it as "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something for your country."
On Saturday, Trump is expected to attend a reception and fireworks display at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, followed by a reception for cabinet members and dinner.
On Sunday, the president-elect will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and then hold a “MAGA Victory” rally at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington.
The artists who, according to American media, publicly refused to perform were Moby, Kiss, Idina Menzel and Charlotte Church.
Biden's 2021 inauguration ceremony was attended by stars such as Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Katy Perry.
Source: protothema.gr