Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Garth Brooks, and more will be performing for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic forced changes to the traditional proceedings, the president-elect's chosen theme of "American United" summarizes a campaign run on celebrating differences but coming together over the common good.
According to the inaugural committee, the theme reflects the Biden-Harris commitment to healing the nation and bringing Americans together. It also reflects the crises the incoming Biden administration is facing such as the pandemic that killed nearly 392,641 Americans, and the civil unrest that culminated in the riot at the U.S. Capitol in early January.
However, the incoming administration will be as historic as the era they are living in — at 78, Mr. Biden will be the oldest person sworn in as president and the second Catholic to hold the office. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is the first woman, first Black person and first person of Indian descent to be elected to her role. Her husband, Doug Emhoff, will be the first-ever "Second Gentleman."
In a break from tradition, Mr. Trump and first lady Melania Trump will not attend any inaugural events.
But keeping with tradition, the ceremony at the Capitol will be attended by former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush along with their wives.
Furthermore, former president Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn, who are 96 and 93 years old, will be sitting it out.
Inauguration Ceremony
Beginning at 9:45 a.m. ET, "The President's Own" Marine Corps Band will perform throughout the ceremony.
The Marine Band is America's oldest continuously active professional musical organization, having been founded in 1798 by an Act of Congress. The band has played nearly every inauguration since Thomas Jefferson's.
Oscar-winning actress and singer Lady Gaga will precede the official swearing-ins with a rendition of the National Anthem at 11:30 AM ET.
The Grammy-winning artist had campaigned for Biden during the general election and previously worked with the then-Vice President on the "It's On Us" campaign.
Hip-hop icon Jennifer Lopez will also be performing at the ceremony just before Biden is sworn in, shortly before 12 PM ET.
Country star Garth Brooks is also set to perform. He announced Monday that would be performing after what he called "a very sweet ask" from incoming first lady Dr. Jill Biden.
Brooks stated that he has performed for every president since Jimmy Carter, with the exception of Ronald Reagan and President Trump. He was asked to perform at Mr. Trump's 2016 inauguration but was not able to appear due to concert commitments.
Biden's inaugural address will be followed by a poem from the country's first-elect youth poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, who will be the youngest poet to read at an Inauguration Day ceremony.
Inaugural officials revealed that Gorman was chosen by Dr. Jill Biden.
Inauguration Day Parade
The traditional Inauguration Day parade will be shortened to a 15-minute long walk beginning at 3:15 PM ET, followed by a "virtual parade event" that is expected to last just over an hour.
The parade, hosted by actor Tony Goldwyn, includes Jon Stewart, Andra Day, Olympic athletes as well as bands "New Radicals", and "Earth, Wind & Fire".
"Celebrating America" event
Later in the evening, the new president and vice president will address Americans watching at home rather than hosting a traditional Inaugural Ball, due to coronavirus precautions.
The 90-minute program, hosted by Tom Hanks, is titled "Celebrating America" and is set to begin at 8:30 PM ET. broadcast on networks like CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, and streaming services such as Hulu, YouTube TV, and Sling.
Furthermore, the event will feature more celebrity appearances, with performances by Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato, Ant Clemons, the Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, and John Legend.
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