For his inauguration ceremony, Donald Trump invited several American artists. Classical tenor Christopher Macchio will perform the American anthem. Country singer Carrie Underwood is set to sing America the Beautiful.
She will not be the only country singer since Lee Greenwood, already present in 2017, will accompany the group Village People during a gathering on Sunday January 19.
These musical festivities are not a first. The inauguration of a new president always gives rise, at least since 1941, to numerous spectacles. Charlie Chaplin for Franklin D. Roosevelt, Frank Sinatra for John F. Kennedy and George W. Bush or Michael Jackson for Bill Clinton, the stars tend to perform during the galas organized on the sidelines of the official ceremony. But the stage in front of the Capitol was also the scene of historic performances.
► Marian Anderson, first African-American
In 1957, Marian Anderson, an African-American opera singer, took to the microphone to perform the American anthem at the inauguration ceremony of Dwight Eisenhower. A victory for the one who had to fight to have her talent recognized in a United States still marked by segregation.
In 1961, she performed again at John Kennedy’s inauguration, making her still the only singer to have performed at two official ceremonies.
► Aretha Franklin, a regular at ceremonies
Aretha Franklin was also a figure in the African-American community. In 2009, for the inauguration of Barack Obama, she resumed My Country’Tis of Theea patriotic song also called America.
If this is the first time that she has performed during the official ceremony, her voice had already resonated several times during the investiture galas. In 1977, she notably performed God Bless America at a ball for Jimmy Carter. In 1992, she resumed I Dreamed a Dreamthe famous song from the musical Les Miserables, during Bill Clinton’s inauguration festivities.
► In 2017, the stars turn their backs on Donald Trump
For his first inauguration in 2017, Donald Trump sees things big. He dreams of Céline Dion, tenor Andrea Bocelli, Justin Timberlake or Elton John to perform the American anthem. Everyone declines the invitation. These refusals irritate the American president, who declares on “the people” at its inauguration rather than the big stars.
-It will ultimately be Jackie Evancho, finalist of the program America’s got Talentwho is chosen to perform the anthem on the Mall esplanade.
► Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga for Obama and Biden
In 2013, Barack Obama chose Beyoncé for the American anthem. A performance that did not go unnoticed. A few days after the ceremony, the controversy grew: the singer would have sung in playback. Beyoncé confirms the rumor, stating that she herself had requested it to compensate for the lack of rehearsal with the orchestra.
Also in 2021, Joe Biden leaves the stage to international stars. Lady Gaga sings the anthem The Star-Spangled Banner and Jennifer Lopez performs This Land is your Landa patriotic song.
► Poetry is also invited to investitures
The investiture ceremonies are carried out not only in song but also in poetry. John. F. Kennedy was the first to include this art in the program. An initiative taken up thirty years later by Bill Clinton and then by all Democratic presidents.
In 2021, Joe Biden chooses Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old poet. His text The Hill We Climb, which directly refers to the events of January 6 created a sensation.
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