Lots of country, a little disco, rock and even a little rap. Several musical interludes will punctuate the second inauguration of Donald Trump, Monday January 20, provided by the Village People, Carrie Underwood and Kid Rock.
Their names are Jason Aldean, Gavin DeGraw or Rascal Flatts. These country artists, unknown in France, will perform at the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20 in Washington. But if Trump had struggled to surround himself with international stars during his first inauguration in 2017, a few internationally renowned artists answered the call this year. This is the case with the Village People.
The group, whose hit YMCA was very often played at Trump's rallies, responded to the invitation of the 47th President of the United States.
“We know that this will make people unhappy, but we believe that music must live without political considerations,” the founder of the disco group, Victor Willis, who supported Kamala Harris during the presidential campaign, explained on his Facebook page on January 13.
While in 2020, the rights holders had threatened to file a complaint for unauthorized use of the song, Victor Willis this time justified the use of the song, considered a standard bearer for the gay community in the 1970s and 1980s .
Country and Christian pop
Among the artists, whose nomination committee revealed the complete list, also includes Carrie Underwood.
This artist with a repertoire between country and Christian pop, is notably the interpreter of a hit entitled Jesus, take the wheel (Jesus, take the wheel). A title taken from an album called Some Heartwhich sold seven million copies in 2005. She will perform, at the time of Donald Trump's swearing-in, the song America the BeautifulRay Charles standard.
“I love our country and I am honored to be asked to sing at the inauguration ceremony and to be a small part of this historic event,” said the singer, who is however not early support from the president.
Lee Greenwood will also be there. He should interpret God Bless the USAthe song chosen by Donald Trump to claim his victory last November. A song celebrating freedom and the pride of being American – “And I'm proud to be an American / Where at least I know I'm free” – which dates from 1984.
This is also when tenor Christopher Macchio will perform, who will sing the national anthem, The Star-Spangled Bannerthe star-spangled banner. In 2017, it's Jackie Evancho, a former candidate for the reality TV show America’s Got Talent who sang the American anthem.
-The Pavarottis of Mar-A-Lago
“By opening and closing this magnificent ceremony with music that celebrates our nation, I hope to help restore the spirit of unity, strength and love of country that will help make America great again.” , said Christopher Macchio, who had already performed at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally but also at Mar-A-Lago.
Donald Trump a compared Christopher Macchio to his “friend” Luciano Pavarotti. In 2016, the family of the tenor who died in 2007 was opposed to the use by Donald Trump in his meetings with a Puccini aria performed by the Italian tenor, recalling “that the values of fraternity and solidarity that Luciano Pavarotti has expressed throughout his career are incompatible with the vision of the world held by candidate Donald Trump” .
It is now Christopher Macchio who sings the famous tune Nobody sleepsfrom the opera Turandot, during Trump's rallies.
But before Monday's inauguration ceremony, Trump will hold a meeting this Sunday evening, the “Make America great again victory Rally.” This is when the Village People will perform, with their hit YMCA, but also Kid Rock or Billy Ray Cyrus. The father of singer Miley Cyrus, who returned to the top of the charts in 2019 thanks to his duet with Lil Nas Old Town Road.
Self-defense and pro-gun violence
An early supporter, Kid Rock became a friend of the president. They play golf together. The musician said that Donald Trump asked him, to his great astonishment, his opinion on the situation in North Korea. The nomination committee also promises a surprise guest. It could be the rapper Nelly, according to information from USA Today and CBS.
Monday, after the inauguration, the Liberty Ball will finally take place, which will once again welcome the Village People, and Jason Aldean. This country musician is notably the interpreter of a song which caused controversy in 2023. Entitled Try this in a small town(“try doing that in a small town”), it glorifies self-defense and pro-gun violence. In July 2024, after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, Jason Aldean dedicated this song on stage to Donald Trump.
Rascal Flatts, Parker McCollum, Gavin DeGraw complete this program rich in country sounds.
Country band Rascal Flatts, who emerged in the early 2000s, found success with their cover of Life is a highwayby Tom Cochrane, that fans of the Pixar cartoon Cars know well.
Parker McCollum, who rarely takes off his stetson, is a Texan country singer, whose fame has not crossed the borders of the United States. Finally Gavin DeGraw, whose music has much more rock accents, is known for his title I don’t want to bein 2003.
