Celebrating America, A-listers bring star power to Joe Biden inauguration
- Celebrities welcome new administration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, a duo popular in Hollywood
- A-listers make valiant effort to keep up the energy at the mostly virtual inauguration show
Grammy winner Lady Gaga wore a huge dove-shaped brooch and an impressively billowing red sculpted skirt as she sang into a golden microphone, delivering an emotional and powerful rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. She was followed at Wednesday’s ceremony by Jennifer Lopez, dressed all in white, who threw a line of Spanish into her medley of This Land is Your Land and America the Beautiful – a pointed nod to multiculturalism, just two weeks after white supremacists and other violent rioters stormed the Capitol in an effort to undermine the peaceful transfer of power.
And country star Brooks, doffing his black cowboy hat, sang a gospel-tinged, soulful a cappella rendition of Amazing Grace, his eyes closed for much of the song. He asked the audience to sing a verse with him: “Not just the people here, but the people at home, to work as one united.”
The superstars were among a slew of glittery celebrities descending on Washington – virtually or in person – to welcome the new administration of Biden and Kamala Harris, a duo popular in Hollywood, where former president Donald Trump was decidedly not.
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Lady Gaga sings US national anthem at Biden inauguration ceremony
But Brooks was careful to call his decision to perform on Wednesday non-political, and in the spirit of unity. Brooks performed during the inaugural celebration of Obama in 2009, but turned down a chance to play for Trump in 2017, citing a scheduling conflict.