Carrie Underwood, Village People to perform at Trump’s inauguration events

New York: Country music star Carrie Underwood will perform America the Beautiful at Donald Trump’s inauguration next week and the 1970s hitmakers Village People will perform at two inaugural events.

Underwood, who launched her career on American Idol, is to perform shortly before Trump takes the oath of office at the US Capitol on January 20, according to a copy of the inaugural program provided to The Associated Press.

Carrie Underwood performs during the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration in New York.Credit: AP

“I love our country and am honoured to have been asked to sing at the inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood said in a statement. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”

American disco group the Village People made their name in the late ’70s for their chant-along dance-pop hits and their colourful on-stage personas. Their best known hit, Y.M.C.A., is widely considered a gay anthem – and became a staple of Trump’s rallies in the last election, along with their hit Macho Man.

The American disco group is set to perform at one of Trump’s inaugural balls and at an inauguration-eve rally in Washington.

“We know this won’t make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics,” the band said in a post on its Facebook page. “Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost. Therefore, we believe it’s now time to bring the country together with music which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump.”

The Village People at the Boogietown Festival in London last year.Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Other inauguration ceremony performers will include two of the president-elect’s musical favourites, country singer Lee Greenwood and opera singer Christopher Macchio.

The pomp and spectacle that comes with the inauguration of a new president kicks off this weekend in Washington with a fireworks show at Trump’s golf club in Sterling, Virginia, a campaign-style rally in DC, a visit to Arlington National Cemetery and glitzy dinners before the former president takes the oath to become the next president.

Trump’s second inauguration is expected to be a much different affair than the last time America got a new president. Trump, who refused to accept his 2020 loss, did not attend Democratic President Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremony at the US Capitol, where there were still visible reminders of the violent January 6, 2021 siege on the building by Trump’s supporters.

Donald Trump and his wife Melania will hold court for several days before his inauguration day.Credit: AP

The committee planning Trump’s inaugural ceremonies released a schedule Monday of four days of events centred around the January 20 swearing-in ceremony, which Biden is planning to attend.

“President Trump is dedicated to uniting the country through the strength, security, and opportunity of his America First agenda,” Steve Witkoff and Kelly Loeffler, the co-chairs of the inaugural committee, said in a statement.

Witkoff is Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy and Loeffler is a former Georgia senator who is Trump’s pick to run the Small Business Administration.

“The 2025 inaugural celebrations will reflect President-elect Trump’s historic return to the White House and the American people’s decisive vote to Make America Great Again,” Witkoff and Loeffler said.

On Saturday, Trump is scheduled to attend a reception and fireworks display at his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. Separately, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance will attend a reception for the incoming cabinet members and host a dinner.

On Sunday, Trump is to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and then hold a campaign-style “MAGA Victory” rally at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington. The Village People are scheduled to perform at the rally.

The Republican’s inauguration day plans include tea at the White House, the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol, a congressional luncheon, a parade on Pennsylvania Avenue and a trio of balls.

The inaugural balls include a Commander in Chief Ball focused on military service members, a Liberty Inaugural Ball geared towards Trump supporters that will feature a Village People performance, and the Starlight Ball, focused on high-dollar donors. Trump is scheduled to speak at all three balls.

Incoming first lady Melania Trump will have tea with the Bidens. In 2021, the Trumps did not invite the Bidens for a tea before Biden’s inauguration, instead leaving town before the president was sworn in. In November, when Biden invited Trump to the White House, Melania chose to skip the visit.

Tuesday, Trump’s first full day as the 47th president, will include a National Prayer Service in the morning.

Greenwood will perform as Trump walks out to take the oath, according to Trump’s inaugural committee. Macchio is Trump’s choice to perform the National Anthem at the end of the program.

Macchio performed at the Republican National Convention in July, at Trump’s return rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in October after his first rally there was marred by an assassination attempt, and during his Madison Square Garden rally that drew blowback for crude and racist jokes from some speakers.

The invocation is scheduled to be delivered by Franklin Graham, son of the late pastor Billy Graham, and New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 featured performances from the Rockettes, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and 16-year-old “America’s Got Talent” singer Jackie Evancho.

Beyond the official events that Trump is scheduled to attend, there are a number of satellite and unofficial events being held in Washington surrounding the inauguration where supporters are expected to celebrate and toast the incoming president. Vance is scheduled to attend a ball hosted by the conservative group Turning Point USA. Other groups have announced plans for a “MAGA Ball,” a “Coronation Ball,” the “All American Ball” and the “Legacy of Freedom Ball,” which is hosted by the Black Conservative Foundation.

AP

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