Every four years, the US presidential inauguration ceremony temporarily turns Washington into a giant concert stage, where power rubs shoulders with glamour. The highlight of the show is when one of the many superstars sings the national anthem on the steps of the Capitol. A star-studded line-up then follows, with the country’s most famous singers performing late into the evening at galas and balls.
Just a few days before Trump’s January 20 inauguration, the glitzy cast for his show was unveiled, with the 1970s hit sensation the Village People headlining. The group’s 1978 hit “Y.M.C.A.” has been the unlikely staple during the president-elect’s campaign rallies. In a statement, the band said it hoped the song would help “bring the country together”.
Country singer Carrie Underwood, who shot to fame after participating in “American Idol”, has been tapped to perform the patriotic classic “America The Beautiful”.
Trump has previously struggled to gather the type of A-listers his predecessors used to invite, with celebrities including Elton John, Céline Dion and Kiss all turning him down for his 2017 inauguration. Trump finally picked Jackie Evancho, a 16-year-old singer who was discovered through “America’s Got Talent”, to perform the national anthem. The line-up that year was seen as a steep downgrade from those that Barack Obama had accustomed the American and global audiences with.
Trump’s 2016 election victory polarised America, and the act of participating in his inauguration ceremony has since been viewed by many as taking a political stance in his favour. Prior to that, the event was seen as a bipartisan celebration.
Ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt invited Mickey Rooney, Charlie Chaplin and other stars of that era to perform at his inauguration in 1941, it has become a must-attend event for America’s superstars.
From James Brown to Beyoncé and Aretha Franklin, here is a look back at some of the most memorable performances:
In 1969, James Brown, the “Godfather of Soul”, stole the show by performing at Richard Nixon’s inauguration. It was an unlikely appearance, considering Nixon was a Republican and Brown a civil rights movement activist who had backed the Democratic candidate during the presidential campaign. Brown performed alongside Italian singers Tony Bennett and Connie Francis.
As Brown belted out “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud,” he delivered a powerful message about race in a country still marked by segregation. And every time he sang the words “say it loud,” a small black group in the audience jumped to its feet and replied “I’m black and I’m proud”.
Brown would later explain to Jet magazine that he had accepted Nixon’s invitation “because I want to give our new president a chance to bring the people of this nation together in every respect of our national life”. Three years later, he backed Nixon’s reelection bid by singing the hit “Soul Brother No. 1”.
Ronald Reagan went pretty much all out to celebrate his second term as president, gathering some of the most influential singers of the 20th century, including Frank Sinatra and the surf pop greats The Beach Boys, whose 1963 hit “Surfin’ U.S.A.” had taken the world by storm. But instead of playing the hit song, the group performed “The Hearts Were Full of Spring” a cappella, dressed up in suits and bow ties.
But Ray Charles was the one to steal the show with his rendition of “America the Beautiful”. Charles was greeted with loud cheers from the crowd as Sinatra helped him walk to the piano. For four intense minutes, the audience was completely spellbound by his performance. As he neared the end of the song, dozens of other artists joined him on stage to sing the last verse.
Bill Clinton‘s inauguration in 1993, held at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland, can almost be likened to a music festival, hosting some of America’s greatest talents of all time: Michael Jackson, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, and many others.
Barbra Streisand captivated the audience with three songs: “God Bless America”, “Evergreen” and “Children Will Listen”.
But the highlight of the evening was the 70s pop group Fleetwood Mac, who had reunited especially for the occasion. The band performed “Don’t Stop” – Clinton’s anthem on the campaign trail.
At the end of the song, Clinton joined Michael Jackson on stage to dance alongside Stevie Nicks. First Lady Hillary Clinton and the couple’s teenage daughter Chelsea also took to the stage, clapping and dancing alongside the gospel choir.
Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration was historical not just because it marked the investiture of America’s first black president, but because of the many superstars that wanted to bless him with their performances.
Aretha Franklin, aka the “Queen of Soul”, stunned the audience as she delivered an emotionally charged “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” at the National Mall. The remainder of the celebrations were thick with A-list performances, including stars such as Bruce Springsteen, U2, Stevie Wonder, Tom Hanks, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, Queen Latifah and Shakira.
The most memorable moment came when Beyoncé performed Etta James’ classic “At Last”, accompanying Barack and Michelle Obama as they opened up the inauguration ball with a slow dance.
It was the second time Beyoncé performed at a presidential inauguration, having already performed with her group Destiny’s Child at George W. Bush’s ceremony in 2001. But her loyalty to Obama was reconfirmed when she sang the national anthem at the Capitol for his second investiture in 2013.
After Trump’s star-starved inauguration, Joe Biden is credited with having brought back the glitz and prestige to the American inauguration tradition, serving up an impressive list of stars during his 2021 installation.
The Covid-19 pandemic marked the show, however, with headline artist Lady Gaga performing the national anthem before a restricted, masked crowd, and 190,000 flags representing the usual audience.
In the evening, also due to safety precautions, the traditional inauguration ball was replaced with a televised “Celebrate America” concert. The show, broadcast without audience, starred celebrities like Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake and Tom Hanks.
Katy Perry stood out, however, closing the event by performing “Firework” accompanied by a spectacular firework show.
This article has been adapted from the original in French by Louise Nordstrom.
