President-elect Donald Trump has been struggling to get big-name talent to perform at his inauguration ceremony on 20 January. While Barack Obama got the likes of Beyoncé and Yo-Yo Ma to perform at his, it seems liberal Hollywood is staunchly avoiding Trump’s. So, who has he managed to get to perform?
Talladega Marching Tornadoes
The Talladega Marching Tornadoes, the marching band for Talladega College (which has a mostly African-American student body) were outraged to find that they’d been signed up to perform at Trump’s inauguration, since the general consensus amongst the black community is that Donald Trump is a racist.
However, the college’s president, Billy C. Hawkins, has revealed his ulterior motive behind it, saying that the “lessons students can learn from this experience cannot be taught in a classroom.” Perhaps it is a statement that in Trump’s white America, all the black man will be able to do is march in his honour.
The Rockettes
Famed New York act The Rockettes are controversially taking their act to Washington to perform at Trump’s inauguration. Some members of the dance group did not want to take part and felt as though they were being forced to perform for a politician they don’t support against their will. However, the organisation has promised that only the dancers that want to perform will perform.
Madison Square Garden exec James Dolan explained the decision: “We’re celebrating a new President, not necessarily this President.”
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
This choir is an inauguration ceremony mainstay, as they’ve performed at the past five of such events. The group is made up of 360 Mormon volunteers, and they may be the only religious sect that Trump hasn’t in some way offended since announcing his run for Presidency.
However, some members of the choir object to Trump, with one even comparing him to Hitler. This member has dropped out of the ceremony, although as of yet, the rest have remained.
Jackie Evancho
Former “America’s Got Talent” contestant Jackie Evancho will also be performing at inauguration, so for the only solo singer to sign up.
Like Trump, Evancho’s celebrity has grown from her appearances in reality television. She has enjoyed a lucrative musical career since appearing on the competitive singing show at the age of ten.
Trump tweeted that Evancho’s “album sales have skyrocketed” since announcing she would perform at his inauguration. He also claimed that she was a part of “the Movement” he was starting with his Presidency, despite her outspoken support for Obama.
Others have spoken out
There have been reports that Elton John would perform at Trump’s inauguration, but John’s representation team have denied them. The Beach Boys say they’ve been asked, but haven’t said whether or not they took Trump up on his offer.
“X-Factor” contestant Rebecca Ferguson also says she was asked to perform, but said she had one condition: she would only sing “Strange Fruit” at the ceremony, which she says “speaks to all the disregarded and downtrodden people in the United States.” Trump’s people have yet to confirm whether or not Ferguson will perform, but from this short list, it seems they’d better take whoever they can get.
