Tom Hanks will host a 90-minute primetime TV special celebrating the inauguration of Joe Biden as president of the United States, with performances by an A-list lineup of celebrities.
Foo Fighters, John Legend and Bruce Springsteen will perform from iconic locations across the country, joining Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato and Ant Clemons.
Eva Longoria and and Kerry Washington will introduce segments of the event.
“I was left speechless when I was asked to perform! ” Lovato wrote on Instagram. Clemons was also effusive: “To say that this is a dream come true, would be an understatement!”
Timberlake said he and Clemons would perform their new song “Better Days,” adding: “This song was our way of doing what little we could to encourage everyone to stay hopeful.”
The special will be broadcast live on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and MSNBC beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 20. It will also be streamed live on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNOW, DirectTV and U-verse.
According to producers, the show “will showcase the American people’s resilience, heroism, and unified commitment to coming together as a nation to heal and rebuild."
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Inauguration officials announced on Monday that country singer Garth Brooks will perform at the inauguration.
“This is a great day in our household," the country music superstar said during a virtual press conference Monday, two days before Biden is to be sworn in. “This is not a political statement. This is a statement of unity.”
He will join Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez in person for the ceremony. Gaga will sing the national anthem as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are sworn in on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, and Lopez will give a musical performance.
The inauguration will look different from other presidential inaugurations because of last week’s riot at the U.S. Capitol. Security will be extremely tight around the area.
The event was already going to be pared down because of COVID-19; Biden had asked supporters to say home and watch from afar. In keeping with crowd size restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, traditional activities like the parade and the inaugural balls will be virtual.
