Beyonce, Clarkson leading presidential inauguration performances
The lineup for President Obama’s second inauguration is coming together, with the inaugural committee announcing Wednesday that Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson and James Taylor will perform.
Beyonce, who with husband Jay-Z aided Obama’s reelection effort, will sing the national anthem during the Jan. 21 ceremony. The popular singer, who will also be headlining the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, took part in Obama’s first inauguration, singing the Etta James classic “At Last” to open the first Inaugural Ball.
Clarkson will follow in the footsteps of Aretha Franklin, singing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” while James Taylor will take up “America the Beautiful.”
“Their music is often at the heart of the American story and speaks to folks across the country,” Obama, who aided in the selection process, said in a statement.
The menu for the post-inaugural lunch was unveiled Wednesday as well, featuring grilled bison, lobster, New England chowder, along with wines from New York, the home state of congressional inauguration chairman Sen. Charles E. Schumer.
Myrlie Evers-Williams, chair of the NAACP from 1995 to 1998, is set to deliver the invocation, and the Rev. Louie Giglio, an Atlanta pastor and founder of Passion Conferences, will give the benediction. At 44, Richard Blanco will become the first Latino, gay and youngest inaugural poet.
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