Stars to Shine on GOP Convention
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NEW ORLEANS — Actress Helen Hayes will deliver a tribute to senior citizens, jazz musician Lionel Hampton and actor Charlton Heston will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and the Oak Ridge Boys, soap opera star Shelly Burch and gospel vocalist Sandi Patti are among those who will get a chance to sing out the national anthem.
The 1988 Republican National Convention will have a diverse sprinkling of entertainers to liven up a program that lists 111 political speeches over four days and nights.
At the Democratic convention in Atlanta, the entertainers who participated in the program included Garrison Keillor, Lynda Carter, Dionne Warwick, Melba Moore, Jennifer Holliday and Ally Sheedy.
The Republicans will offer a patriotic emphasis with a performance by Lee Greenwood, a country-Western singer known for his ballad “God Bless the USA.” He will follow President Reagan’s speech to the nation on Monday.
Actress/singer Shirley Jones reportedly will be the featured soloist for “America the Beautiful” after Bush’s nominating speech, along with a chorus of 1,500. Jones’ husband, Marty Ingels, was quoted as saying the Oscar-winning actress hesitated before accepting because she remains undecided about how she will vote in November.
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