Donald Trump Runs Out Of Big Stars For His Inauguration
Donald Trump is not used to being rejected. But in the last few days, he has not stopped receiving negative responses. Great artists have declined his invitation to sing at his inauguration as President of the United States, including the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, Elton John, Cecile Dion and country singer Garth Brooks.
The concert "Make America Great Again. Welcome Celebration" will take place on Thursday 19 January at the Lincoln Memorial, a day before the ceremony of the inauguration. But the concert will be far duller than Trump and the organizing committee expected. The big stars are conspicuous by their absence.
The concert, which will be broadcast live to the nation, will feature performances by country singers Toby Keith and Lee Greenwood, The Piano Guys, DJ RaviDrums, 3 Doors Down rock band The Frontmen of Country And several military bands, the organizing committee announced.
"I do not apologize for acting for our country or the military," Toby Keith told reporters. "I have performed at events for former Presidents Bush and Obama and have performed 200 shows in Iraq and Afghanistan for USO" (a nonprofit organization that organizes concerts for members of the United States Armed Forces around the world), explained the country singer.
Greenwood - who has sung in the inaugural remarks of Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr. and George Bush son for their song "God bless the USA" - considered "an honor to be a part of history again and sing for President-elect Trump."
The president-elect will speak at the concert at the Lincoln Center, which will, according to the organizing committee, "a tribute to one of our greatest attributes: the peaceful transition of power". A starring appearance is also scheduled for the concert of actor Jon Voight, the father of actress Angelina Jolie, one of Hollywood's top conservative stars and Trump voter. "We're going to do something incredible. It's going to be fantastic," Trump promised in a promotional video of the concert that tweeted.
