Trump is reportedly furious that A-listers like Lady Gaga and Tom Hanks are performing at Biden's inauguration
Joshua Roberts/Reuters
- President Trump is furious that top A-list celebrities are performing at Biden's inaugural, the Washington Post reports.
- Tom Hanks is hosting an inaugural special on Wednesday featuring Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, and more.
- Dozens of top singers and celebrities refused to perform at Trump's inauguration in 2017.
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President Donald Trump is reportedly furious that a lineup of A-list celebrities is set to perform at an inaugural special for President-elect Joe Biden after Hollywood largely boycotted his 2017 inaugural ceremony.
The Washington Post reports that Trump, who has prized associating himself with top celebrities and hired Elton John and Billy Joel to perform at his third wedding in 2005 to First Lady Melania Trump, was "particularly upset" at top stars like actor Tom Hanks and Lady Gaga flocking to Biden's celebration.
Biden's inaugural on Wednesday will be significantly pared down compared to past inaugurations and won't feature the traditional balls and grand dinners due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Still, Biden and his incoming administration will be fêted by a star-studded group of performers, pandemic-style.
Starting at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Hanks will host a televised 90-minute inauguration special to be aired on all major networks featuring musical performances from artists including Garth Brooks, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato, and the Foo Fighters. The New Radicals are reuniting to play their 1998 hit song "You Get What You Give" for the event.
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In late 2016, Trump struggled to recruit top talent to play at his own inauguration after much of the largely liberal entertainment industry turned on the former "Celebrity Apprentice" host.
"The so-called "A" list celebrities are all wanting tixs to the inauguration, but look what they did for Hillary, NOTHING. I want the PEOPLE!," Trump tweeted in frustration from his now-suspended Twitter account in late December 2016.
Elton John, Céline Dion, Andrea Boccelli, Kiss, Moby, Rebecca Ferguson, and Garth Brooks (who is set to perform at Biden's inaugural special), were among the stars who turned down invites to perform at Trump's inaugural.
Some of the most notable names who did perform at Trump's inaugural included Lee Greenwood, Three Doors Down, The Piano Guys, "America's Got Talent" star Jackie Evancho, and actor Jon Voight. Scott Baio, "Duck Dyntasty" stars Willie and Korie Robertson, and Caitlyn Jenner were also in attendance.
The next day, however, artists including Janelle Monae performed at the 2017 Women's March on Washington to protest Trump, with actresses America Ferrera, Patricia Arquette, Ashley Judd, and Scarlett Johansson giving speeches and other top names like Cher and comedian Amy Schumer in attendance.
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