Cover Carrie Underwood performing in Times Square at the New Year’s Eve celebrations (Photo by Craig T Fruchtman/WireImage)
Carrie Underwood performing in Times Square at the New Year’s Eve celebrations (Photo by Craig T Fruchtman/WireImage)
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Spanning a wide range of genres, the performances for Trump’s second inauguration reportedly reflect the president-elect’s personal tastes
Musical performances at US presidential inaugurations are a longstanding tradition, deeply rooted in the country’s history, culture, and ceremonial customs. As the inauguration (usually) marks the peaceful transfer of power, music serves as a unifying force while also reflecting the cultural zeitgeist, offering a snapshot of the nation’s mood and the priorities and hopes of the incoming administration.
Reflecting the contentious mood of the campaign, some of the musicians tapped for this year’s festivities have suffered swift backlash for accepting the spot—Carrie Underwood and The Village People have had to release statements over the past few days to defend themselves.
But for those of us who have no political stake in the game, the inauguration can be another opportunity to enjoy performances from some of the big names in American music, as stars like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé headlined President Joe Biden’s and President Barack Obama’s inaugurations, respectively.
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As Donald J. Trump prepares to take the oath of office for his second, non-consecutive term as President of the United States on January 20, a glittering array of celebrities is set to lend their talents to the inauguration celebrations that begin the evening before. Here’s everything you need to know about the star-studded lineup and their planned performances.
Carrie Underwood
Leading the musical proceedings is country superstar and American Idol alum Carrie Underwood. Known for chart-topping hits like “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats,” Underwood will perform “America the Beautiful” at the swearing-in ceremony, accompanied by the Armed Forces Chorus and the US Naval Academy Glee Club.
The Village People
While the legendary disco group’s relationship with Trump has been tumultuous—marked by cease-and-desist orders and debates over usage of their anthemic hit “Y.M.C.A.”—the group ultimately embraced the opportunity, citing the renewed popularity of their music sparked by the campaign.
In a Facebook post announcing that the group had accepted the invitation to perform at the inaugural activities, they acknowledged the controversial nature of the decision: “We know this wont make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics,” the post read. It went on to defend the decision, saying that “Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost. Therefore, we believe it's now time to bring the country together with music which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump.”
Lee Greenwood
No Trump event was ever complete without Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The U.S.A”, and so the country singer-songwriter and saxophonist will perform during the swearing-in ceremony on Monday. The performer hawks a “God Bless the USA” Bible that is “inspired by the patriotic hit song” on his website, which now also comes in a special Inauguration Day Special Edition in addition to the thousand-dollar Donald J. Trump Signature Edition.
Christopher Macchio
An opera singer who has performed at several Republican events, Christopher Macchio—who calls himself as “America’s Tenor” on his personal website—has the honour of performing the US national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the end of the inauguration. That will be the second time he will take to the stage during the ceremonies, as he is also slated to sing before Vice President-elect JD Vance takes his oath of office.
Macchio first met Trump as a last-minute replacement singer for a New Year’s party at Mar-a-Lago, and was later invited to perform at the Republican National Convention at the White House in 2020. “I’m so privileged to be a part of his circle, his family, and the entire Trump organization,” Macchio said in a video posted on Instagram.
Jason Aldean
The country rocker behind the controversial 2023 hit “Try That in a Small Town” will take to the stage at the inaugural ball, which comes hours after the ceremony proper. Aldean, whose rugged charm graced the cover of Hook & Barrel magazine last month, embodies the spirit of small-town America.
Rascal Flatts
Country music group Rascal Flatts, who are behind hits such as “Life is a Highway” and “Bless the Broken Road”, is composed of vocalist Gary LeVox, multi-instrumentalist Jay DeMarcus and guitarist Joe Don Rooney. They will perform at the Commander in Chief Ball for active-duty military members over the Inauguration Day weekend.
Kid Rock
The outspoken and unapologetic Kid Rock will bring his unique blend of rock and rap to Trump’s Victory Rally at the Capital One Arena on January 19. A close Trump ally, the “Redneck Paradise” singer has frequently appeared alongside the President, from campaign events to UFC matches.
Billy Ray Cyrus
The singer, still best known for the 1991 runaway hit “Achy Breaky Heart,” lends a touch of nostalgia to the inaugural rally before the ceremony. Cyrus has previously been singled out by Trump at one of his campaign stops, where the candidate said, “[Cyrus is] a conservative guy. I said, How did you get such a liberal daughter? How had that happened, Billy Ray?”, referring to the performer’s estranged daughter, pop star Miley Cyrus.
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