Debby Wong/shutterstock; Jonah Elkowitz/shutterstock; Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
(L-R) Carrie Underwood at the 2023 CMT Music Awards; Donald Trump at a presidential election event; Kid Rock at UFC 287 event
Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president is about to begin — and a list of music stars are scheduled not only to attend his inauguration ceremony, but also celebrate the occasion and perform a few songs.
During the election, most celebrity endorsements went to Vice President Kamala Harris, with big names like Beyonce and Taylor Swift endorsing her over Trump. Still, there are some music stars who support Trump.
With Trump’s numerous pledges to curtail trans and gay rights, many queer fans have called for artists with queer fanbases to boycott the inauguration. However, some artists have still decided to participate.
Keep scrolling to see the full list of musicians who will be performing at different events during Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
Carrie Underwood
“Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood Listen to Carrie Underwood: https://CarrieUnderwood.lnk.to/listenYD Subscribe to the …
– YouTube
American Idol winner and country music star Carrie Underwood is probably the biggest name to be performing, and the announcement that she would perform was met with the biggest pushback.
Underwood has long had a large contingent of LGBTQ+ fans and was considered an ally to the community. Back in 2012, she even spoke out in favor of gay marriage, saying, “as a married person myself, I don’t know what it’s like to be told I can’t marry somebody I love, and want to marry,” she said at the time. “I can’t imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love.”
She is set to perform “America, the Beautiful” at the ceremony.
“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood said in a statement, per NPR. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
Village People
«Village People – Y.M.C.A. » is available everywhere : https://VillagePeople.lnk.to/YMCA Listen the entire album here …
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To many, Village People are considered queer icons with their flamboyant, hyper-masculine personas and costumes and songs like “YMCA,” “Macho Man,” and “In the Navy.” However, the group has distanced themselves from that image, with Victor Willis, who plays the cop in the band, saying, “I will sue the next media organization, or anyone else, that falsely suggests Y.M.C.A. is somehow about illicit gay sex.”
During the 2024 election, Willis also defended Trump’s usage of the song in his campaign.
“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,” the band posted in a statement shared on Facebook. “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.”
Jim Newman, a former member of the band, made a video on Threads saying that the version of the band performing “is a new and entirely separate entity than the long-storied Village People I had the honor of being in for 8 years.”
“The Village People that were around for about 40 years had a strong, loyal gay following,” he said. “There was a lawsuit about four years ago, they took away the name Village People from our band, the band that had been around forever, a lot of originals still in the band, and they gave it to an ex-member who was fired a couple years in. And he started a new group, and that is the Village People that performs. Or Village People would never ever perform at a Trump rally, we would never give him the right to use those songs, and we would never slap the face of the strong, especially gay audience that made us who we are today.”
Kid Rock
Watch the official music video for All Summer Long by Kid Rock from the album Rock N Roll Jesus. Subscribe to the channel: …
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Kid Rock has been one of Trump’s most vocal celebrity supporters and will once again lend his support at the Make America Great Again Victory Rally.
Billy Ray Cyrus
REMASTERED IN HD! Official Music Video for Achy Breaky Heart performed by Billy Ray Cyrus. Follow Billy Ray Cyrus: Website: …
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While Cyrus’ daughter Miley Cyrus has been critical of Trump, the singer known for his song “Achy Breaky Heart” and his feature on the remix of Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” will be performing at the Make America Great Again Victory Rally.
Jason Aldean
The official music video for “Try That In A Small Town”. Listen here ▻https://jasonaldean.lnk.to/TryThatInASmallTownID Stream …
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Country singer Jason Aldean is most recently best known for political controversies surrounding his song “Try that in a Small Town” (which was called a “modern lynching song”) and his wife, Brittany Aldean, who made a transphobic comment on social media, thanking her parents “for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase.” Aldean will perform at the Liberty Ball.
Rascal Flatts
Music video by Rascal Flatts performing Life Is a Highway. (C) 2006 Disney/Pixar.
– YouTube
Country Trio Rascal Flatts, known for their cover of “Life is a Highway” from the Cars soundtrack, will perform at the Commander in Chief Ball.
Gavin DeGraw
Official Music Video for “I Don’t Want To Be” by Gavin DeGraw Listen to Gavin DeGraw: https://gavindegraw.lnk.to/listenYD …
– YouTube
Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw is most known for his song “I Don’t Want to Be,” which was used as the theme song for One Tree Hill. He will perform at the Starlight Ball.
Lee Greenwood
REMASTERED IN HD! Official Music Video for Lee Greenwood performing God Bless The U.S.A. The video is from his 1984 …
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Country singer Lee Greenwood will be performing his popular patriotic song “God Bless The U.S.A.” at the swearing-in ceremony and the Make America Great Again Victory Rally.
“I am humbled and honored to be asked to perform for our 47th President Donald J. Trump during his inaugural events,” Greenwood said in a statement (via NPR). “The President has been a friend of [my wife] Kim [Payne] and I’s for many years and this is one of the most historical moments in our lifetime. I look forward to celebrating this special day with proud Americans everywhere.”
Parker McCollum
The official music video of Parker McCollum’s “What Kinda Man”. Listen to the song here: https://strm.to/WhatKindaMan Subscribe …
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Parker McCollum is another country singer who will perform at the Commander in Chief Ball.
Liberty University’s Praise Choir
This Is Amazing Grace | LU Praise This video was captured at historic Old Pate Chapel in Lynchburg, VA on March 26th, 2021.
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The Praise Choir — from private evangelical Christian college Liberty University founded by conservative stalwart Jerry Falwell Sr. — will be performing at the Make America Great Again Victory Rally.
Christopher Macchio
In this heartfelt tribute, renowned opera tenor Christopher Macchio delivers a moving performance of “Ave Maria” for President …
– YouTube
Christopher Macchio is a classical Tenor who will perform the national anthem at the swearing-in ceremony.
