President-elect Donald Trump will take office on January 20. Unlike his first inauguration in 2017, which apparently had trouble booking well-known entertainers, this year’s inaugural activities will feature a number of well-known performers.
“The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee is proud to announce that some of our nation’s most iconic [musicians] will be participating in the inaugural celebrations,” said co-chairs Steve Witkoff and Kelly Loeffler in a statement provided to NPR. “This monumental weekend will commemorate President Trump’s historic victory and the 60th Presidential Inauguration with a celebration of music, unity, and patriotism, ushering in America’s new Golden Age.”
With the exception of a surprise musical guest who will perform at the Liberty Ball, the performers listed below are scheduled to perform during the inaugural ceremonies.
Carrie Underwood
The swearing-in ceremony will feature a performance of “America the Beautiful” by country music icon Carrie Underwood, who launched her career as the American Idol winner twenty years ago.
“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 provided to 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.”
Christopher Macchio
During the swearing-in event, Christopher Macchio, a classical tenor, will sing the national anthem. In a video that was uploaded to his YouTube page, Macchio said that he first got to know Trump when he was recruited to fill in for Elton John when the latter cancelled a New Year’s Eve show at Mar-a-Lago.
Lee Greenwood
The Make America Great Again Victory Rally and the swearing-in event will feature a performance by Lee Greenwood, whose song “I.O.U.” earned a 1984 Grammy for outstanding vocal country performance. Greenwood was a major star at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last summer and has been nominated for five more Grammys.
“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 provided to 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.”
Kid Rock
Kid Rock, who performed at the Republican National Convention and has been an outspoken supporter of Trump since his first term, will perform at the Make America Great Again Victory Rally. The Michigan singer-songwriter was the main act at the touring festival Rock the Country last summer, which honored the merging of country music with MAGA politics.
Village People
Village People, a dance band fronted by Victor Willis, a surviving original member, will play at the Liberty Ball and the Make America Great Again Victory Rally. At Trump’s campaign rallies, the band’s 1978 hit song “Y.M.C.A.” was a mainstay and even inspired a viral dance. Willis, who composed the song’s lyrics, said in a Facebook post that the song’s popularity had increased significantly as a result of the campaign’s usage, reaching the top of the Billboard dance digital single sales chart.
Although Trump’s use of “Y.M.C.A.” has generated controversy due to the song’s widespread adoption as an unofficial homosexual anthem, Willis continued, it is “a false assumption” that the song purposefully conveys a queer subtext. Willis returned to Facebook after it was announced that Village People would attend the inauguration of the president.
“We know this won’t make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics,” a statement posted to both Willis’ and the group’s official pages reads. “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.”
Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus will play at the Make America Great Again Victory Rally. Cyrus expressed his support for Trump during the campaign. Most recently, the singer of “Achy Breaky Heart” took home two Grammys in 2020 for his work on a remix of Lil Nas X’s country-crossover song, “Old Town Road.” Pop artist Miley Cyrus, his daughter, has publicly attacked Trump.
Liberty University’s Praise Choir
“Dedicated to glorifying God through testimony, song, and worship,” LU Praise is a gospel choir, according to the website of Liberty University. During the Make America Great Again Victory Rally, the group will perform.
Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean, a country singer-songwriter who introduced Trump at a Georgia campaign event, will play at the Liberty Ball. During his tour, Aldean dedicated a rendition of his song “Try That in a Small Town” to Trump following the attempted assassination in Pennsylvania last summer. He reiterated his support for Trump on Instagram on election day.
“Over the past several years we have taken a lot of heat from the entertainment industry and the media for our support of @realdonaldtrump,” Aldean tweeted. “As a father and an American citizen, I want to see our country get back to its values and principles that made us great to begin with.”
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts, a Nashville country duo that achieved commercial success with hits including “What Hurts the Most,” “Prayin’ for Daylight,” and a rendition of “Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane, will play at the Commander in Chief Ball. The band has announced their 2025 Life is a Highway Tour after a sabbatical.
Parker McCollum
Parker McCollum, a country music artist whose songs “Burn It Down” and “Pretty Heart,” which are among the top hits on Billboard’s Country Airplay list, will perform at the Commander in Chief Ball.
Gavin DeGraw
The Starlight Ball will feature a performance by singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, who first appeared on the mainstream charts with his 2003 album Chariot. In the United States, his song “I Don’t Want to Be,” which became the theme song for The CW’s adolescent drama One Tree Hill, received a platinum certification.
