It’s a “Star-Spangled” special.
The upcoming Inauguration Day for Joe Biden as the 46th US president will conclude in star-studded style — with a prime-time TV special hosted by Tom Hanks and featuring performances by Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, John Legend, Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi and Ant Clemons.
“This inauguration presents a unique opportunity to spotlight the resilience and spirit of an America United,” the just-announced theme of the celebration, said Tony Allen, CEO of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, in a statement.
In addition, “Desperate Housewives” alum Eva Longoria and “Scandal” star Kerry Washington will introduce musical performances and various other segments, including “stories of young people making a difference in their communities,” according to a statement from PIC.
The 90-minute patriotic program, dubbed “Celebrating America,” will highlight “the strength of our democracy, the perseverance of our people, and our ability to come together during trying times and emerge stronger than ever before,” according to a press release. The inaugural special will celebrate American heroes on the front lines of the pandemic, from health-care workers to citizens giving back, and those who are breaking barriers.
“We have witnessed countless heroes this past year step up to the front lines and serve their fellow Americans, so we are telling their stories, spreading their collective light, and celebrating the best of our country and its people with this prime-time program,” said Allen.
In addition to the performances by the aforementioned musical stars, freshly sworn-in President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will also be popping by to pay tribute to the talent and diversity of the United States.
“Celebrating America” will air live from 8:30 to 10:00 p.m. Eastern on Jan. 20 on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and MSNBC. It will also stream live on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch, Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNow from Fox and AT&T’s DirectV and U-verse.
This year’s inauguration ceremony at the Capitol will be somewhat scaled-down due to the coronavirus pandemic and the threat of violence following last week’s assault on the Capitol that left five people dead.
Despite the potential danger, Biden vowed to take the oath of office outside, while the National Guard announced it would deploy 10,000 troops to Washington, DC, to ensure the safety of the occasion.
Hundreds of exhausted troops have already been working around the clock to protect the heart of the US government against further acts of violence.