- Music
- 03 Jan 17
British singer Rebecca Ferguson has been asked to sing at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on 20 January – but the 2010 X-Factor runner-up took to Twitter to say she will only “graciously accept” the invitation on condition that she’s allowed to perform Billie Holiday’s ‘Strange Fruit’.
“I’ve been asked and this is my answer. If you allow me to sing ‘Strange Fruit’ – a song that has huge historical importance. A song that was blacklisted in the United States for being too controversial. A song that speaks to all the disregarded and down trodden black people in the United States. A song that is a reminder of how love is the only thing that will conquer all the hatred in this world, then I will graciously accept your invitation and see you in Washington,” Ferguson wrote.
The likes of Celine Dion, Elton John, Garth Brooks and Kiss have reportedly turned down overtures to perform at the inauguration in Washington DC. The biggest name confirmed so far for the gig is America’s Got Talent runner-up, Jackie Evancho.
While, as Hot Press recently revealed, The Beach Boys have confirmed that they’ve been invited to play for the incoming president, but they’ve yet to make a decision about whether or not they want to do it.
“The Beach Boys have been asked to perform as part of the inauguration festivities,” a spokesperson for the band confirmed. “But no decision has been made at this point as to how or whether they will participate. We will let you know as soon as a decision is final.”