What we know about the Trump inauguration

With the inauguration date steadily creeping closer, Team Trump have been scrambling to find anyone will to provide entertainment to the event, and Hot Press have been reporting on this struggle from the beginning. For a while, the only confirmed big-name act was teenage America's Got Talent star Jackie Evancho, who will be singing the American National Anthem. After confirming in December that she would be at the inaugural ceremony, Trump tweeted that her album sales had "skyrocketed" since the announcement. Many thought the statement was more than an exaggeration, but if going from 6,000 copies sold to 11,000, and then right back down to 8,000 fits your definition of "skyrocketing," then yeah, sure.
Evancho is still on the list of acts for the inauguration, but it's still a short list, as many performers have declined the honour, some more publicly than others. After false reports that Elton John would be performing, a representative of his said that would definitely not be happening. Earlier in the past year, Elton John had said in an interview with The Guardian, "It's nothing personal. His political views are his own; mine are very different, I'm not a Republican in a million years. Why not ask Ted fucking Nugent? Or one of those fucking country stars? They'll do it for you."
Most notably, Rebecca Ferguson actually accepted the offer, on one critical condition. In a statement she released after she was offered the gig, she wrote: “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." No word on how Trump or his team responded to her statement.
Other high-profile acts have declined the event, often despite large incentives. Justin Bieber was even offered $5 million to sing his song "Sorry." There were rumours that Kanye West, who declared his support for Trump shortly before his breakdown, was asked to come, but Presidential Inaugural Committee chairman Tom Barrack recently denied those claims. “We haven’t asked him. He’s been great. He considers himself a friend of the President-elect, but it’s not the venue,” Barrack told CNN. “The venue we have for entertainment is filled out, it’s perfect, it’s going to be typically and traditionally American, and Kanye is a great guy but we just haven’t asked him to perform. We move on with our agenda.”
Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Charlotte Church, and Garth Brooks have also declined. Church took to Twitter to decline the offer, calling Trump a "tyrant" and making proper use of the "poop emoji."

@realDonaldTrump Your staff have asked me to sing at your inauguration, a simple Internet search would show I think you're a tyrant. Bye?‘??‘??‘??‘?

— Charlotte Church (@charlottechurch) January 10, 2017

A couple acts were initially confirmed and then declined. Springsteen cover band The B Street Band, who call themselves America's “number one Bruce Springsteen tribute band” pulled out of the event, saying "our decision is based SOLELY on the respect and gratitude we have for Bruce and the E Street Band." Broadway actress Jennifer Holliday was initially confirmed to perform, but following criticism from her fans she withdrew herself from the lineup. Holliday then released a statement, apologising for her own ignorance, specifically to her fans who are a part of the LGBT community. "I apologize for my lapse of judgment, for being uneducated on the issues that affect every American at this crucial time in history," she wrote. “I was honestly just thinking that I wanted my voice to be a healing and unifying force for hope through music to help our deeply polarized country. Regretfully, I did not take into consideration that my performing for the concert would actually instead be taken as a political act against my own personal beliefs and be mistaken for support of Donald Trump and Mike Pence." Holliday has been working to stay true to her words. Following the untrue statements that Trump made about Rep. John Lewis, Holliday posted a picture of her with Lewis himself, specifically denouncing Trump's words.

*Definition Of HERO:
JOHN ROBERT LEWIS
HardlyNOT "All Talk&No Action"! He Took The "ULTIMATE ACTION" & SACRIFICED
4 AMERICA!
THANK YOU,SIR! pic.twitter.com/uKbn5D0Len

— JENNIFER HOLLIDAY (@LadyJHOLLIDAY) January 15, 2017

So who actually is confirmed for the event? Today, right down to the wire, it was revealed that Riverdance's Michael Flatley will be accompanying his dance troupe to D.C, where they will be performing. No word on whether Flatley himself will be joining them. Toby Keith is also confirmed to play tonight's "Make America Great Again Inauguration Welcome Celebration," despite previously calling Trump a "media whore." 3 Doors Down will also be playing tonight, and the band announced the gig on their Instagram.

The "'Make America Great Again!' Welcome Celebration" will take place Thursday, January 19th and will be broadcast live to the nation from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It will feature historic remarks from President-elect Trump and special appearances from Toby Keith, Jon Voight, Jennifer Holliday, DJ Ravidrums, The Piano Guys, Tim Rushlow ("Little Texas"), Larry Stewart ("Restless Heart"), Marty Roe ("Diamond Rio"), Lee Greenwood, and 3 Doors Down. Information for free public events can be found at 58PIC2017.org

A photo posted by 3doorsdown (@3doorsdown) on Jan 13, 2017 at 8:45am PST

The welcome celebrations will begin today in D.C, with the inauguration happening tomorrow morning.