Some more starpower has been added to Inauguration Day.
Now Garth Brooks (shown here), Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga are scheduled to perform during the ceremony at noon ET Wednesday. That’s in addition to the evening TV special that will include Bruce Springsteen, Demi Lovato, John Legend and many more. Details include:
– The noon ceremony was scaled down, due to concerns about both COVID and security. Joe Biden dropped plans to travel to Washington by Amtrak; instead of a crowd, there will be just two tickets for each congressman and senator. Also, a reported 25,000 National Guardsmen have been called up. Lady Gaga will sing the National Anthem; Brooks and Lopez will also perform
– All of the major networks and news channels are likely to cover the swearing-in and Biden’s inaugural address. Many will start early – with their morning shows in Washington – and stay longer. Biden is expected to go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with three ex-presidents – Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
– No inaugural balls are planned, but there will be the “Celebrating America” special, from 8:30-10 p.m. – leaving time for networks to have news summaries at 8. That will be on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC and more. Music – from various locations – will be by Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi, Ant Clemons, the Foo Fighters, Springsteen, Lovato, Legend and more.
Tom Hanks will host and Biden and Kamala Harris will have remarks. Eva Longoria – who also hosts a special Tuesday night on Spanish-language TV – and Kerry Washington will introduce segments. There will be moments dealing with health-care workers, teachers, police and others.
– Prior to that, PBS has “Frontline: President Biden,” at 10 p.m. Tuesday. And on Wednesday, Decades TV will rerun all previous televised inaugural speeches, from Harry Truman (5 a.m. ET) to Donald Trump (1 p.m. ET). Decades is a digital channel; see www.decades.com/wheretowatch.