Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Hollywood on the Potomac: A-List Turns out for Biden-Harris

Associated Press

   A full-throated, supremely confident Lady Gaga belted out the national
   anthem at President Joe Biden's inauguration in a very Gaga way -- with
   flamboyance, fashion and passion.

   The Grammy winner wore a huge dove-shaped brooch and an impressively
   billowing red sculpted skirt as she sang into a golden microphone,
   delivering an emotional and powerful rendition of The Star-Spangled
   Banner. She was followed at Wednesday's ceremony by Jennifer Lopez,
   dressed all in white, who threw a line of Spanish into her medley of
   This Land is Your Land and America the Beautiful -- a pointed nod to
   multiculturalism, just two weeks after white supremacists and other
   violent rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to undermine the
   peaceful transfer of power.

   And country star Garth Brooks, doffing his black cowboy hat, sang a
   gospel-tinged, soulful a capella rendition of Amazing Grace, his eyes
   closed for much of the song. He asked the audience to sing a verse with
   him: "Not just the people here, but the people at home, to work as one
   united."

   The three superstars were among a slew of glittery celebrities
   descending on Washington -- virtually or in person -- to welcome the
   new administration of Biden and Kamala Harris, a duo popular in
   Hollywood, where former President Donald Trump was decidedly not. While
   stars mostly eschewed Trump's inauguration four years ago, the A-list
   was back for Biden.

   Brooks was careful to call his decision to perform on Wednesday
   nonpolitical, and in the spirit of unity. He had performed during the
   inaugural celebration for Barack Obama in 2009 but turned down a chance
   to perform for Trump in 2017, citing a scheduling conflict.

.