Bruce Springsteen, Tom Hanks kick off inauguration night festivities

More On:

Inauguration 2021

Sanitizer in chief: Twitter loves the inauguration’s mystery podium cleaner

Here’s the official inaugural painting presented to Joe Biden

Biden put on a show of ‘unity’ — will he stick to it?: Devine

WH press secretary won’t commit to pushing Congress over impeachment

Bruce Springsteen kicked off Joe Biden’s inauguration concert, as the first performer in the “Celebrating America” special hosted by Tom Hanks.

Accompanied only by a guitar on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial — with the lit National Mall and Washington Monument beckoning in front of him — Springsteen, 71, offered a “small prayer” for the country before serenading with his 1999 song “Land of Hope and Dreams.”

Hanks — who along with his wife, Rita Wilson, fought the coronavirus earlier last year — talked of witnessing “deep division” and “rancor” across the country in recent years.

“Tonight we ponder the United States of America, the practice of our democracy, the foundations of our republic, the integrity of the constitution,” as well as the “dreams we share,” Hanks, 64, said.

Following Springsteen and Hanks, New Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi, 58, and his band performed The Beatles’ hopeful tune “Here Comes the Sun,” from Miami.

After a herald from US Army trumpets, President Joe Biden offered his own greeting from the base of Lincoln’s statue.

“We’ve learned again that democracy is precious and, because of you, democracy has prevailed,” he said. He went on to list issues the nation faces — the coronavirus pandemic, economic crises, racial injustice and more — and made a call for “unity” in order to defeat obstacles.

“The question is: Are we up to it? Will we meet the moment like our forbearers have?” he said. “I believe we must and I believe we will.”

Biden’s speech was followed by Ant Clemons and Justin Timberlake, who joined for a pre-recorded duet of soulful tune “Better Days,” featuring Kirk Franklin as well as Black Pumas who performed “Colors” from Austin, Texas.

Other performers for the concert include Tim McGraw, Foo Fighters, John Legend and Demi Lovato — to name a few.

Share this article:

Source: Read Full Article