Garth Brooks will perform at Joe Biden’s Presidential Inauguration on Wednesday, January 20, live from the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
“Earlier this year, the inaugural committee extended an invitation to perform and we are pleased to announce that Mr. Garth Brooks has accepted our invitation,” a spokesperson for the presidential inaugural committee revealed the news to Country Now and other media during a Zoom press conference on Monday (Jan. 18). “Garth and President-Elect Biden know that there’s nothing we cant’ do if we can’t do it together and we have far more in common then divide us.”
The spokesperson went on to deliver a message from the soon-to-be First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden.
“Joe & I are so honored that Garth Brooks has graciously accepted our invitation to perform at the inauguration,” Dr. Jill Biden said. “Music has the unique ability to bring people together. Through his music and philanthropy, Garth is healing an important voice in this country. As all of your know, Garth has made his career focus loving one another along with Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez we cannot think of a better trio of performer to join us at this swearing in. In this inauguration we are honoring the strength and resilience of the American people, now more than ever we need to come together, put aside our differences and create a more perfect union. This isn’t about political party or ideology but President-Elect Joe Biden and Garth in common is that Unity above all us can get us through these tough times.”
Brooks acknowledged the high honor of being able to perform at the Presidential Inauguration.
“This is an honor, Just excited and I think she said it best, Unity loving one another, that kind of what you spend your time doing and as a singer that’s what you get to sing about, So, this is a great day in our household, this is not a political statement, this is a statement of unity,” Brooks acknowledged. “Excited, nervous, and all the good things because this is history. And it’s an honor to get to serve, this is kind of how I get to serve this country. Our Father served as a United States marine… so, this is my chance to get to serve”
When discussing his song choice to perform at the Inauguration, he said “You got two or three options in there, as an Entertainer you always bring two or three. So, of course things that are patriotic. We were lucky enough to perform ‘We Shall Be Free’ at the Obama Inauguration, so I don’t think we’ll see that song this year but there are plenty of songs of love and unity that you can choose from, from the greatest writers around the world because we’re all humans. We live within the border of the United States but the truth is, the message that goes out, goes out to all of us around the world.”
The performance is going to be Brooks solo without a band and will be a “broken down bare bones” performance.
Brooks previously performed “We Shall Be Free” during Barack Obama’s inaugural event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 2009 alongside James Taylor, Jennifer Nettles, Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Sheryl Crow. “We Shall Be Free” is the lead single from Brooks’ 1992 album, The Chase. The song also appears on The Hits, The Limited Series, Double Live and The Ultimate Hits.
Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez are also set to perform at the Biden/Harris inauguration.
Biden and Harris’ inauguration is set to take place on Wednesday, January 20.
The country superstar will return to Washington, D.C. in May 2021 to be recognized as one of the Kennedy Center Honors recipients.