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Stars sign for Obama celebration | Stars sign for Obama celebration |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Beyonce, U2 and Bruce Springsteen are among the musicians who have signed up to perform at an inaugural celebration for US President-elect Barack Obama. | Beyonce, U2 and Bruce Springsteen are among the musicians who have signed up to perform at an inaugural celebration for US President-elect Barack Obama. |
Stevie Wonder, Usher, Mary J Blige and Sheryl Crow are also scheduled to perform at the event on 18 January at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. | Stevie Wonder, Usher, Mary J Blige and Sheryl Crow are also scheduled to perform at the event on 18 January at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. |
Historical passages will also be read by singer Queen Latifah and actors Jamie Foxx and Denzel Washington. | Historical passages will also be read by singer Queen Latifah and actors Jamie Foxx and Denzel Washington. |
Mr Obama, who will be sworn in on 20 January, is expected to attend. | Mr Obama, who will be sworn in on 20 January, is expected to attend. |
The executive producer of the show, George Stevens Jr, said he was taken by surprise by the eagerness of stars to perform once he was given the go-ahead by the Presidential Inaugural Committee. | The executive producer of the show, George Stevens Jr, said he was taken by surprise by the eagerness of stars to perform once he was given the go-ahead by the Presidential Inaugural Committee. |
'Rooted in history' | 'Rooted in history' |
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An inauguration dress rehearsal | |
"On that first day, we asked Springsteen, Bono and Garth Brooks within a period of 45 minutes and got three `yeses'," Stevens told the Associated Press. | "On that first day, we asked Springsteen, Bono and Garth Brooks within a period of 45 minutes and got three `yeses'," Stevens told the Associated Press. |
He said he had tried to reach out to a diversity of artists for the concert which would focus on national unification. | He said he had tried to reach out to a diversity of artists for the concert which would focus on national unification. |
"The list of stars is impressive, but this is not a showbiz, glitzy occasion," he said. | "The list of stars is impressive, but this is not a showbiz, glitzy occasion," he said. |
"It's going to be rooted in history, remembering the great president [Lincoln] who led us through difficult times." | "It's going to be rooted in history, remembering the great president [Lincoln] who led us through difficult times." |
The artists have been asked to perform songs suited to the occasion, rather than their own hits, including A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke. | The artists have been asked to perform songs suited to the occasion, rather than their own hits, including A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke. |
Singers Sting and Elvis Costello are heading another all-star line-up at a charity concert marking Mr Obama's inauguration on 20 January at Washington's Harman Center of the Arts. | Singers Sting and Elvis Costello are heading another all-star line-up at a charity concert marking Mr Obama's inauguration on 20 January at Washington's Harman Center of the Arts. |