
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen opera tenor Christopher Macchio to perform the national anthem at Monday's inauguration ceremony. Alongside Macchio, country music star Carrie Underwood will also grace the event with her rendition of “America the Beautiful.” This selection continues the tradition of having talented musicians perform at presidential inaugurations, dating back to previous administrations.
Looking back at history, we see a diverse array of singers who have had the honor of performing at these significant events. In 1961, contralto Marian Anderson delivered a moving rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at John F. Kennedy's inauguration. Fast forward to 2021, where Lady Gaga took the stage to sing the national anthem at Joe Biden's inauguration, with Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks also delivering memorable performances.