Donald Trump fails to book big name star to sing at inauguration
Donald Trump fails to book big name star to sing at inauguration:- Barack Obama may have had Beyonce at his inauguration, but Donald Trump’s pick is a former child contestant on America’s Got Talent.
In an interview on Today, opera singer Jackie Evancho, 16, confirmed she would sing the national anthem at President-elect Trump’s inauguration ceremony on January 20.
Evancho first appeared on America’s Got Talent at the age of 10 and has released a stunning six albums since then.
According to TMZ, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli is also in negotiations to perform, but is yet to sign on the dotted line.
Trump’s director of communications Boris Epshteyn said it was an honour to have the classical singer perform, calling her “an inspiration for all Americans”.
But despite all her Billboard charting albums, many Americans are asking who Evancho is.
“Someone has finally agreed to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration,” Vanity Fair wrote. “You can try, but you really won’t guess who it is.”
According to the same report, Trump’s team had been scrambling to find big name stars to perform with the inauguration just five weeks away.
The president of Trump’s transition team Anthony Scaramucci? said in November Elton John had been confirmed to perform but the British crooner quickly shot down the claim.
“Elton will not be performing a Trump inauguration,” John’s publicist Fran Curtis said in a statement.
It’s a far cry from President Obama’s inaugurations, where Aretha Franklin sang in 2009 and Beyonce Knowles sang in 2013.
Trump’s team had become so desperate to book a big name, they were willing to pay performers whatever they wanted, US website The Wrap reported.
According to one unnamed manager, the billionaire businessman was willing to pay up to seven figures for a performer, a practice reportedly unheard of.
An inauguration organiser told The Wrap he had “never heard of talent being compensated” because the patriotic gig is so high in prestige and profile.
Trump had many run-ins with famous musicians during his election campaign, with performers such as The Rolling Stones, Queen, Adele, Neil Young, R.E.M. and Aerosmith all complaining about the unauthorised use of their music.
Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler threatened to sue Trump if he didn’t stop using their song “Dream On” at campaign rallies while The Rolling Stones repeatedly asked his team to “refrain” from using their songs.
The estate of late Beatle George Harrison also called the use of his song “Here Comes the Sun” at the Democratic National Convention as “offensive and against the wishes of the George Harrison estate”.
Trump will meet with with opera singer Andrea Bocelli in New York on Friday in an attempt to convince him to perform, Page Six reports.
The pair reportedly know each other after Bocelli performed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in 2010.
In the meantime, Jackie Evancho will perform, describing the gig as “a little nerve-wracking”. The young star has performed in Washington before, however, singing “O Holy Night” at the annual lighting of the Obama’s Christmas tree in 2010.
Source:-Â http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/donald-trump-fails-to-book-big-name-star-to-sing-at-inauguration-20161214-gtbeq3.html
