New Jersey’s two leading rock stars, Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, were the first two performers on “Celebrating America,” a televised and streamed special that aired on the night of Inauguration Day, Jan. 20. You can watch both performances below.
Springsteen performed his inspirational anthem “Land of Hope and Dreams” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, with no audience except for crew members, while Bon Jovi and a small band covered The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” in a pre-taped segment on a pier in Miami.
“Good evening, America. I’m proud to be here in cold Washington, D.C., tonight,” said Springsteen. “I want to offer this small prayer to our country. This is ‘Land of Hope and Dreams.’ ”
Others scheduled to perform included The Foo Fighters, John Legend, Ant Clemons, Demi Lovato, The Black Pumas and Justin Timberlake. Tom Hanks hosted from the Lincoln Memorial.
Earlier in the day, Springsteen hosted a show on SiriusXM satellite radio when he talked at length about Donald Trump and the new Biden/Harris administration.
In 2009, Springsteen performed “The Rising” at the Lincoln Memorial, to celebrate the start of President Barack Obama’s first term.
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