Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


2

Aretha, Rick Warren on Tap for Inauguration Day

John Williams will compose new music for Obama's landmark occasion

Share

(Newser) – Aretha Franklin will participate in Barack Obama’s inauguration next month, the New York Times reports, with the Queen of Soul hitting the stage after evangelical leader Rick Warren gives the invocation. Obama has also commissioned composer John Williams to write a new piece of music for the ceremony—to be performed by a star-studded quartet featuring Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman.

President-elect Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in Chicago today.
President-elect Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in Chicago today.   (AP Photo)
Aretha Franklin will sing just before Joe Biden is sworn in as Vice-President.
Aretha Franklin will sing just before Joe Biden is sworn in as Vice-President.   (AP Photo)
Rick Warren, the pastor who hosted Barack Obama and John McCain at his Southern California church in August for discussions on faith, will deliver the invocation at next month's inauguration.
Rick Warren, the pastor who hosted Barack Obama and John McCain at his Southern California church in August for discussions on faith, will deliver the invocation at next month's inauguration.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
2 comments
VIEWING:
 
Zebraone
Dec 17, 08 4:31 PM CST
Gets blacker and blacker on the horizon!! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
dolcevita
Dec 17, 08 6:57 PM CST
Just hoping he spares us by not indulging Beyonce's ego and resisting her offer to perform. Give it a rest Beyonce. Can't wait to hear Aretha! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

133 Stories

 'Inaugurabilia' Reaps 
 $2M for Ceremonies 

Ceremonies fully funded by trinkets, donations

Apr 22, 09 11:31 AM CDT
(AP) - Barack Obama's inauguration fundraisers had no problem capitalizing on a hot market for keepsakes. Obama-themed clothing, jewelry, rulers, and piggy banks raked in a grant total of $2 million for the inaugural committee. Even before the tchotchke change, the committee was already debt-free—the $53 million in individual donations disclosed... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • sales • inauguration • souvenir • President Obama • Inauguration Day

(Newser) - Aretha Franklin’s inauguration hat has been mercilessly mocked by some, but lots of people want one of their very own. The Detroit millinery where Franklin has been a customer for 20 years has been flooded with calls for orders, the AP reports. But Aretha wannabes soon learn that the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • fashion • celebrity • hats • Aretha Franklin • inauguration • Inauguration Day • inaugural events

OPINION

 Not Everyone 
 'Fawning' Over 
 Prez Obama 

Tongue-in-cheek column mocks critics

Jan 23, 09 8:30 AM CST
(Newser) - You might be euphoric after Barack Obama’s inauguration, but “not everyone feels the ‘Obama high,’” writes Lloyd Garver on the Huffington Post. These “Democrat-haters” who “enjoy puncturing balloons of hope” probably viewed Inauguration Day through slightly less rose-colored glasses than you did: For... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • inauguration • Barack Obama supporters • President Obama • Inauguration Day

133 Stories


Inaugural ceremony requires massive organizational effort
Reuters

Some other things to do in Washington during the inauguration
US News & World Report


Politics 
TwitterFollow @NewserPolitics on Twitter

 
Barack Obama • Aretha Franklin • inauguration • Rick Warren • President Obama • Inauguration Day • Yo-Yo Ma • President-elect Obama • John Williams • Itzhak Perlman

from our news partners