President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ inauguration was celebrated last night with the 90-minute multi-network TV special “Celebrating America,” hosted by Tom Hanks.

President Biden made an appearance at the Lincoln Memorial, where he called on Americans to unite. “This is a great nation. We’re good people and to overcome the challenges in front of us requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy…unity,” he shared.  “I’ve never been more optimistic about America than I am this very day.”

Vice President Harris was also on hand making her first remarks as Vice President talking about “American aspiration.” “We not only dream, we do. We not only see what has been, we see what can be,” she shared. “We shoot for the moon and then we plant our flag on it. We are bold, fearless and ambitious.”

Former presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama also stopped by (in a pre-taped segment) to share what inauguration day means to them and to talk about Americans coming together and more.

The night featured several meaningful performances. A solo Bruce Springsteen opened the show at the Lincoln Memorial with the very appropriate song “Land of Hope and Dreams.” Other performances included:

  • Jon Bon Jovi sang the Beatles classic “Here Comes the Sun” from the boardwalk in Miami.
  • Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemons performed the new song “Better Days,” which they wrote a few months ago. They started the song in the studio and then walked into the streets of Memphis, where they were joined by a chorus.
  • Black Pumas performed their song “Colors” from Austin City Limits in Austin, Texas.
  • Foo Fighters performed “Times Like These,” with frontman Dave Grohl highlighting the importance of teachers like his mother, as well as First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
  • A cast of Broadway superstars performed the classic “Rent” song “Seasons of Love,” followed by the “Hair” tune “Let the Sunshine In.”
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda read the poem “The Cure of Troy,” by Seamus Heaney, with Biden joining him at the end.
  • John Legend belted out the Nina Simone classic “Feeling Good,” in an awe-inspiring performance.
  • DJ Cassidy treated folks to a “Pass the Mic: Inaugural Edition” set featuring Ozuna, who sang “Taki Taki,” and Luis Fonsi, who performed his hit “Decpacito.”
  • Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard were in Nashville where they performed their new collaboration “Undivided.”
  • Demi Lovato, from Los Angeles, was joined by doctors and nurses for her performance of the Bill Withers classic “Lovely Day,” with the Biden family dancing along from the Oval Office.
  • Katy Perry, dressed in a white suit with red and blue buttons, wrapped the whole thing up with a performance of her classic “Firework,” as a spectacular fireworks display burst across the sky around the Washington Monument with the Bidens looking on.

Source: Dr. Dave’s Ultimate Prep