Chrisette Michele Playing Trump Inauguration
After some considerable struggles, Donald Trump’s inauguration has finally managed to land a few performers, though none of them are especially A-list. This morning, we learned that ’70s cheese-pop king Tony Orlando would sing at an inauguration event. And now The New York Daily News reports that R&B singer Chrisette Michele has also joined the list.
According to the Daily News, Michele made the deal a week ago to sing at the inauguration, but she kept it quiet since then to avoid the backlash that will certainly be heading her way now. Michele has worked with Jay Z, Nas, the Roots, and Ghostface Killah, and she guested alongside Drake on Rick Ross’ “Aston Martin Music.” She’s released five albums since debuting in 2007, and she recently parted ways with Motown to form her own label. And she is arguably the only inauguration performer thus far who has made relevant music in the past decade.
Michele reportedly agreed to the booking as long as she can sing an R&B set. Trump’s team originally attempted to book her alongside gospel singers Travis Greene, Jonathan McReynolds, and Tye Tribbett, after the four of them had sung “Intentional” together at BET’s Celebration Of Gospel last year. But the other singers wouldn’t agree to perform, so here we are.