Broadcast live on an open signal from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., by HBO. "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" performance was a two-hour historical event organized with themes that shaped President Obama's campaign and will be the hallmarks of his administration. Being surrounded by an estimated half million people was well worth braving the cold, long security lines, and the hassles.
The list of musical performers featured: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, Bettye LaVette, Jon Bon Jovi, Mstr. Sgt. Caleb Green (U.S. Army), John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Pete Seeger, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, U2, Will.i.am and Stevie Wonder.
Among those that read historical passages were Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah, Denzel Washington, Jack Black, Steve Carell, Rosario Dawson, Tom Hanks, Laura Linney, Ashley Judd, Kal Penn, Forest Whitaker, Samuel L. Jackson and Tiger Woods. The Reverend V. Gene Robinson gave the invocation.
"The list of stars is impressive. But this is not a show biz, glitzy occasion. It's going to be rooted in history, remembering the great president (Lincoln) who led us through difficult times," - executive producer George Stevens Jr.
Bruce Springsteen with Gospel Choir "The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen - a song about sacrifice and redemption in a post-9-11 world
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Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen with Gospel Choir Bruce Springsteen performing "The Rising" - President Obama once mused: "The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen"
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Bruce Springsteen performs at the Obama Inaugural Celebration "The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen; sang he: "Come on up for the rising ... come on up, lay your hands in mine"
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Bruce Springsteen with 125 person choir performs at Lincoln Memorial "The Rising," Bruce Springsteen's ode to tragedies of 9-11-01
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Laura Leggett Linney Laura Linney pays homage to F.D.R and John F. Kennedy
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The crowd was so big it went as far as the eye can see Half a million people gathered as far back as the Washington Monument and were assisted in their viewing by 'Jumbotron' TV screens set up on either side of the frozen reflecting pool
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Martin Luther King III * Martin Luther King III introduced a clip showing John F. Kennedy uttering his famous inaugural quote, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
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Mary J. Blige performs the 1972 hit "Lean on Me" at the Obama Inaugural Celebration Much to the delight of the Obama's and the crowd, Ms. Blige took some artistic license when she performed the song
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Mary J. Blige sings at the Lincoln Memorial January 18, 2009 "Lean On Me" live at the Lincoln Memorial performed by Mary J. Blige. She gave a very heart-felt performance of this classic song written by Bill Withers
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Mary J. Blige performs Bill Withers' "Lean on Me" Lean On Me Live at the Lincoln Memorial
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Steve Carell
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Jamie Foxx
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Jamie Foxx
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Obama Smiles Barack Obama laughed at Jamie Foxx's impression of him.
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Jamie Foxx Jamie Foxx quotes Obama's election victory speech at Chicago's Grant Park.
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