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.
Ashley Judd Ashley Judd speaks at the "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial"
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Forest Whitaker Forest Whitaker speaking about William Faulkner's acceptance of the Nobel Prize and the "artist's duty."
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400,000-plus attended the Obama Inaugural Celebration Obama admirers seem pleased with Mr. Whitaker's speech despite near-freezing temperatures: note frozen Reflecting Pool in background
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Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder with his trademark keyboards and clavenet playing “Higher Ground.”
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Usher and the sultry Shakira accompanied Stevie Wonder Shakira and Usher performing with Stevie Wonder on his hit single "Higher Ground."
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Stevie Wonder From left to right: Shakira, Stevie Wonder and Usher performing Wonder's smash hit "Higher Ground" in front of 400,000+ people at the Lincoln Memorial
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Samuel L Jackson “Martin Luther King’s dream is being realized by all of us being here today.”
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Samuel L. Jackson Samuel L. Jackson pays homage to the man whos statue he stands in front of: Abraham Lincoln and speaks of the Emancipation Proclamation President Lincoln signed in 1862
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Samuel L. Jackson gives a stirring speech Samuel L. Jackson paying tribute to the "handsome statue" of Abraham Lincoln behind him, to Rosa Parks, and to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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"The Edge" of U2 "The Edge" of the rock band U2 performing their tribute song to the life cut short of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - "Pride (In the name of love)"
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U2's Bono belting out "Pride (in the name of love)" Over a half-million people watch as Bono sings U2's song about the untimely death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. entitled "Pride (in the name of love)"
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Bono of the rock band U2 performs "City of Blinding Lights" "City of Blinding Lights" was an unofficial campaign song of Barack Obama and his faithful rally atendees across the country
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Bono and The Edge of U2 Bono and The Edge of U2 perform "City of Blinding Lights" for the Obamas, the Bidens and an audience of half a million
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The Obama's and Biden's enjoying U2 at the Lincoln Memorial The First Family looks on as the superstar band U2 performs their un-official Obama campaign song "City of Blinding Lights"
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U2 performs at the Lincoln memorial under an overcast sky U2 performing for the President elect's, vice-president elect's families and a crowd in excess of five-hundred-thousand people in near freezing temperatures
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