Stars to Come Out in Force for Obama

Barack Obama has been known to roll with the celebrity set (paging Oprah Winfrey), so perhaps it’s only fitting that his inaugural festivities will begin on Sunday with a show at the Lincoln Memorial replete with boldfaced names and HBO at the ready to showcase the event.

Variety:

The roster includes a cross-section of legends and luminaries: U2, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, Garth Brooks, Shakira, John Mellencamp, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Usher, James Taylor, will.i.am, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Heather Headley and Jennifer Nettles.

In addition, Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington will read historical passages, with the Rev. Gene Robinson delivering the invocation.

Called “We Are One: The Obama Inauguration Celebration,” the event will be shown exclusively on HBO, and is being produced by a team of heavy hitters: George Stevens Jr. is executive producer, Don Mischer is director-producer and Michael Stevens is writer-producer. Rob Mathes will be the music director and arranger for the backing band, which will support all the artists.

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Wikimedia/Jen Keys

Fierce for Obama: Beyoncé Knowles is one of many famous types ready to put on a show for the president-elect’s bash on Sunday.