Nelly is scheduled to perform at one of Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremonies on Jan. 20.
The president-elect is expected to throw three official inaugural balls on Monday, and the 50-year-old recording artist will perform at the Inaugural Liberty Ball. Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States at his inauguration ceremony.
It was announced on Friday that Nelly will be a surprise performer.
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Nelly Will Perform At Donald Trump’s Inauguration
“Here Comes the Boom” rapper Nelly is scheduled to perform at Trump’s Inaugural Liberty Ball on Monday, according to CBS News. The “Hot In Herre” artist was announced as a surprise performer by CBS reporter Taurean Small on Jan. 17.
“NEW from @finnygo & me: rapper Nelly is set to perform at Trump’s Inaugural Liberty Ball on Monday night according to sources familiar with Inauguration planning. @CBSNews @CBSPolitics,” Small wrote on X.
Fans reacted on X, formally Twitter, after learning that Nelly would be performing at Trump’s inauguration.
One fan joked, “Hey, must be the money.”
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Trump Is Having Three Inaugural Balls
According to PBS, the twice-impeached former and future president will have three inaugural balls to celebrate him becoming the 47th president of the United States.
The Liberty Inaugural Ball will feature a performance by singer Nelly. The Grammy Award-winning artist will join other performers at the ball including “Try That in a Small Town” singer Jason Aldean and The Village People.
The Village People’s Victor Willis said on social media that their performance at the inaugural was “not an endorsement” of Trump or his policies, per ABC News.
“Having said that, we do support that we have a new president now and we should all wish him well until he gives us a reason not to,” he wrote. “Let’s give President Trump a chance, regardless of what you may have thought about him in the past.”
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“He has brought a lot of joy to the American people with his use of ‘Y.M.C.A.’ And you want Village People to push all that aside and not perform at his inauguration? NEGATIVE,” wrote Willis. “We’re doing the right thing by performing and keeping political views out of this. So, please stop pushing your political views onto Village People.”
Country music singer Carrie Underwood will sing “America the Beautiful” at the swearing-in ceremony, and opera singer Christopher Macchio will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
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The Commander In Chief Inaugural Ball
The president-elect is expected to speak at the Commander in Chief Inaugural Ball where country singer Parker McCollum will perform.
The country music band Rascal Flatts is also scheduled to perform at the ball for military service members. The 45th president is also scheduled to speak at the Commander in Chief Inaugural Ball.
“I am so humbled and honored and grateful for the opportunity again to play the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States,” wrote Rascal Flatts lead singer Gary LeVox on Instagram. “I got to play it in 2016 and now Rascal Flatts will be performing at the commanders ball and I am so looking forward to it! Thank you to Governor Kristi Noem and Mrs. Virginia- It will be a night to remember!”
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The Starlight Ball Is For Donors
The Starlight Ball is reportedly for Trump’s biggest donors.
Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw is scheduled to perform at the Starlight Ball, and Trump will also speak.
“The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee is proud to announce that some of our nation’s most iconic [musicians] will be participating in the inaugural celebrations,” read a statement on the inaugurals. “This monumental weekend will commemorate President Trump’s historic victory and the 60th Presidential Inauguration with a celebration of music, unity, and patriotism, ushering in America’s new Golden Age.”
Nelly May Be Having Another Child With Wife Ashanti
Nelly and his wife, singer Ashanti, are reportedly having another child.
The couple married in 2023 and welcomed their son, Kareem Kenkiade Haynes, in the summer of 2024. Nelly also has four other children — Chanelle, Sydney, Cornell — from previous relationships, and an adopted nephew, Shawn.
Ashanti, 44, allegedly has another bun in the oven, so she won’t be performing at the inauguration, but there will be several other singers on hand including Kid Rock, Lee Greenwood and Billy Ray Cyrus.
