Jackie Evancho and Andrea Bocelli are set to sing the national anthem at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next month.
Evancho, a 16-year-old opera singer, will be performing a duet-style national anthem with Bocelli, also an opera singer, at the Jan. 20 inauguration ceremony. TMZ broke the news about Bocelli.
Evancho made the announcement Wednesday during an appearance on the “Today” show.
The young singer says she’s “excited” about the opportunity to sing on Trump’s big day. “It’s going to be awesome,” Evancho said.
“I felt really honored – to be able to sing for the office, it’s a great honor for me,” she added.
The announcement about Evancho and Bocelli comes just days after The Wrap reported the president-elect was having a tough time finding top performers for his inauguration.
“They are willing to pay anything,” an insider told The Wrap. “They told me, ‘We’ll pay their fees.’ Most of these artists’ fees are in the six to seven figures.”
Trump’s team denied these claims, though.
“No one with any official position at, or official relationship with, the Presidential Inaugural Committee, is engaging in the conduct described,” Boris Epshteyn, a spokesman for Trump’s Presidential Inaugural Committee, told The Wrap.
Evancho first appeared on “America’s Got Talent” at the age of 10, and since then has released platinum albums and is considered the youngest performer to give a solo concert at the Lincoln Center in New York.
Many musicians, including Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Adele, and Michael Stipe of R.E.M., denied the use of their music during Trump’s presidential campaign.
Evancho and Bocelli will join the likes of Aretha Franklin and Beyonce, who sang at President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremonies. Evancho did sing for President Obama, however, back in 2010 during the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the White House, "Today" noted.
In a tweet, Trump’s communications director for the inaugural committee, Boris Epshteyn, referred to Evancho as “an inspiration for all Americans.”
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