It's fitting that the first post-baby boomer president will be inaugurated with a celebration that will include rock, pop, country, opera, Latin and hip-hop. That's why the lineup for Barack Obama's inauguration reads like the roster for a really killer "We Are the World"-type single.
We've already told you about Sunday's star-studded "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial," which will feature U2, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Bruce Springsteen, Usher, Will.I.Am, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Shakira and Jamie Foxx — but that's just the tip of the iceberg.
While the entertainment for the 10 official balls has not yet been confirmed, the party gets started Thursday with D'Angelo's show at the Shadow Room, followed by another HHC-sponsored show the next night at Ibiza, with a lineup that hasn't been announced yet. Saturday night brings the Green Inaugural Party headlined by Wyclef Jean and the BET Honors ball, hosted by Gabrielle Union and honoring Mary J. Blige, Tyler Perry and Magic Johnson, among others.
Common, Mary J. Blige and Nelly will headline a show at Ibiza sponsored by the Hip-Hop Caucus on Saturday night.
Sunday's lineup begins to heat up with the "Dreams From My Father American Scholars Inaugural Ball," featuring appearances by LL Cool J, Alicia Keys and Macy Gray, and the Voto Latino Inaugural Party, with guests including Rosario Dawson, Paulina Rubio, Wilmer Valderrama and Marc Anthony. Also on the docket is Declare Yourself's "A New Birth of Citizenship" event, hosted by Jessica Alba, with sets from Maroon 5, John Legend, DJ Samantha Ronson and "special guests."
By Monday, the talent pool will (reportedly) include the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus headlining a yet-unconfirmed free Concert for America's Children at the Verizon Center; Young Jeezy, LL Cool J and T.I. at the Hip Hop Summit Action Network black-tie party hosted by Russell Simmons; "An Evening With Jay-Z" at the intimate Warner Theater backed by a full band; and the "Old School Legends Ball" with Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh and Biz Markie.
That night will also find the Beastie Boys squeezing into D.C.'s legendary 9:30 Club for an all-ages, Rock the Vote-sponsored party called "Hey, America Feels Kinda Cool Again" inaugural gala featuring Sheryl Crow, Citizen Cope and Justin Jones.
Inauguration day will bring the "Urban Ball," hosted by Ludacris and featuring Big Boi, Monica, T-Pain, Eve and David Banner; the Creative Coalition gala, which is expected to draw Anne Hathaway, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Josh Lucas, Elvis Costello and Spike Lee, among other celebrities; the LBGT community-sponsored "Equality Ball" with Cyndi Lauper, Rufus Wainwright and Melissa Etheridge; the RIAA/ Feeding America ball with Rihanna; the "Neighborhood Ball," with rumored performers Jay-Z and Beyoncé; and, of course, the "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" ball, co-hosted by MTV and ServiceNation and featuring sets from a number of yet-unnamed major acts.
"Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" will air live on MTV on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT. MTV News will have wall-to-wall coverage of the event and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya in the days leading up to the event and in the days that follow.
