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Inaugural gala includes many genres

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor January 12, 2009 02:09 PM

The lineup of acts for the big inaugural entertainment event on Sunday evening is as eclectic as President-elect Barack Obama's iPod playlist.

His inaugural committee announced this afternoon that the entertainers include: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder.

Among those reading historical passages will be Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah, and Denzel Washington.

"Our intention is to root the event in history, celebrating the moments when our nation has united to face great challenges and prevail," George Stevens Jr., the gala's executive producer, said in a statement. "We will combine historical readings by prominent actors with music from an array of the greatest stars of today."

The event, at the Lincoln Memorial, is free and open to the public and will be broadcast from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST by HBO, which is giving free access via cable and satellite TV.

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