(AllHipHop News) Donald Trump has been having a hard time getting performers for his Inauguration ceremony, according to reports.
Numerous entertainers have either refused to participate, turned down requests, or backed out of an opportunity to take part in the event.
Some observers wondered if Kanye West would be at the celebration on Friday, following the music superstar’s high-profile meeting with Trump in December.
Tom Barrack, the chairperson of Trump’s Presidential Inaugural Committee, told CNN the President-Elect has not reached out to Kanye about appearing at the Inauguration.
“We haven’t asked him,” stated Barrack. “He considers himself a friend of the President-Elect, but it’s not the venue. The venue we have for entertainment is filled out, it’s perfect, it’s going to be typically and traditionally American, and Kanye is a great guy but we just haven’t asked him to perform. We move on with our agenda.”
So far, the list of confirmed Inauguration performers includes country singer Toby Keith, rock band 3 Doors Down, and America’s Got Talent singer Jackie Evancho.
Grammy and Tony Award winner Jennifer Holliday dropped out over the weekend, and she released an open letter apologizing to the LGBT community.
In addition, a Bruce Springsteen cover band pulled their performance out of respect for the real Springsteen who was a very vocal critic of Trump.
Barack Obama’s 2009 Inauguration featured appearances by Springsteen, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Queen Latifah, Sheryl Crowe, Garth Brooks, Usher, Stevie Wonder, and others.
A photo of Obama in the White House with several Hip Hop stars like DJ Khaled, J. Cole, Common, Rick Ross, Chance The Rapper, Talib Kweli, Pusha T, and more has circulated around the internet over the last few days.
— DJ KHALED (@djkhaled) January 16, 2017