Tue Jan 21 04:53:09 UTC 2025: ## Mainstream Entertainers Embrace Trump’s Second Inauguration, Signaling Shift in Political Alignments
**Washington, D.C. – January 21, 2025** – Unlike his first inauguration, President Donald Trump’s second swearing-in ceremony saw a notable increase in mainstream entertainer participation, marking a shift in the political landscape of celebrity endorsements. While artists like Carrie Underwood, Nelly, and The Village People performed at various inauguration events, the change is not universally celebrated.
Eight years ago, Trump struggled to attract A-list celebrities. This year, however, a more significant number of performers, including Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Jason Aldean, joined the celebrations. Even some past critics, such as Snoop Dogg, appeared at pre-inaugural events.
Robert Thompson, a Syracuse University pop culture professor, notes that while celebrity participation remains a small fraction of the entertainment industry, the increased support for Trump is undeniable. He points out that some performers, like The Village People, felt the need to justify their involvement, highlighting a potential lingering stigma.
The shift in celebrity involvement hasn’t swayed public opinion on Trump, Thompson suggests. However, it might affect the public’s perception of the participating artists. Social media backlash against Carrie Underwood’s performance demonstrates this. The relative silence from high-profile Trump critics this year, in contrast to the widespread celebrity activism in 2017, suggests that past efforts to influence the election outcome may have been ineffective. The lack of celebrity presence at this year’s People’s March further underscores this shift. Trump’s attempts to cultivate relationships within Hollywood, even naming Sylvester Stallone, Jon Voight, and Mel Gibson as “ambassadors,” are viewed by Thompson as more comedic than impactful.
First Piper 