Tom Hanks set to host TV special for inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden featuring virtual performances by Demi Lovato and Justin Timberlake
- Tom Hanks will host a primetime TV special next Wednesday night to celebrate the inauguration of Joe Biden
- Musical acts set to perform during the special include Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake and Jon Bon Jovi
- The extravaganza will air just hours after Biden and Harris are sworn in; the pair will also make an on-screen appearance
- ABC, NBC and CBS will carry the special on network television; MSNBC and CNN will screen it for cable viewers.
- The inauguration itself will largely conducted virtually due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the threat of Election Day violence
Tom Hanks will host a primetime TV special to commemorate Joe Biden’s inauguration.
The special, titled ‘Celebrating America’, will air on the evening of January 20, just hours after Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States.
The 90-minute extravaganza will additionally feature musical performances by Demi Lovato, Jon Bon Jovi and Justin Timberlake.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are also set to make a special appearance on screen, according to Variety.
Icon: Tom Hanks is hosting a primetime TV special called Celebrating America the night of the Joe Biden inauguration
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are also set to make a special appearance on screen, according to Variety
Next Wednesday’s inauguration will largely be conducted virtually in keeping with safety protocols amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Security has also been ramped up amid fears of violence on the day, after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol last week.
Tony Allen, CEO of the Presidential Inauguration Committee, told Variety: ‘Our first priority is safety – so while many of us will be watching safely from our homes, we are creating real moments of connection that highlight a new inclusive American era of leadership that works for and represents all Americans.’
On Wednesday, Timberlake announced on Instagram that he and Ant Clemons have co-written a song for the special, titled Better Days.
Musical acts Demi Lovato and Justin Timberlake are set to perform during the special
‘I actually recorded my final vocals for this song on election night…,’ he revealed alongside a montage of footage from the recording studio.
‘I’m very honored to announce we will be performing this song on January 20th for the Presidential Inauguration,’ added Timberlake.
‘We have a long way to go to fix, undo, and rebuild this country… but I hope now, despite the past four years, we are on our way.’
Frontline workers and groundbreaking Americans will be among the people emphasized by the celebratory TV special.
Americans’ ability to endure the adversity of the recent national crises will also be a focus as will the endurance of democracy in the country.
The special will run an hour and a half from 8:30pm to 10:00pm on both coasts on Inauguration Day.
ABC, NBC and CBS will carry the special on network television while MSNBC and CNN will air it for cable viewers.
What a lineup: Jon Bon Jovi (left), who also sang at a concert in anticipation of President Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, will be part of the new special as well Ant Clemons (right)
YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch are among the streaming services that will run the special live.
The Fox streamer NewsNow will run the special, as well DirecTV and U-verse from AT&T and the service Microsoft Bing.
Allen declared: ‘This inauguration presents a unique opportunity to spotlight the resilience and spirit of an America United.’
He added in a statement: ‘We have witnessed countless heroes this past year step up to the frontlines and serve their fellow Americans, so we are telling their stories, spreading their collective light, and celebrating the best of our country and its people with this prime-time program.’