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 On a day marked by diversity
and appeals for unity, Gaga wowed in a huge
fuchsia Schiaparelli couture silk skirt and
black top adorned by a large gold brooch of a
dove carrying an olive branch as she sung "The
Star-Spangled Banner" at Biden's swearing-in
ceremony.
Gaga at one point gestured to the U.S. flag
flying high over the Capitol, the seat of
Congress that just two weeks ago was attacked by
supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump
seeking to overturn Biden's election victory.
"She slayed it. I AM GAGA FOR GAGA!!!" actor Ed
Helms wrote in a tweet.
Ahead of her performance, Gaga said on Twitter
she wanted to "acknowledge our past, be healing
for our present, and be passionate for a future
where we work together lovingly."
Country singer Brooks, a Republican, chose jeans
and a black shirt and took off his black Stetson
hat to sing an unaccompanied version of "Amazing
Grace", asking Americans at the ceremony and
watching at home to sing the last verse along
with him.
Afterward, before replacing his coronavirus
mask, Brooks hugged or shook hands with Biden,
former presidents Barack Obama and George W.
Bush, outgoing Vice President Mike Pence, and
former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Jennifer Lopez, dressed in white pants and a
long matching coat, performed a medley of "This
Land is Your Land" and "America The Beautiful,"
interjecting in Spanish the part of the U.S.
Pledge of Allegiance that says, "One nation,
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all."
At just 22 years old, poet Amanda Gorman
captured the mixed emotions of the past four
years with a poem in which she referred to
herself as a "skinny Black girl, descended from
slaves and raised by a single mother (who) can
dream of becoming president only to find herself
reciting for one."
The cultural celebrations continued Wednesday
night with a broadcast across television and
social media, hosted by "Forrest Gump" actor
Hanks, who is known as "America's Dad."
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 The events, bringing together
some of the biggest white, Black and Hispanic
celebrities, marked a sharp contrast with
Trump's inauguration in 2017, which was low on
star power.
Wednesday's TV special, called "Celebrating
America," opened with Bruce Springsteen,
standing alone with an acoustic guitar on the
steps of the Lincoln Memorial, singing "Land of
Hope and Dreams." Standing
nearby, Hanks acknowledged "deep division and a
troubling rancor" in recent years, but said
"tonight we ponder the United States of America
... and the hopes and dreams we all share for a
more perfect union."
Other performers included John Legend, Demi
Lovato and country singers Tim McGraw and Tyler
Hubbard, who paired for a song about unity
called "Undivided."
Delivery drivers, healthcare workers and others
also told stories of perserverence during the
coronavirus pandemic. Foo Fighters singer Dave
Grohl, the son of a public school teacher,
dedicated a song to "all of our unshakeable
teachers." The show concluded
with Katy Perry, in a white gown with blue and
red trim, singing her hit "Firework." Biden and
his wife, Jill, watched from the White House as
fireworks lit up the sky around the capital
city's monuments.
Full coverage for Eikon readers of the U.S.
presidential transition
https://emea1.apps.cp.
thomsonreuters.com/cms/?navid=20856
 For multimedia coverage please open in a
separate browser https://www.reuters.com/world/us
For a live blog on the inauguration please open
in a separate browser https://reut.rs/35WCLQn
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant and Lisa Richwine;
Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Lincoln Feast.)
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