Musical extravaganza celebrates inauguration

News

Musical extravaganza celebrates inauguration

Two days from the White House, President-elect Barack Obama prayed, honored the nation's fallen heroes and joined a vast throng at an uplifting musical extravaganza at the base of the Lincoln Memorial on a pre-inauguration Sunday that blended the somber with the celebratory.

Music legend Stevie Wonder performs with Atlanta R&B star Usher, right, and Colombian music star Shakira during the "We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" in Washington Sunday marking the kickoff of celebrations leading up to President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration Tuesday.

Atlantan Alexa Vaca, 14, sits on the back of friend, Jamila Garrett, 13, to get a better picture of the Inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

President-elect Barack Obama, left, greets actress Marisa Tomei, center, and Colombian pop star Shakira during the Lincoln Memorial event.

Actor Denzel Washington embraces President-elect Barack Obama during the Lincoln Memorial concert, at which Washington and some other prominent actors spoke.

Beyonce performs during the Lincoln Memorial concert. Beyonce will sing Tuesday night for the Obamas first dance at the round of balls. She plans to sing the Etta James classic "At Last."

Atlanta country music star Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland performs with John Legend, left, and James Taylor, center.

Queen Latifa performs.

Sheryl Crow, left, and will.i.am perform at the Lincoln Memorial concert honoring President-elect Barack Obama.

Bono performs with U2 during "We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" in Washington Sunday.

Bruce Springsteen sings "The Rising" at "We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" in Washington Sunday. The crowd, expected to reach perhaps a half-million, gathered in temperatures above the freezing mark. It was a welcome relief from the frigid weather that had gripped the nation's capital.

Mary J Blige performs at the Lincoln Memorial concert.

Jon Bon Jovi and Bettye LaVette perform.

Country music star Garth Brooks performs at the Lincoln Memorial for President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural concert.

Josh Groban, left, and Heather Headley perform.

Champion golfer Tiger Woods speaks during the Lincoln Memorial event Sunday.

President-elect Barack Obama talks with actor and comedian Jack Black at the conclusion of the Lincoln Memorial event.

Shakira, left, and Bono stand together near the end of the Lincoln Memorial show.

Beyonce performs during the Lincoln Memorial concert.

Atlanta's own Usher performs at the Lincoln Memorial concert.

Sheryl Crow performs.

Tom Hanks addresses the Mall crowd. "Anything is possible in America," declared President-elect Barack Obama, who will confront economic crisis and two wars when he takes office.

Actor and Morehouse College grad Samuel L. Jackson speaks during the pre-inaugural event at the Lincoln Memorial.

Award-winning actor Jamie Foxx speaks at the Lincoln Memorial event

Oscar-winning actor Forrest Whitaker speaks at the event.

Actress Ashley Judd speaks at the Lincoln Memorial event.

1/25

Music legend Stevie Wonder performs with Atlanta R&B star Usher, right, and Colombian music star Shakira during the "We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" in Washington Sunday marking the kickoff of celebrations leading up to President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration Tuesday.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Spring Training Day 3 (Thursday)

PHOTOS: Day 3 of Spring Training for Braves

10m ago

Her Story Art and Food

AJC photos of the month -- January 2026

Spring Training Day 2 (Wednesday)

PHOTOS: Braves settle into day 2 of spring training

Spring Training Day 1

PHOTOS: Braves arrive for spring training

More Galleries

PHOTOS: Georgia's first snowfall of the year

PHOTOS: Georgia's first snowfall of the year

Macon High School Restaurant

PHOTOS: The Compass Rose Cafe serves up quality food with heaping side dishes of life skills

Juwad Maynard holds a banner during a protest in Atlanta on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, against the U.S. military action in Venezuela. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

PHOTOS: People gather in downtown Atlanta to protest U.S. military action in Venezuela

People prepare to run the Polar Opposite Peachtree Road Race on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Atlanta. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

PHOTOS: Thousands run AJC Polar Opposite Peachtree Road Race