As a parade of celebrities strutted down the red carpet at Sunday’s Grammy Awards, there was already some chatter about the slew of stars that would come to Washington next week.
A handful of musical greats will head to the White House and into the East Room Feb. 10 for “In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Movement,” which the Obama administration announced last week.
A visibly excited John Legend talked it up with Ryan Seacrest on E News’ “Live From the Red Carpet.”
“We’re singing at the White House,” Legend gushed. “They’re having a musical event to commemorate Black History Month, they’re gonna do some music from the civil rights era, and I’m gonna do a song there so I’m excited.”
Legend mentioned that Seal, Smokey Robinson and Bob Dylan all will sing. Jennifer Hudson, who performed the Michael Jackson tribute at the Grammys and was part of the White House’s entertainment at the now-infamous state dinner, also will be on hand along with John Mellencamp, Natalie Cole, the Blind Boys of Alabama and the Howard University Choir.
The artists will sing songs and speak passages from the civil rights movement. This is the first big White House concert planned for 2010.
Last year, the Obamas hosted a jazz studio, a country music concert, a fiesta Latina and a classical music show.
“In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Movement” will air on PBS on Feb. 11.
