America’s Got Talent’s Jackie Evancho to Sing the National Anthem at Trump’s Inauguration

A Capitol Fourth
Jackie Evancho. Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Capital Concert

Donald Trump has finally found someone willing to perform at his inauguration, and she comes from a world he knows all too well. For Trump’s latest dig into the reality-competition show graveyard, he’s picked 16-year-old former America’s Got Talent contestant Jackie Evancho to sing the National Anthem at his inauguration on January 20. The young opera star is best known for being the runner-up on the show’s fifth season in 2010 at 10 years old; she announced the news on the Today show on Wednesday morning saying she’s “so excited” to have been handpicked by Trump for his swearing-in ceremony. She succeeds Aretha Franklin and Beyoncé, who were the last two inauguration National Anthem singers. Ironically, Evancho has already sung for a president: Obama, when she performed at the 2010 National Christmas Tree lighting. This will be Evancho’s first reality-star president and, if either Kanye or Garth Brooks doesn’t also sign up for the job, she might just be the only performer to usher in Trump’s America. Here’s a taste of what to expect from Evancho’s anthem.

AGT Contestant to Sing at Trump Inauguration