Stars Will Kick off Obama Celebration on Sunday

A bevy of celebrities and musicians will help kick off an inauguration celebration on the footsteps of the Lincoln Memorial Sunday, the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) announced Monday.

The event will include performances by artists from Bruce Springsteen to Mary J. Blige, and feature appearances by actors such as Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington, who will read historical passages.

As previously reported, New Hampshire Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson will give the invocation.

HBO will televise the celebration, entitled “We Are One,” which takes place from 7:00-9:00 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18 in Washington. The kickoff event foreshadows a week of activities and celebrations surrounding the inauguration next Tuesday of President-elect Obama.

“We have found that the great artists are eager to take part and each one is working with us to find music that expresses the optimism and hope that people bring to the Obama inauguration,” said Michael Stevens, the director of the production.