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. An emotional Lady Gaga performed a dramatic version of the U.S. national anthem which was a fitting tribute to the present situation in the country.

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."

Country star Garth Brooks sang a cappella piece that was loved by 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." All guests artists shook hands with Biden, former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, outgoing Vice President Mike Pence, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It was a totally different ceremony that took place on the afternoon of 20^th January 2021.

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." 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."