Garth Brooks set to perform at Biden inauguration, says it's 'not a political statement'

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President-elect Joe Biden's star-studded January 20 inauguration just got a little more starry.
Country music icon Garth Brooks announced Monday he'll help ring in the Biden presidency with a performance at the Washington, D.C., ceremony on Wednesday.
"This is not a political statement, this is a statement of unity," Brooks told reporters, Entertainment Tonight reports. "This is kind of how I get to serve this country."
Brooks added with the exception of Ronald Reagan, he's played for every president since Jimmy Carter.
Inauguration rehearsal participants briefly evacuated after fire in homeless camp
Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez are also set to perform in-person, while Tom Hanks will host a TV special that night featuring Justin Timberlake, Bruce Springsteen, John Legend and others.
Brooks elaborated, saying: "...no matter who the president-elect is, it's an honor to be asked."
Biden will become the 46th U.S. president when he's sworn in on Wednesday.

Continue reading ...

  Tweet

Top Capitol security officials can't answer for communications failures

Two of the top acting Capitol security officials failed to answer questions during a grilling from a House Republican lawmaker on critical communications lapses during the... Read more ...

Pelosi mocks McConnell for criticizing commission on the Capitol...

Summary List Placement House Speaker Nancy Pelosi slammed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday after he criticized her proposal for a 9/11-style commission to... Read more ...

NCAA hands South Carolina 2-year probation for ex-assistant

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina's men's basketball program was placed on probation for two years by the NCAA on Thursday for former assistant coach Lamont Evans accepting... Read more ...

Manhattan Prosecutor Receives Trump Tax Returns After Lengthy Legal Battle

The office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. confirmed that it obtained the former president's tax returns and related documents on Monday. Read more ...

No more mister: Mr. Potato Head goes gender neutral

NEW YORK - Mr. Potato Head is no longer a mister. Hasbro, the company that makes the potato-shaped plastic toy, is giving the spud a gender neutral new name: Potato Head. The... Read more ...

Iowa launching new vaccine website to improve access

Reynolds said the website would be launched Friday to answer frequently asked questions about vaccines and include a vaccine locator to help connect eligible Iowans with... Read more ...

Illinois reports 1,884 new cases of COVID-19, 32 additional deaths

Health officials reported 1,884 new cases of coronavirus in Illinois Thursday and 32 additional deaths. The Illinois is reporting a total of 1,181,226 cases, including 20,406... Read more ...

FBI ‘aware' of American Airlines ‘cylindrical object' sighting

The FBI said it was “aware” that an American Airlines pilot's reported a close encounter with a “long cylindrical object” over New Mexico - but stopped short of saying whether... Read more ...

Best Buy just laid off 5,000 workers and will close more stores

Best Buy said Thursday that it laid off 5,000 workers this month and is planning to close more stores this year as more consumers buy electronics online. Read more ...

Wisconsin GOP lawmaker wants to require national anthem at all sports venues

The national anthem would have to be played before all sporting events at Lambeau Field, Fiserv Forum, American Family Field and all other Wisconsin venues that have received... Read more ...