Sam Moore, half of the soul and R&B duo Sam & Dave, says he will be singing at the pre-inaugural concert Thursday night in place of Broadway star Jennifer Holliday, who backed out Saturday.
"As an American, I am honored to perform for President-elect Donald Trump," The Hill reported Moore as saying. "I was a participant in the civil rights movement and have seen many positive changes and advancement in my 81 years of living in this wonderful country, but I know we must all join hands and work together with our new president."
Several big-name stars either have backed out under pressure – or have said from the start they will not sing for the "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration" on Thursday or at the inaugural festivities Friday.
But Moore said, "We all as Americans need to unite behind our new president and give him a chance. He needs everyone's support to make America greater, stronger and an even better country."
Moore has performed many times at the White House for President Barack Obama. He told Fox News Channel's "Tucker Carlson Tonight" he was in town anyway for an event to help veterans and was looking forward to hearing Holliday sing. When she backed out, he was invited to take her place.
"I'm 81 now, I will be 82 this year. I have never in my life, I never thought I would see something like this," Moore said of the public pressure on entertainers to boycott Trump's inauguration.
"This is mind-boggling," he said. "You don't know the man, the man has not taken office. He hasn't said his name, you have to say yes, I will be president, and you are saying, 'well he's going to impeach himself.' . . . That's sad."
Among those who will be on hand Thursday night and Friday are 3 Doors Down, Toby Keith, Jon Voight, Lee Greenwood, Jackie Evancho, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Radio City Rockettes.
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