The Biden White House is upping its July Fourth celebration game.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will host their third Fourth of July celebration on the South Lawn on Tuesday. And the first couple elevated the entertainment portion of the event with Grammy winners Ne-Yo and Brothers Osborne scheduled to perform, along with artist and producer DJ D-Nice.
Also performing for the military and veteran families in attendance will be singer-songwriter and veteran Army spouse Becca Rae Greene, as well as ensembles from “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, U.S. Army Band, U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, U.S. Navy Band, and U.S. Air Force Band.
The president and first lady will make remarks during the evening and watch, from the White House, the Independence Day fireworks extravaganza as it unfolds over the National Mall.
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Each year since taking office, the Bidens have hosted military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors to the White House for Independence Day events.
But this year, there’s more big-name talent involved.
In 2022, the first couple hosted a Fourth of July barbecue with military families and pop singer-songwriter Andy Grammer. But news that six people were killed in a parade at Highland Park, Illinois, cast a pall over the event.
The prior year, Biden’s first Fourth of July as president, was monumental in that stay-at-home orders were being lifted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden held what, at the time, was the largest event of his presidency inviting more than 1,000 onto the White House South Lawn to eat burgers and watch fireworks. “This year, the Fourth of July is a day of special celebration, for we are emerging from the darkness of years; a year of pandemic and isolation; a year of pain, fear, and heartbreaking loss,” Biden said at the White House event.
The big-name performer: Jennifer Nettles, who’s cultivated a solo career as well as one in country music duo Sugarland, performed the “Star Spangled Banner” and several more songs.
Still, Biden will find it tough to surpass the July Fourth celebration held when he was vice president in 2016 and then-President Barack Obama’s final Independence Day concert in the East Room included rapper Kendrick Lamar and singer Janelle Monáe.
JULY FOURTH AT THE WHITE HOUSE:The fete is an annual tradition. Here’s how it started.
Contributing: The Associated Press.
Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @mikesnider.
