Rebecca Ferguson has accepted the American President-elect’s invitation to perform at his forthcoming inauguration. Yes, you read that right. The UK’s 2010 X Factor runner-up is planning to play the gig that Elton John and Celine Dion have flat out refused. However, she has stipulated one precondition.
The singer tweeted on Monday that she would ‘graciously accept’ Trump’s invitation as long as she was permitted to sing Strange Fruit.
First recorded by Billie Holiday and Nina Simone, the song was originally written as a poem in protest to the lynchings of African Americans in the 1930s. The lyrics graphically describe the country’s deep-rooted racism, chiming: 'Southern trees bear strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees’.
Ferguson released a statement explaining: 'I’ve been asked and this is my answer. If you allow me to sing Strange Fruit, a song that has huge historical importance, a song that was blacklisted in the United States for being too controversial.
‘A song that speaks to all the disregarded and downtrodden black people in the United States. A song that is a reminder of how love is the only thing that will conquer all the hatred in this world, then I will graciously accept your invitation and see you in Washington. Best Rebecca X’.
Which celebrities have turned down singing at Donald Trump's Inauguration?
Trump has been struggling to convince performers to take part in his upcoming inauguration on January 20th. What once would have been seen as a great honour now holds a high risk. Celebrities fear fraternising with the polarising President-elect may poison their fanbase.
The reported Hollywood freeze-out includes:
Celine Dion
Andrea Bocelli
Ice-T
Vince Neil
Dixie Chicks
Eric McCormack
Adam Lambert
The 1975's Matt Healy
Garth Brooks
David Foster
Kiss' Gene Simmons
With acts supposedly playing hard to get the next 'leader of the free world' enlisted Celebrity Apprentice producer Mark Burnett and former Dancing with the Stars booker Suzanne Bender to oversee the entertainment. So far, they have successfully secured America’s Got Talent 2010 runner-up Jackie Evancho, a reluctant selection of Rockettes and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Back in 2009 when President Obama was sworn in he had no such problem as Beyoncé and Aretha Franklin eagerly performed. And, the same goes for George W. Bush in 2001 who had Ricky Martin and Jessica Simpson’s lend their vocals.
Like this? Then you might also be interested in:
Things You Can Do To Feel Better About Brexit, Trump And 2016 In General
One Of Trump's Supporters Went After Beyonce And Her Fans Fought Back
**Follow Lucy on Instagram **@lucyalicemorris
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.