A 19-year-old Mickey Rooney performed a piano concerto before amusing the crowd with his Clark Gable impression.
Irving Berlin performed God Bless America, which Roosevelt had used as his campaign song throughout the 1940 election.
However, it wasnt her first brush with the presidential spotlight.
Photo: Getty Images
No one in attendance seemed to particularly miss him, though.
Rootsstar Ben Vereen also made an appearance with a tribute to the Black vaudeville comedian Bert Williams.
I was trying to make a statement about the suffrage of black people, Vereen latertoldThe Washington Post.
Film comedian Mickey Rooney greets first lady Eleanor Roosevelt at her husband’s inaugural gala.
The Reagan cuts started that night, Vereen joked.
(Which one of these is not like the other?)
(George, I think Im in love with you!
Marian Anderson performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Dwight Eisenhower’s swearing-in ceremony.
Ill be doing silly things when I get next to you.)
Itd frankly be easier to list the celebrities whodidntattend Obamas inauguration events in 2009.
(Michelle Obama hassaidthat if she could be anyone other than herself, shed want to be Beyonce.)
Gene Kelly backstage at President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural ball.
James Brown was a Democrat who had voted for Richard Nixon’s opponent, incumbent Vice President Hubert Humphrey, when he performed at an inauguration event for Nixon in 1969. The soul singer later endorsed Nixon for a second term and visited the president in the Oval Office (as seen above).
Guests at an inaugural fete honoring Ronald Reagan, including Ben Vereen (back row, third from left), Frank Sinatra, Burt Reynolds, and Dean Martin.
Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Nicks performing “Don’t Stop” at Clinton’s inaugural ball.
Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey (who were dating at the time) performing at a pre-inaugural event for George W. Bush.
Beyoncé performing “At Last” for the Obamas’ first dance at the 2009 inaugural ball.
Lady Gaga performing the national anthem during Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021.
