Sport & Entertainment
USA | Jan 18, 2025

Rapper Nelly to perform at Trump’s Inaugural Liberty Ball

ABIGAIL BARRETT

ABIGAIL BARRETT / Our Today

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Rapper Nelly. (Photo: Instagram.com/@Nelly)

Rapper Nelly is set to perform at the Inaugural Liberty Ball on Monday, January 20, celebrating Donald Trump’s upcoming presidential inauguration.

According to Yahoo News, sources close to the event’s planning confirmed Nelly’s participation, alongside country singer Jason Aldean and the Village People, who are scheduled to perform at multiple events.

Nelly’s involvement follows comments he made during Trump’s first term in 2017, where he expressed mixed feelings about the former president. “You know the thing about Donald Trump is that I liked Donald Trump, I did, I just don’t like Donald Trump as my president.” He said to Page Six. “He doesn’t surprise me as a person, he surprises me as a president because you don’t expect certain things, certain attitudes.”

Rapper Nelly. (Photo: Instagram.com/@Nelly)

Reactions on social media are mixed with some fans expressing their disappointment in the Dilemma singer’s choice to support Donald Trump at his inauguration while others laud Nelly’s bravery in supporting the president-elect.

“Oh, Nelly will perform at Trump’s inauguration? 2025 went from worse to worse,” one fan wrote on X.

“What I don’t understand about the Black community is that some are saying they’re about to block Nelly for performing at Trump’s inauguration, yet they still listen to R. Kelly’s music—a man known for sleeping with underage girls,” another wrote.

The event is expected to draw attention, given the range of artistes performing and the political backdrop. The impact on Nelly’s reputation within the black/democratic community remains to be seen.

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