On Tuesday, July 21, 2009 Brad Paisley performed for the President, First Lady and family, members of Congress and White House staff in the historic East Room of the White House. Photo credit Ben Enos.

#4 on GAC’s Top Stories of 2009 |  View all »

The inauguration of Barack Obama put an emotional start on 2009 as America installed its first African-American president, and country had a role in that event. But it was just the start of a relationship between country and the new commander in chief: Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Charley Pride and Alison Krauss + Union Station would also sing for the world’s most powerful man as the year unfolded.

Garth Brooks and Jennifer Nettles had high-profile moments in January when they performed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration.” Garth delivered several of his hits, including “We Shall Be Free,” a song that was inspired by the 1992 Los Angeles riots in the wake of the racially divisive Rodney King verdict. Jennifer teamed with James Taylor and John Legend for a version of “Shower The People,” performed in front of a row of American flags.

As the week progressed, Faith Hill appeared in three inaugural events, and country also made its presence known with performances by Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus, Gary Morris, Jack Ingram, Mark O’Connor, Bela Fleck, Tracy Byrd and the Randy Rogers Band.

Even as Obama assumed the Oval Office, outgoing President George W. Bush returned to Midland, Texas, where he was greeted with a homecoming event featuring Rodney Atkins, Lee Greenwood and Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Band.

Barely a month later, Martina McBride visited Washington, D.C., to sing for the president during “Stevie Wonder In Performance At The White House: The Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize.”

But the real topper came in July when Brad, Charley and Alison performed in the East Room at the White House. Brad had written “Welcome To The Future” after seeing a Times Square celebration on Election Day in November 2008, and he incorporated the nation’s progress in technology and in racial issues in the song. The White House show marked the first time Brad had ever performed “Future” publicly, and he barely held back the tears as he sang it with Obama a mere 10 feet away. That performance, captured in a GAC special Country at the White House, also had a great tie to the song’s techno verse: You could watch it all live on the Internet.

ShareThis