INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
It seems top musicians fear alienating the chunk of their fan base who find Trump toxic (File)He could barely contain himself
Jimmy Fallon, then just a few months into his new gig as host of "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," stood on the South Lawn for the Obama
administration's first Independence Day celebration in 2009
The comedian was, to use the his own words, "like freaking out.""This is amazing
I can't believe I'm on the White House lawn
This makes no sense," he said in a taped interview hours before his evening performance."I'll never forget this Fourth of July ever,"
continued Fallon, who would perform on the same stage as A-listers such as the Foo Fighters and singer Michelle Branch
"It's such an honor to be here
This is so cool." Okay, okay, we get it, Jimmy.Performing at the White House is like a really big deal
At least it was during the Obama years, when marquee names lined up to take the hot summer stage on the South Lawn with the National Mall's
storied fireworks display going off in the background.Big arena acts such as the Killers, Cedric the Entertainer, Brad Paisley, Pitbull,
Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, Janelle Monae and more have performed at the White House's BBQ, concert and firework viewing party, which is
organized by the USO for more than a thousand military troops and their families.But that was then.This year, taking the stage will be
two "American Idol" finalists
As in, not actual winners
Ever heard of Jax Jonny Brenns Not ringing a bell You're not alone
And there's also country singer Sara Evans, whose last hit was back when "Lost" was still on the air (that was 2010, for the record, if you
can remember that far back).Big-name acts that seemed old hat during the glittery Obama years have yet to warm up to the Trump
administration.A-listers turned down the opportunity to perform at President Donald Trump's inauguration, and Trump was left with the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir and "America's Got Talent" contestant (again, not the winner) Jackie Evancho as headliner to belt out the national anthem
With most of Hollywood having stumped for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the cold shoulder it collectively gave the
Trump administration was far from surprising - especially so soon after the upset election
But it seemed possible that celebs could eventually come around - after all, playing the White House isn't such a bad gig
This year, the Hallmark channel is airing the concert, so there's exposure, too
And despite his penchant for starting grade A-list beef on Twitter, Trump has made some friends among the boldface set
Kim Kardashian, anyoneBut it seems that it's still the case that top musicians fear alienating the chunk of their fan base who find Trump
Since taking the Fourth of July gig, Jax, a pop-rock singer who finished third on "American Idol" in 2015, has faced a social-media backlash
In a recent interview with TMZ, Jax sought to make her decision to play on the White House lawn not about the guy who lives inside
"It's kinda a really unfortunate thing people can't separate politics and patriotism," she said."I would have jumped at the chance to
perform for any president," she tweeted this week
"It's an honor once in a lifetime opportunity to perform at the White House for a military event."Classical pianist Lola Astanova, who will
also be performing at the Independence Day concert, echoed Jax's sentiments
"This day goes beyond one president," Astanova told Women's Wear Daily
"It's a way to pay tribute to our troops
That's really what this concert is about
Presidents come and go, but the Fourth of July and the celebration of our country is really what this event is about," she continued
"It's an honor to perform the national anthem at the White House on Independence Day
As a first-generation American, it's quite meaningful."Of course, the addition of any performers at 1600 Penn is a step up from last year's
Independence Day event, which had no formal concert schedule
In 2017, the Trumps celebrated America's birthday with an afternoon picnic for armed service members and their families, and White House
staffers and their families later watched the fireworks display.Just a mile and a half away from the South Lawn, a slew of celebs will be
performing at PBS's annual "A Capitol Fourth." That event, hosted by John Stamos and airing live at the same time as the White House event,
airs on PBS, will showcase the Beach Boys, Pentatonix, Jimmy Buffett and the cast of his Broadway show "Escape to Margaritaville," Chita
Rivera, Luke Combs, the Temptations and more
Perhaps next year Jimmy Fallon could dust off his 10-year-old act for the Trumps' celebration
