The Village People Speak Out About Why They're Performing at Donald Trump Inauguration Events

The group said they're joining the inauguration events despite the fact that "our preferred candidate lost" the 2024 election

Marina Watts
·3-min read
Donato Sardella/Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty  Village People; Donald Trump

Donato Sardella/Getty; Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Village People; Donald Trump

The Village People are set to perform at President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.

The disco group posted a statement on Facebook on Monday, Jan. 13, defending their decision to participate in the inauguration festivities.

"We are announcing today that VILLAGE PEOPLE have accepted an invitation from President Elect Trump's campaign to participate in inaugural activities, including at least one event with President Elect Trump," their statement began.

"We know this [won't] make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics. Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost."

Rebecca Noble/Getty Donald Trump in 2024

Rebecca Noble/Getty

Donald Trump in 2024

Related: Donald Trump Sways to Music for 39 Minutes at Bizarre Pa. Town Hall: ‘Who the Hell Wants to Hear Questions, Right?’

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"Therefore, we believe it's now time to bring the country together with music which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump," the band concluded.

Trump, 78, is known to be a Village People fan and has played the 1978 hit "Y.M.C.A." at rallies and other political events. The song even played during the final moments of his presidency in January 2021 as he boarded Air Force One.

The band issued a cease-and-desist of Trump's usage of the song in 2023 after the president-elect used another one of their hit songs, "Macho Man," at a Mar-a-Lago event.

Bonnie Britain/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Village People in 2024

Bonnie Britain/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty

Village People in 2024

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Victor Willis, the only original member of Village People remaining in the group, appeared on Fox & Friends in December to discuss the decision to eventually withdraw the cease-and-desist.

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"I decided to allow the president-elect's continued use of ‘Y.M.C.A.’ because he seems to genuinely, genuinely like the song, and so many other artists were stopping him from using their music," Willis, 73, said.

At the time, Willis also talked about potentially performing at the inauguration, saying, "If he were to ask the Village People to perform the song live for him, we'd have to seriously consider it."

Donato Sardella/Getty Village People in 2017

Donato Sardella/Getty

Village People in 2017

PEOPLE confirmed on Jan. 13 through a Presidential Inaugural Committee spokesperson that Carrie Underwood is performing at Trump's inauguration. Following the initial news, Underwood, 41, spoke out about her decision.

“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event," she said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. "I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future."

Read the original article on People

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