Chrisette Michele actually did it…
The R&B songstress officially performed at an one of President Donald Trump’s inaugural balls Friday.
News broke earlier this week that she was scheduled to sing at Trump’s ceremony. And because she was missing from the pre-inaugural concert plus the actual swearing-in, there was a little hope that maybe she had rethought her decision.
That was not the case!
She took the stage at the Liberty Ball singing alongside gospel artist Travis Greene. Backed by a choir dressed in all-black, the duo sang Greene’s gospel hit “Intentional.” And they sounded great!
The duo first performed the song together on BET’s Celebration of Gospel last year with Tye Tribbett and Jonathan McReynolds. McReynolds publicly declined to perform telling the Huffington Post that “it wasn’t some opportunity for me to truly minister what I believe God has given me. It was a party.”
It is not clear why Tribbett was not there.
Michele has received the brunt of the backlash ever since the New York Daily News leaked the news that she would be performing, a fact that her team at first tried to keep secret before confirming it to Essence.com.
In response to the criticism, Michele released a letter Thursday that essentially said she was “willing to be a bridge” during this period of change.
Though it was rumoured that she was set to make $750,000 for the night, the New York Daily News confirmed Friday that her payout was actually $250,000.
Of course, the internets came down hard on Michele once news of the performance, which was excellent by the way, made its rounds.