Holliday sees inaugural gig as for ‘the people,’ not Trump
FILE – In this Oct. 7, 2016 file photo, actress and singer Jennifer Holliday poses for a photo during an interview in New York. Holliday, who will perform at Donald Trump’s inaugural welcome concert next week, supported Hillary Clinton in the election and says her decision to participate is not a political statement.. (Richard Drew, File/Associated Press)
WASHINGTON — When Jennifer Holliday got invited to sing at next week’s inaugural welcome concert, she says she took her cues from the Clintons and the Obamas in agreeing to perform.
Holliday, who backed Hillary Clinton in the election, said she saw the Clintons’ decision to attend Donald Trump’s inaugural and the Obamas’ support for a peaceful transition of power as a signal to “just get this done and then fight vigorously” over policy differences later.
“I didn’t see it as singing for Trump; I saw it as singing for the people on the mall,” Holliday said in an interview Friday with The Associated Press.
Holliday, best known for her Tony-winning role in “Dreamgirls” on Broadway, faced an immediate and angry backlash to her decision from critics urging a…