Rebecca Ferguson reveals she’s been requested to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony – and she’ll do it if she can sing Billie Holiday’s ‘Strange Fruit’
The former X Factor star has revealed she's been requested to perform but will only do it if she can sing the protest song by icon Billie Holiday
REBECCA Ferguson has revealed she has been asked to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration - and will graciously accept with one condition.
The posted a message on Twitter revealing she would do the performance if she was allowed to sing Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday.
: "If you allow me to sing "strange fruit" a song that has huge historical importance, a song that was blacklisted in the United States for being too controversial. A song that speaks to all the disregarded and down trodden black people in the United States.
"A song that is a reminder of how love is the only thing that will conquer all the hatred in this world, then I will graciously accept your invitation and see you in Washington. Best Rebecca X"
Strange Fruit, originally a poem by Abel Meeropol, has been heralded as one of the first great protest songs and talks of lynching in the American South.
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Billie Holiday released the song in 1939, against the wishes of her record label for fear of repercussions, and it has become one of her most well-known songs.
It has also been praised for its political influence, and in 2002 was chosen to be added to the National Recording Registry.
Donald Trump's inauguration is to take place on January 20, making him the 45th President of the United States.
However, organisers of the event are struggling to find any A-List musicians willing to perform - with America's Got Talent runner-up Jackie Evancho being the only contemporary name currently on the list.
A member of Trump's transition team initially said that Elton John would perform, but his publicist has since denied it.
Kanye West was spotted meeting with Trump shortly after the rapper suffered a mental breakdown, but he has not been confirmed either.
The Beach Boys are yet to respond to their offer, reportedly.
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