Nelly also spoke about his experience as a child on a military base in Texas, praising his family members who have served in the U.S. armed forces. “If these people can give [their] life for the office, Nelly can perform,” he said. “It is an honor for me to perform for the president of the United States, regardless of who is in office.”

Nelly has defended his decision to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration, calling it’s “an honor”.

From country superstars Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean to rocker Kid Rock and rapper Nelly, these are all the artists scheduled to perform during the 2025 inauguration weekend. Carrie Underwood took the stage to sing “America the Beautiful” during the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.