Jennifer Lopez kicked off 2020 by performing at the most watched sporting event in the United States, the Super Bowl. Of course, for a brand new year, she was asked to take on an even bigger stage–the 46th Presidential Inaugural Ceremony.
Just a week before Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ swearing in, the Biden/Harris Inaugural Team released that Lady Gaga would be singing the Star Spangled Banner and Jennifer Lopez would give a musical performance. No further details were released, so when JLo took to the podium, all ears were tuned in.
Lopez performed a medley of Woody Guthrie’s socialist theme song “This Land Is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful.”
Though some Puerto Ricans were quick to point out the lyrics felt a bit tone deaf considering Lopez is Puerto Rican and PR is still a U.S. colony.
But that’s not all. She had not one, but two big surprises up her sleeve. First, sending Trump supporters and proud boys everywhere into spirals, Lopez spoke the final words of the Declaration of Independence…in Spanish.
And, who had “Let’s Get Loud” being performed on their Biden Inauguration Loteria card? Because that happened.
Whatever way you may feel about Lopez, her performance or her music, one thing that her performance does mark is the possibility that with this administration, Latinos may finally start to be seen as “American.”