Inauguration 2013: Obama girls rock out with military kids at concert

Katy Perry performs during the Kids' Inaugural: Our Children. Our Future event in Washington on Jan. 19, 2013, as part of the 57th Inauguration weekend of events. / AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

WASHINGTON Katy Perry donned star and stripes for "Firework," Usher sang "Yeah!" and a ballroom full of lucky kids got to rock out with Sasha and Malia Obama at Saturday's Kids' Inaugural Concert, a star-studded event that honors America's military families.

25 Photos

Kids' Inaugural Concert 2013

"Now, inauguration is a pretty big deal," first lady Michelle Obama, who hosted the event along with Jill Biden, told the assembled families at the Washington Convention Center. "But I have to tell you that my very favorite part of this entire weekend is being right here with all of you." She paid tribute to the sacrifices that military families make, including their kids.

Pointing out that such kids often attend six to nine schools by the end of high school, always having to be "the new kid," she said being a military kid meant "growing up just a little faster, and working just a little harder than other kids." The concert was streamed live to several military bases around the country.

This was the second such concert for the Obama girls, and the performers' lineup seemed to reflect the fact that they are four years older. While they were entertained by Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers in 2009, this time it was Usher and Perry, along with the groups Mindless Behavior and Far East Movement. Cast members from the Fox TV series "Glee" also performed.

Usher, in black leather, kicked off the proceedings with his hit "Yeah!," followed by "Without You" and "OMG," earning a huge cheer from the crowd. In between acts, there were kid-friendly diversions like a dance-off, or a race among mascots of the Washington Nationals: oversized versions of presidents like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt.

• Complete Coverage: The Presidential Inauguration 2013
• Beyonce, Katy Perry to perform at star-studded inauguration
• AP Source: Lady Gaga to perform at inaugural ball

Three members of the "Glee" cast were greeted warmly by the crowd: Naya Rivera, who plays Santana; Darren Criss, who plays Blaine; and Amber Riley, who plays Mercedes.

Nick Cannon emceed the evening, but it was Mrs. Obama, sporting her new bangs and wearing a white peplum shirt over black pants, who got to introduce the top attraction.

"It is now my pleasure to introduce the fabulous Katy Perry!" the first lady said, and the singer emerged in what looked like a vintage swimsuit, covered patriotically with stars and stripes. She sang her hits "Teenage Dream," "Part of Me," "Wide Awake" and then "Firework," which was accompanied by a slide show of President Barack Obama: Obama in the Oval Office, Obama exiting Air Force One, Obama greeting LeBron James.

"I'm very proud to be here ... and to see the Obamas and the Bidens here for four more years," Perry said.

[antoniof123]

I was going to comment that I watched some of this last night and it was pretty cool.

But after reading some of the comments made by wing nuts I just have to say this.

Get over yourselves the economy is getting better and Americans will blame the Republicans if they don't start coming to the middle ground.

Did you get it. I was a swing voter but the hate from the right wing as changed my mind.

[samedolly43]

antonio--i bet you r far from alone except 4 those very stubborn
and closed people.

it is good to know that you are with us. It is often those who change mid-stream so to speak--I am one too but many yrs ago from R to D..we are often the best members of a group.
God bless

[FP1970]

The young fans of Katy Perry and Usher are the people that will suffer most for Obama's monstrous incompetence.
I suppose that Katy Perry,Usher, or Bruce Springsteen for that matter will not, in the future, accept their part of the blame for getting incompetent Obama elected. Obama has run up more debt that any other President in history and stubbornly refuses to tackle the issue of mounting debt, except through more job-destroying taxes. Are Katy,Usher, Bruce and Barack too stupid to understand that a debt is something you have to pay back? Do they understand that the nation's youth are the people who will suffer the most because of the mounting debt? Katy Perry's young fans will suffer the most and longest because of the mounting debt as they will face a long, bleak future in a bankrupt country. They can thank Katy Perry and the rest of the Hollywood left for this, when they realize what has happened.

[samedolly43]

hey, you are a tough one (but still a NUT) who can be cracked...if u ever get rid of your personal life anger and can
participate fairly and objectively in the social world around you.

Me you be blessed

[crashdummy38]

How many concealed guns were there protecting the "celeberties" and the token military families ??

[nclaw441]

Are the Obama children to be mentioned in the news or not?

[David Hoffman100]

The Obama children were mentioned because the specific event was held for children in conjunction with other inaugural events.