‘Celebrating America’ primetime special unites people on social media

President Joe Biden’s inauguration concert called “Celebrating America” kicked off Wednesday night with Bruce Springsteen opening with his song, “Land of Hope and Dreams” and ending with Katy Perry singing “Firework” along with a spectacular fireworks show in Washington D.C.’s National Mall.

• Related: President Biden takes oath of office on historic day, says ‘democracy has prevailed’

The almost-two-hour event hosted by Tom Hanks showcased musical talent from all over the United States with some of the country’s heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic. People took to social media to share their thoughts about all the musical performances and guests who performed live and in pre-tapped segments.

• Related: Amanda Gorman’s inauguration poem steals the show and the hearts of Twitter

We broke down each section of the special with reactions from Twitter users from beginning to end. These were some of the highlights:

Bruce Springsteen’s performance in front of the Lincoln Memorial:

The entire state of #NewJersey is proud of our hometown boys @springsteen and @jonbonjovi who’ll be performing at the #lnauguralCelebration . No, I didn’t speak with everyone in the entire state of New Jersey but, believe me, I just know. #InaugurationDay #DemocracyPrevails

— Alan Zweibel (@AlanZweibel) January 21, 2021

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People tuning in and their thoughts about Hanks:

This is so wonderful.

I feel a sense of love. Release. Comfort. Healing. A new beginning.

2021 starts now.#CelebratingAmerica #InaugurationDay

— ellen (@cbusgrl) January 21, 2021

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My wife and I are watching this ‘Celebrating America’ right now, and all we can think is: ‘It’s like the End of a War’.

— Alex F (@SECblog) January 21, 2021

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I didn’t watch the inauguration live because I was nervous, so I put it on in the background for most of the day and just intermittently cried for a few minutes here and there. Now I’m watching the Celebrating America broadcast and intermittently crying.
It feels nice.

— Stacey Molski (@staceymolski) January 21, 2021

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I’m actually getting emotional watching the #CelebratingAmerica concert.. Just the fact that kindness and respect is being shown in America after all the chaos is so encouraging..

— B.Long (@rblong2013) January 21, 2021

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Get whoever produced this a freaking Emmy. Incredibly powerful, moving, inspiring and just plain fun. Just want I needed. #CelebratingAmerica #InaugurationDay

— Marcus (@Ripp8907) January 21, 2021

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Ladies and gentlemen, America’s sweetheart: Tom Hanks

— Emily (@EmilyUpstairs) January 21, 2021

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Many noticed that Hanks may need another layer to survive the cold:

Please tell me that they’re covering @tomhanks with a blanket and have plenty of hot chocolate for him during every commercial break. The man is a national treasure! #CelebratingAmerica

— Brian Fritz (@BrianFritz) January 21, 2021

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How long will it take Tom Hanks to thaw out when this is over??

My God, that poor man is frozen.#CelebratingAmerica

— Elaine (@LaBeanBall1) January 21, 2021

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When people saw Dolores Huerta reciting an excerpt from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inaugural address:

Seeing Dolores Huerta reciting a piece of FDR’s 1st Inaugural Address is a beautiful thing.

— Jablo (@elyriajablo) January 21, 2021

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I’m loving how much I’m seeing Dolores Huerta!!

Si Se Puede!!#InaugurationDay #CelebratingAmerica

— Dr. Nicki Washington (@dr_nickiw) January 21, 2021

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A surprising cover of the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” by Jon Bon Jovi:

This is the version of Here Comes the Sun I never knew I wanted or needed but I love it! #CelebratingAmerica

— Mr. DAPs (@mrdaps) January 21, 2021

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Shut up, YOU’RE crying at Jon Bon Jovi singing Here Comes the Sun

— Jason Horn (@messyepicure) January 21, 2021

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Okay, who else is dancing to Bon Jovi????

— Jayne Dutra (@JayneDutra) January 21, 2021

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This person after hearing Yo-Yo Ma’s “Amazing Grace” rendition and Joe Biden’s speech:

Wow – having Biden address the nation from inside the Lincoln Memorial was pretty amazing (and Yo-Yo Ma’s Amazing Grace was something else) #CelebratingAmerica pic.twitter.com/366A9kjs2w

— Alice Kelly (@DrAliceKelly) January 21, 2021

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• Related: Read the full text of Joe Biden’s inaugural address

Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemons performance of their song “Better Days” made people emotional:

Ok but did @AntClemons and @jtimberlake really need to make me cry at 9pm on a Wednesday sitting alone in my living room? That song hit me right in the heart. #betterdaysahead #CelebratingAmerica

— Dr. Bethany C (@btown522) January 21, 2021

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My cousin @DamienPageLewis mixed this remarkable piece w @AntClemons and @jtimberlake and I couldn’t be more proud.

— Lisa Camooso Miller (@camoosomiller) January 21, 2021

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And Black Pumas just gained new fans after their Austin, Texas performance:

Never heard of the black pumas before…but I think I love them. Favorite performance of the night so far!#Inauguration2021 #CelebratingAmerica

— Jillian Hadley (@Cheatara) January 21, 2021

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Adds Black Pumas to my playlist #CelebratingAmerica pic.twitter.com/pYuUPBUI9a

— Crystal Johnson (@iam_crystalmae) January 21, 2021

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The Black Pumas. Holy cow, where’s this band been all my life? #Inauguration2021

— Matt Smith (@DTMattSmith) January 21, 2021

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Dave Grohl dedicated the Foo Fighters performance of “Times Like These” to all the teachers and even gave his mom a special shout out:

There are no words to describe how humbled I am to be a teacher right now. To be genuinely NOTICED and APPRECIATED during @POTUS #CelebratingAmerica

— Taylor Haney (@REYN_MrHaney) January 21, 2021

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shout out to the @foofighters for thanking his mom as a public school teacher for 35 years !!!!

— RMS (@bexschmidt) January 21, 2021

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okay, but @foofighters dedicating this song to me, a teacher I’ll take it

— Ariana (@ahRIHANNA) January 21, 2021

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All the former/current theater kids in America rejoice to hear a rendition of Rent’s “Season of Love” and seeing Manuel Lin-Miranda:

Seasons of Love is an anthem.
It’s a perfect song for this occasion.
This is making me so emotional, I miss Broadway so much. #CelebratingAmerica

— Devita Davison (@DevitaDavison) January 21, 2021

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Ok I wasn’t ready for seasons of love to just make me weep openly in a bar… #InaugurationDay

— Micha (@Onthemicha) January 21, 2021

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Seasons of love during the inauguration. 16yo me is LIVING for this moment

— Allison (@allisonmcgs) January 21, 2021

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Can we acknowledge how impactful @Lin_Manuel has been on American’s appreciation of history & arts and our hope for the future. Hamilton inspires, from little nods in Amanda’s poems today to Lin being featured on Celebrating America tonight. Very appreciative of his existance.

— lexi evers (@lexi_evers) January 21, 2021

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Welcome to 2021 the year of POETRY continues with the work of Seamus Heaney read by Lin Manuel Miranda I’m here for this magic #POETRYISNOTDEAD

— Lauren R. Barrett (she/her) (@beyondbrandable) January 21, 2021

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• Related: Read the full text of the inaugural poem by Amanda Gorman

A stand-out moment on Twitter was seeing the Space Station introduction:

The no gravity hair is a whole mood. #NASA #CelebratingAmerica pic.twitter.com/g1onmmXVLb

— SERG (@SupSerg) January 21, 2021

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Yolanda Adams’ singing “Hallelujah” right before Vice President Kamala Harris’ speech:

Yolanda Adams’ cover of “Hallelujah” does full justice to Leonard Cohen. #Inauguration2021

— Dr. Milksteak & Jellybeans! (@Tallulahs_Ghost) January 21, 2021

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What a moment as #KamalaHarris is introduced by @VandyFootball kicker, Sarah Fuller. #CelebratingAmerica

— Casey Dulson (@Casey_LeighD) January 21, 2021

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Glass Breaker!!!!! Goosebumps hearing Vice President Kamala Harris speak #CelebratingAmerica @VP pic.twitter.com/YP28gjhwVk

— megs (@megspptc) January 21, 2021

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John Legend’s Nina Simone cover of “Feeling Good” had many feeling good at home:

The memorial of Abraham Lincoln beside a black man singing on Inauguration Day, celebrating a black woman becoming the VP of the United States. So powerful. I hope that’s a wild dream that Lincoln had the nerve to dream. America is making a comeback. #InaugurationDay #JohnLegend

— M T (@MThom2707) January 21, 2021

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This John Legend cover of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” needs to be a single immediately.#CelebratingAmerica

— Stephanie Lenz (@Edenza) January 21, 2021

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Now @johnlegend ??? Are they trying to make my heart burst? #CelebratingAmerica#Inauguration2021

— Kristy’s Retracing Roots (@RetracingRoots) January 21, 2021

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@johnlegend couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate song for the day! #feelinggood #BidenHarrisInauguration #BidenHarris

— Peter Crott (@mrmixem) January 21, 2021

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After Garth Brooks’ performance gained some approval on Twitter during the inauguration ceremony, people also enjoyed Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard:

Thanks for writing such a beautiful song @THubbmusic and @TheTimMcGraw for performing with him “Undivided”-the wish I have for our country. #CelebratingAmerica #Beautiful

— Amy Stewart (@DocAmy22) January 21, 2021

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I think I’m a Tim McGraw fan now #CelebratingAmerica

— CJ Suitt (@suittsyouwrite) January 21, 2021

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Tim McGraw…… my soul…. my heart….. my youth….

— mindy (@curlymin) January 21, 2021

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The trio Twitter didn’t know they needed: Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush Jr. and Barack Obama:

Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama need to make a roadtrip buddy film #Inauguration #CelebratingAmerica

— Darrell Dass (@DarrellDass) January 21, 2021

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These 3 past presidents is a show I would watch. @netflix?#celebratingamerica #Inauguration2021 @BarackObama @BillClinton @GeorgeHWBush

— Melissa Lamaze (@melamaze) January 21, 2021

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I want these 3 to do a weekly podcast and talk about all the things #CelebratingAmerica

— Grumpalumpagus (@KarynRambles) January 21, 2021

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May not have agreed with all of them all of the time, but these three past Presidents have so much honor and integrity we would all be better to listen and follow. Thank you for leading us and helping us heal. #CelebratingAmerica pic.twitter.com/DqD7yipDMT

— Houston (@radiohouston) January 21, 2021

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Demi Lovato’s performance got the first lady and the president dancing:

Jill Biden dancing in the WH to Demi is giving me life! #CelebratingAmerica

— Jenn – Celebrating Biden/Harris (@dailyloathe) January 21, 2021

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Joe dancing with the baby is everything. #CelebratingAmerica

— CheersToAll (@FineWineOrNot) January 21, 2021

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Ohhh this Demi Lovato performance is giving me goosebumps.
And I love these health care workers in the back! That girl in her bathroom with the hair flip #CelebratingAmerica #InaugurationDay

— Stephanie Emiliani (@SLEmiliani) January 21, 2021

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And last, but not least, Perry’s finale of her hit “Fireworks” featuring actual fireworks:

President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris watching @KatyPerry’s performance of ‘Firework’ at the #CelebratingAmerica event pic.twitter.com/kdb1XMOinM

— Katy Perry Activity (@ActivityKaty) January 21, 2021

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Katy Perry singing Firework for the fireworks display is Americana at its absolute best. #CelebratingAmerica

— Geoff Bowser (@geoffreybowser) January 21, 2021

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Singing Fireworks while the fireworks go off in the background is so cheesy and I’M HERE FOR IT #CelebratingAmerica

— Samantha (@Substance_Soul) January 21, 2021

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a heartfelt katy perry “do you ever feel like a plastic bag,” nature is healing

— Tyler Fisher (@tylrfishr) January 21, 2021

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Source: Orange County Register