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Garth Brooks Says Inauguration Performance Isn’t About Politics

"This is not a political statement, this is a statement of unity," the country singer told reporters. "This is kind of how I get to serve this country."
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By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

Country singer Garth Brooks has elected to join Jennifer Lopez,  Lady Gaga, and the New Radicals on stage at Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday.

However, he was quick to tell reporters that his participation isn’t meant to be interpreted as anything resembling an endorsement.

“This is not a political statement, this is a statement of unity,” the country singer told reporters, according to ETOnline. “This is kind of how I get to serve this country.”

Brooks performed at Barack Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, but bowed out of President Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration, citing a tour scheduling conflict, according to the Tennessean.

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Before You Go

Inauguration Photos
Helen Herron Taft(01 of23)
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Helen Herron Taft accompanies husband William Howard Taft on the ride to his inauguration in 1909. (credit:MPI via Getty Images)
Edith Wilson(02 of23)
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Edith Wilson smiles as she and husband Woodrow Wilson ride in the inaugural parade after he was sworn in for a second term in 1917. (credit:Hulton Archive via Getty Images)
Florence Harding(03 of23)
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(Left to right) Warren G. Harding, wife Florence Harding, Grace Coolidge and husband Calvin Coolidge arrive at the 1921 inauguration. Harding was sworn in as president, Coolidge as vice president. (credit:Universal History Archive via Getty Images)
Grace Coolidge(04 of23)
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The Coolidges leave the White House for the 1925 inauguration, at which he was sworn in for a full term after succeeding to the presidency when Harding died in 1923. (credit:Hulton Archive via Getty Images)
Eleanor Roosevelt(05 of23)
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Eleanor Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and son James Roosevelt pose on March 4, 1933, the first of four times the elder Roosevelt took the oath for president. The Constitution's 20th Amendment moved the 1937 inauguration for his second term to Jan. 20 and established that as the date for the ceremony. (credit:PhotoQuest via Getty Images)
Mamie Eisenhower(06 of23)
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Mamie Eisenhower shows off the gown she wore for inaugural balls in 1953. (credit:Nina Leen via Getty Images)
Jacqueline Kennedy(07 of23)
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Jacqueline Kennedy, wearing one of the pillbox hats that became a signature look for her, poses for photos with husband John F. Kennedy as he prepared to be inaugurated in 1961. Washington had been buffeted by a heavy snowstorm the day before, but the sun shined brightly as he took the oath. (credit:Paul Schutzer via Getty Images)
Pat Nixon(08 of23)
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Pat Nixon stands with husband Richard Nixon during his 1969 inauguration. To the right of the couple is Nixon's vice president, Spiro Agnew. After their ticket won a second term in 1972, both men resigned their offices in disgrace. (credit:Henry Groskinsky via Getty Images)
Betty Ford(09 of23)
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Betty Ford stands in front of husband Gerald Ford on his inauguration day, Aug. 9, 1974. Ford took office immediately after Nixon's resignation. (credit:Bill Pierce via Getty Images)
Rosalynn Carter(10 of23)
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Rosalynn Carter prepares for husband Jimmy Carter's inaugural parade in 1977. (credit:Mikki Ansin via Getty Images)
Nancy Reagan(11 of23)
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Nancy Reagan, known for her preference for the color red, joins husband Ronald Reagan in waving to supporters during his 1981 inauguration. (credit:AFP via Getty Images)
Nancy Reagan(12 of23)
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The couple at one of 1981's many inaugural balls. (credit:Dirck Halstead via Getty Images)
Barbara Bush(13 of23)
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Barbara Bush and husband George H. W. Bush hold hands during his 1989 inaugural parade. (credit:Dirck Halstead via Getty Images)
Hillary Cliinton(14 of23)
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Bill Clinton hugs wife Hillary Clinton and their daughter Chelsea Clinton after he took the oath of office in 1993. (credit:CARLOS SCHIEBECK via Getty Images)
Hillary Clinton(15 of23)
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The couple dancing at the 1993 inaugural ball hosted by their then-home state of Arkansas. (credit:DAVID AKE via Getty Images)
Hillary Clinton(16 of23)
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The couple leaves the national prayer service ahead of Clinton's second inauguration in 1997. (credit:TED MATHIAS via Getty Images)
Laura Bush(17 of23)
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Laura Bush was awash in blue as she walked with husband George W. Bush in the 2001 inaugural parade. (credit:Reuters Photographer / Reuters)
Laura Bush(18 of23)
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The new first lady acknowledges supporters at one of the 2001 inaugural balls. (credit:Reuters Photographer / Reuters)
Michelle Obama(19 of23)
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Michelle Obama and husband Barack Obama depart the Blair House in Washington en route to his 2009 inauguration. The ceremony drew an estimated 1.8 million people to the National Mall, by far the largest crowd to attend the swearing-in event. (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
Michelle Obama(20 of23)
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The couple arrives at one of the 2009 inaugural balls. (credit:SAUL LOEB via Getty Images)
Michelle Obama(21 of23)
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The couple waves to fans along the parade route after Obama had been inaugurated for his second term in 2013. (credit:JOE KLAMAR via Getty Images)
Michelle Obama(22 of23)
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The couple attends one of 2013's inaugural balls. As she had four years earlier, the first lady wore a dress designed by Jason Wu that drew plaudits from the fashion world. (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
Melania Trump(23 of23)
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The outgoing first lady guides Melania Trump on a red carpet at the White House the morning of Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration. (credit:Mark Wilson via Getty Images)
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