Donald Trump Inauguration: Rebecca Ferguson Agrees To Sing Under One Condition

Not a lot of celebrities like U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, so he's been having a hard time booking acts for his inauguration. But “Superwoman” singer Rebecca Ferguson has recently agreed to sing during the event, provided that he allow her to sing a certain song.

“I've been asked and this is my answer. If you allow me to sing ‘Strange Fruit,’ a song that has huge historical importance, a song that was blacklisted in the United States for being too controversial,” she wrote on her Twitter page.

The British singer said that song “speaks to all the disregarded and down trodden black people in the United States,” and that it is a reminder of “how love is the only thing that will conquer all the hatred in this world.”

Should Trump agree, Ferguson said she will “graciously accept your invitation and see you in Washington.”

“Strange Fruit” was famously performed by Billie Holiday, according to Entertainment Weekly. It was written in 1937 by Abel Meeropol, a New York City teacher. The song is a protest against racism in the United States, and it speaks of the horrors faced by African American citizens.

After Holiday’s performance, the song has been recorded and performed by other artists such as Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller and Nina Simone.

Meanwhile, the marching band of Alabama’s oldest private, historically black liberal arts college has also agreed to perform during Trump’s inaugural parade.

Talladega College’s band will be present during his inauguration, much to the disdain of its alumni, according to the Chicago Sun Times. “We were a bit horrified to hear of the invitation,” said Shirley Ferrill of Fairfield, Alabama. She is a member of Talladega’s Class of 1974.

“I don’t want my alma mater to give the appearance of supporting him,” she added. “Ignore, decline or whatever, but please don’t send our band out in our name to do that.”