Grammy award-winning artist, Nelly known for his 2002 hit “Hot in Here” hit the stage for the Donald Trump Inaugural Ball. On Friday, January 17th, it was announced that there would be three official inaugural balls on Monday January 20th. Nelly took charge of one of the events. Ashanti’s husband and the father to her first child will join a lineup of Jason Aldean and The Village People to perform at the Liberty Inaugural Ball, which is scheduled for the evening. More musical guests will appear throughout the weekend and up until the inauguration. Still, Nelly performing at the Trump Inaugural Ball didn’t sit well with many fans, who also were reminded of Chrisette Michelle and the backlash she received for performing for the first Donald Inauguration.
Chrisette received such a visceral reaction that she needed to pen an open letter to fans to try to repair the image crisis. Nelly is set to launch his Where The Party At Tour in March, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his Country Grammar album. The tour will also feature Ja Rule, Fabolous, Eve, and more. It’s to be seen if ticket sales take a hit because of this decision to perform for Trump, who is set to be the 47th President.
Performing for the inauguration was a choice, but it comes as a bit of a surprise for Nelly because he previously said he wasn’t a fan of Trump as president back in 2017. “You know the thing about Donald Trump is that I liked Donald Trump, I did, I just don’t like Donald Trump as my president,” he told Page Six at the time. He also shared that he would no longer be staying at Trump Hotels. It’s been 8 years though, and his opinion has clearly changed.
Adding to the irony, Nelly’s “Hot In Herre” was used to roast Donald Trump during the Democratic National Convention in 2024. That was probably the motivation for Trump’s team to offer the invite.
Nelly is one of several rappers over the years that has given Donald Trump a shout out on a song, albeit long before Donald was running for office. On Nelly’s debut major single, “Country Grammar (Hot Ish),” Nelly has a line alluding to his success.
“Bill Gates, Donald Trump, let me in now
Spend now, I got money to lend my friends now”
It’s a different time now. The connection to Donald Trump is very, very risky.
Snoop Dogg performed at an earlier inaugural ball event on Friday evening.
🚨 NOW: Snoop Dogg has taken the stage at a Trump Inaugural Ball in DC
Talk about UNITY 🤣🔥 pic.twitter.com/UhsYmtUIRI
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 18, 2025
Social media was not kind to the news of Nelly performing and they were sure to let the internet know. Social media reactions to Nelly performing at Trump Inaugural Ball…
Y’all ain’t canceling a damn thing .. not too much on Nelly and Ashanti .. just sit there and eat your food … pic.twitter.com/yS4cQyzZ5e
— your favorite libra (@love_libra4) January 18, 2025
Ashanti and the baby are innocent 😭 https://t.co/D9tPVa5uKr
— KenBarbie™ (@itsKenBarbie) January 17, 2025
So yall mad that Nelly is performing at the inauguration but not Snoop Dogg?!
If you’re gonna be upset at one be upset at all 🥴 pic.twitter.com/2grSx0SKJK
— Saturn Bae Kiki 🪐🪬🌍 (@Heavie_OnIt) January 17, 2025
Carrie Underwood, Nelly and Ashanti…..this is another reason why I wanted to avoid……now we just gonna have to cancel everybody pic.twitter.com/r85omBI5sc
— YoungRichSkinny⏳™ (@YoungRichSkinny) January 17, 2025
Nelly has been problematic since I was in high school, so nothing he does surprises me. And I love Ashanti, but don’t feel sorry for her. She knows exactly who she married and procreated with.
— Auntie Derek (@DerekIsNormal) January 17, 2025
Snoop AND Nelly?! Tap Dancing for Massa is how we’re starting off 2025?! 🥹 pic.twitter.com/CAFNVOX3vq
— Candiace’s Clap Backs 🗣️💨 (@beautifulwon323) January 18, 2025
If Nelly need us to stream “country grammar” some more we would’ve just did that he ain’t have to do this https://t.co/M7EQMstAXU
— Master Of The Triple Bye Bye Birdie (@WalkLikeWalt) January 17, 2025
Image Credit: Candice Ward / Contributor | Getty Images
Readers May Also Like:
Chrisette Michele Pens Open Letter To Critics & Fans Following Inauguration Performance, Signs It #NoPoliticalGenius
10 New Movies Coming In 2025 That You Should Look Forward To
Meet The 20 Black Billionaires of the World… (Yeah, ONLY 20 In The Whole World!)
5 Pairs of Black Celebrities Who Are Related, That You Didn’t Know
From Cardi B to Joseline Hernandez: Ranking ‘Love and Hip-Hop’s’ Top Stars
