Celine Dion Says Non! to Performing at Trump Inauguration (Exclusive)

The Mark Burnett-led team planning Donald Trump’s inauguration events tried but failed to book Celine Dion, TheWrap has learned.

An individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap that longtime Trump friend and Las Vegas hotelier Steve Wynn had promised to deliver the French Canadian hitmaker for the January 20 festivities, but could not do so.

A spokesman for Wynn denied the claims, saying “Mr. Wynn was not asked to book specific performers for the inauguration, nor did he ever a make a commitment to find specific performers.”

Dion did not immediately responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.

Also Read: Trump Inauguration Panic: Mark Burnett Throws 'Hail Mary' Staff Shake-Up (Exclusive)

This isn’t the first time Wynn couldn’t deliver on his promises to the president-elect’s inauguration team.

A Hollywood insider, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told TheWrap that Wynn had also tried to wrangle country star Garth Brooks for the events in Washington, D.C.

But another individual close to the situation said that the singer declined the offer even though he had signed a reported multimillion-dollar deal in 2009 for a four-year residency at one of Wynn’s Las Vegas properties.

As TheWrap first reported, Trump’s inaugural team has had a rough time booking A-listers for its inaugural balls. Several high-caliber performers have already publicly rejected requests to take part in the January 20 festivities, including Dion, Brooks, Elton John, and operatic singer Andrea Bocelli.

Also Read: Donald Trump Lands Inauguration Performer

A knowledgeable individual said Bocelli met with the president-elect and agreed to perform, but then bowed out under pressure from fans.

According to one Hollywood insider, many of those approached have said they do not want to “normalize” Trump’s presidency.

The only person confirmed to perform at the event so far is Jackie Evancho, a 16-year-old “America’s Got Talent” contestant first discovered by Canadian songwriter and music producer David Foster. She is set to sing the national anthem before Trump takes the oath of office.

As TheWrap reported on Wednesday, Trump is so displeased with his team’s inability to lock in A-list talent that he’s ordered a “Hail Mary” shakeup of his recruiters to try to book performers, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Also Read: KISS Turned Down Trump Inauguration Gig, Gene Simmons' Wife Says (Video)

Mark Burnett, who produces “Celebrity Apprentice” with Trump and has been overseeing entertainment for inauguration festivities, has brought in talent recruiter Suzanne Bender, a former “Dancing With the Stars” and “American Idol” booker, to end an effective freeze-out by Hollywood, the insider said.

Trump’s team denied it’s having any issues booking top artists.

“First class entertainers are eager to participate in the inaugural events,” Boris Epshteyn, communications director for the Presidential Inaugural Committee told TheWrap in an email on Wednesday. “The inauguration as a whole will be an exciting and uniting celebration of freedom and democracy. We will be releasing further details at the appropriate time.”

23 Stars Definitely Not Performing at Trump Inauguration (Updating Photos)

Donald Trump is so unpopular with Hollywood that two talent wranglers told TheWrap they were offered ambassadorships in exchange for booking top singers. Here are some artists who have said publicly they wouldn't perform for the occasion.
GARTH BROOKS

He may have quibbled when confronted by TMZ, but no, Garth Brooks will not be performing at the inauguration.
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IDINA MENZEL

The "Wicked" star got a little snarky when asked to comment on Donald Trump having trouble locking down Inauguration performers, telling Vanity Fair, "It's karma, baby."
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THE CHAINSMOKERS

A rumor that turned out to be a joke from a journalist aside, no, the DJ duo will not be performing.
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THE DIXIE CHICKS

Their manager, Simon Renshaw, told TheWrap that their hit "Not Ready to Make Nice" should be the anthem of every entertainer dealing with Trump. He said of anyone who agrees to perform: “I hope that the check that they get is in the nine figures. Because it’s probably the last check they’re ever going to get.”
ELTON JOHN

Despite a Trump transition team member claiming on the BBC that the "Tiny Dancer" singer would be performing at a concert on the Mall to celebrate "the first American president in U.S. history that enters the White House with a pro-gay rights stance," nope. Not true.
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ANDREA BOCELLI

The operatic Italian tenor declined an offer to perform at the inaugural events, PageSix reported, fearing a backlash among his fans.
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CELINE DION

The French Canadian hit-maker declined an approach from Trump ally and Las Vegas hotelier Steve Wynn to perform, TheWrap reported.
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KANYE WEST

The hip-hop giant may have met with the president-elect (and put off his own presidential bid until at least 2024) but Tom Barrack, head of Trump's inaugural committee, told CNN, "He is not performing at the inauguration."
ERIC McCORMACK

The "Passengers" and "Will & Grace" star and singer said he'd be willing to perform -- but only after "a lobotomy."
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ICE-T

“I just got call to perform at the Inauguration … I didn’t pick up and Blocked the number,” the rapper tweeted. Trump's team declined to confirm or deny.
KISS

Gene Simmons told TMZ in December that the band had been approached about performing but declined -- in part because they would be touring in Europe at that time.
ADAM LAMBERT

Former "American Idol" finalist and Queen frontman told the BBC that he'd pass on playing the inauguration no matter how big the check that was offered. "I don't think I would take the money on that one," he told the BBC. "I don't think I'd be endorsing that."
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MICHAEL RAPPAPORT

The actor and comedian will not only not perform, he also has strong words for anyone who does, saying they "should be ashamed of themselves."
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ALEX WOLFF
The "Patriot's Day" actor, who is also in a band with his brother Nat Wolff, did not mince words when asked if he would perform: "I’m not going to elaborate further because I know when to be tight-lipped, but no f---ing way."
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CHARLOTTE CHURCH

The Welsh singer-songwriter tweeted her decline of an invitation to perform on January 10, saying "a simple Internet search would show I think you're a tyrant. Bye."
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ISSA RAE

The HBO "Insecure" creator and star said in December she would have to be "'Weekend at Bernie'ed" to show up to Trump's inauguration.
TheWrap
REBECCA FERGUSON

The British pop star also declined a Trump inauguration -- though she said she'd consider accepting if she was allowed to perform Billie Holiday's classic protest song "Strange Fruit."
MOBY

The DJ announced on Instagram on January 9 that he had been approached to perform, and he declined, saying: "I guess I’d DJ at an inaugural ball if as payment #trump released his tax returns."
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JAN CHAMBERLIN

This Mormon Tabernacle Choir member made waves in late December by quitting the group rather than perform at the inauguration.
CNN
FRANK SINATRA

Were the late iconic singer still alive today, he "would never support a bigot" by performing at Trump's inauguration, according to his daughter Nancy.
Frank Sinatra Enterprises
PAUL ANKA

After agreeing to perform at the inauguration, the legendary singer backed out of plans to perform “My Way” for President-elect Donald Trump. Anka insisted the decision is not out of protest.
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R KELLY

Then R&B star was forced to deny reports that he would performing at the inaugural festivities tweeting: “Despite the rumors circulating online, R. Kelly will not be performing at this years [sic] inauguration ceremony,” the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer tweeted Thursday night. “Any reports stating otherwise are simply untrue.”

“End. Of. Story.,” Kelly added.
JENNIFER HOLLIDAY

After confirming her participation, Holliday eventually pulled out, calling the decision to perform a “lapse in judgement.”
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Performers including Garth Brooks, Celine Dion and The Chainsmokers have made other plans for January 20

Donald Trump is so unpopular with Hollywood that two talent wranglers told TheWrap they were offered ambassadorships in exchange for booking top singers. Here are some artists who have said publicly they wouldn't perform for the occasion.

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23 Stars Definitely Not Performing at Trump Inauguration (Updating Photos)

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