Following an inaugural speech by President Biden calling for unity, Garth Brooks sang an a cappella version of ‘Amazing Grace,’ aided at the start only by a trumpet blare, before asking the audience, both in attendance in Washington and watching on television, to join him for the final verse.

The country singer was a last-minute addition to the inaugural line up, responding to a request from incoming first lady Jill Biden.

Mr. Brooks, who also sang at former President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009, said in accepting the invitation that, “This is not a political statement. This is a statement of unity.”

Before the inauguration, Mr. Brooks joked that he “might be the only Republican” at the ceremony (which of course wasn’t true, because multiple Republican elected officials attended), but the country singer did not publicly endorse a candidate during the 2020 election.

Mr. Brooks said before the inauguration that he was drawn to Biden’s hopes for unity following an intensely divisive period in American history.

“The message they’re pushing is unity, and that’s right down my alley, man,” Mr. Brooks said. “If we’re gonna get anywhere we’re gonna get there together.”

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