RFK Jr. Performed Cheryl Hines’ Favorite Singer Trophies at the Inauguration

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. surprised the crowd – and many fans – after enlisting Jewels to perform at its Make America Health Again Inaugural Ball.

Jewel’s appearance was apparently a gift to Kennedy’s wife, Cheryl Hinesand it was unexpected — Jewel was not previously included on the list of performers for the Inauguration 2025 events held on Monday, January 20, to celebrate President Donald Trumpsecond term.

“We’re going to go out and make America well again,” Kennedy, 71, told the crowd at the first MAHA ball held in Washington, DC, according to a fan video divide by X.

Kennedy – who has been chosen by Trump as his choice for the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services — then revealed how Jewels’ impromptu performance came about.

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“I got a call from a woman, who Cheryl’s favorite musical artist in his whole life, and he said to me, ‘I’m going to come and sing for the crowd tonight,'” said Kennedy, before telling the audience, “We have a special treat. Welcome to Jewel please.”

Jewel, who did not publicly endorse either candidate in the 2024 presidential electionthen he took the stage to a room full of cheers.

“I’m happy to be here,” said the 50-year-old singer. “I want to thank Bobby for sacrificing so much to make America healthy again. To start treating us like we are whole human beings. We are a physical, mental and emotional body.”

The musician noted that she chose to sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” for the occasion because of what the song symbolizes.

“I think it epitomizes the hope that America was founded on and that I think we all feel again,” Jewel said before she sang the iconic song originally released by Judy Garland and written by Harold Arlen a Yip Harburg for 1939 The Wizard of Oz.

Jewel’s a cappella photo brought a tear to Hines’ eyes, who was watching from the side of the stage.

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Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images Cheryl Hines and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are not. is the most likely pair. Thrust into the spotlight amid Kennedy’s 2024 bid for the presidency, the couple have done their best to keep their personal life out of the public eye. While Americans speculate about how their world view is apparently a mesh, Curb Your (…)

The Curb Your Enthusiasm the actress, 59, was seen smiling to herself while standing next to her husband and wiping away tears, back Instagram video of the event.

While Jewel and long-time health advocateespecially when it comes to mental healthher performance was unexpected. While many fans appreciated her performance like many of the musicians who appeared on stage in honor of Trump’s return to office, she also received some backlash.

Jewel has not publicly addressed her decision to sing at the MAHA gala, but Carrie Underwoodwho performed “America the Beautiful” at the official inauguration ceremonyhe responded to the online backlash he received.

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Jewel has long been a champion of putting her mental health first during her career. “When I moved out at 15, I knew I had to learn about happiness and I went after it,” the singer exclusively told Us Weekly while promoting mental health resources through her Not Alone Challenge. “And when I was homeless, the (…)

“I love our country and I am honored to be asked to sing at the inauguration and be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood, 41, said in a statement earlier this month. “I am proud to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in a spirit of unity and look to the future.”

Nellywho took that step in separate inauguration event over the weekend, he released his own statement, claiming, “This is not politics.”

He explained, “The politics, for me, is over. He won. He is the president. He is the commander in chief of what I would like to say is the best country in the world.”