On Monday, the White House lawn will morph into a candy-colored Coachella for kids when musicians, including DJ Fussyman (at 10, he’s billed as “Staten Island’s youngest DJ”), the pop group Fifth Harmony and Diggy Simmons, the son of Run DMC’s “Rev. Run” Simmons, take to the stage at the White House Easter egg roll.
The White House’s annual spring celebration didn’t always rock quite as hard; but under the Obama administration, music — particularly because of acts with youngster-skewing fan bases— has become a big part of the event.
The current state of affairs is certainly way cooler than it was in 2003, when entertainment highlights included Lynn Cheney reading “America: A Patriotic Primer” and Commerce Secretary Don Evans’ rocking rendition of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” The 2006 egg roll program featured a Norman Rockwellian image, and definitely no hip hop.
[Related: Healthy cooking (and yoga!) are in, and candy eggs are out at the White House Easter egg roll]
Things started changing in 2007, when Miley Cyrus played the event, though just for a rendition of the national anthem — and remember, this was the pre-twerking “Hannah Montana” Miley. In 2008, the tween-favorite Jonas Brothers performed.
But the Obamas turned up the volume on the annual affair, christening the “Rockin’ Egg Roll Stage” and booking acts including Fergie, Justin Bieber, Willow Smith, Jordin Sparks and Ariana Grande.
That’s a welcome development, says radio host Tommy McFly, the event’s emcee for the past five years, who says music brings an “energy” that no amount of egg-rolling can. And his hat is off to the bookers who identify musicians with crossover appeal. “They do a great job of finding performers that the under-9 set really love and that parents can appreciate,” he says.
2009: Fergie, Ziggy Marley, Jessica Jarrell, Steve Songs and Imagination Movers
2010: Sara Bareilles, Justin Bieber, the cast of the television show “Glee,” “Yo Gabba Gabba,” “Sesame Street,” and Little Beat, The #1 Chinchilla and DJ Willy Wow!
2011: Colbie Caillat, Greyson Chance, Willow Smith, Mindless Behavior, John Lithgow, “Sesame Street,” and Little Beats and DJ WillyWow.
2012: @disney‘s Perry @oresor@djjazzyjeff215@kidtribe
2013: Jordin Sparks, Austin Mahone, Coco Jones, Sesame Street, and The Wanted
2014: DJ Beauty & the Beatz, Ariana Grande, Candice Glover, R5 featuring Ross Lynch, DJ Young1, and “Sesame Street’s” Mando, Rosita, Abby Cadabby, and Cookie Monster
2015: DJ Fussyman, Diggy Simmons, Fifth Harmony, MKTO, Newsies, “Sesame Street,” and “So You Think You Can Dance” All-Stars,
