Destiny's Child star, `The Voice,' `American Idol' alums among acts to open Rose Parade
The wait is over. The Rose Parade musical headliners have been announced.
Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams and “The Voice” champion Cassadee Pope will be among the musical acts performing in the 2024 Rose Parade Opening Spectacular to begin the annual 5.5-mile floral procession down Colorado Boulevard, the Tournament of Roses announced Friday.
Williams and Pope will be joined in the opening act by “American Idol” alum David Archuleta and Los Angeles singer/songwriter/producer Rush Davis. They will perform on the Rose Parade opening stage, alongside the Honda float themed “Keep Dreaming.”
“Together, these four musical luminaries merge their talents to create an ensemble set to captivate, mesmerize, and ignite the stage with an electric fusion of their unique styles, setting the tone for the magnificence of the Rose Parade,” according to a statement from the Tournament of Roses.
The variety of performers has a theme to live up to on this parade. The 135th Rose Parade on Jan. 1 is themed “Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language,” a theme personified by the parade's grand marshal, Audra McDonald, a star in the performing arts.
Earlier this week, the Tournament of Roses announced that midparade performance presented by Explore Louisiana, not surprisingly featuring a trio of Louisiana artists. Set to perform are Grammynominated Zydeco artist Sean Ardoin, Cajun fiddler Amanda Shaw and guitarist James Burton.
Tournament officials said the trio will be joined by a “cast of colorful characters.”
“Dressed in traditional gold, purple and green Mardi Gras costumes, dancers, stilt walkers, brass band musicians and a host of vibrant characters, including festival queens in their formal gowns, make this performance what will surely be one of the most joyful and inviting performance of the parade,” Tournament officials said.
Archuleta, hailed as a vocal sensation since his ascent on “American Idol,” has made a name for himself exploring diverse musical landscapes, his vocals generating heartfelt renditions of songs.
Pope went from punk rock roots to the “The Voice.” Parade officials said Pope is magnetic on stage. Now, that stage will be a float.
Williams, a revered luminary of Destiny's Child, fuses contemporary R&B and pop culture.
Then there's Davis, fusing house, Vogue beats, Underground club music with hip-hop, R&B, and soulful melodies. The Tournament of Roses said Davis is “redefining the horizons of modern music with his innovative soundscapes.”
Past Opening Spectacular performers have included LeAnn Rimes in 2022, Ally Brooke in 2020, Fitz and The Tantrums at the 2023 Rose Parade.