In the Know: Mary J. Blige, Neil Diamond, Sugarland to perform for Obama

Mary J. Blige, Neil Diamond, Rob Thomas, Usher and country duo Sugarland will perform at the White House on Dec. 13 during the taping of a “Christmas in Washington” TV special, set to air a week later on TNT.

Comedian George Lopez will host the musical extravaganza.

The event will mark the second White House appearance for Lopez in three months. In October, he co-hosted the Fiesta Latina with actors Eva Longoria Parker and Jimmy Smits. The evening was devoted to Latin music and featured stars like Marc Anthony and the band Los Lobos. President Barack Obama even tried out a few steps of salsa at the urging of Sheila E.

Lopez’s last appearance came on the heels of Obama’s unexpected Nobel Peace Prize win, which Lopez played for a laugh.

“In the time that I was up here,” he joked to the president, “I’ve been told to inform you, you have also won a Latin Grammy. And you will be knighted.”

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