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On Wednesday, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as president and vice president shortly after noon Eastern Time, and the nation will begin a new chapter, as it has every four years since 1789 when George Washington took the oath as the first president of the United States.

Tomorrow, Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath of office to Biden just after the clock strikes 12. Biden will place his hand on top of his 127-year-old, 5-inch-thick family Bible, which will be held by his wife, Jill Biden.

Kamala Harris will be sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who administered the oath to Biden when he became vice president in 2013.

Harris will be sworn in on two Bibles — one that belonged to a close family friend named Regina Shelton and another that belonged to Thurgood Marshall, the country’s first African American Supreme Court justice.
Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, has chosen for his official title, “second gentleman.”

Coverage for the inauguration will begin early.

All major networks will carry the actual inauguration ceremony live. NBC News will begin special coverage at 10 a.m. ET, while MSNBC begins special coverage at 6 a.m. ET. Fox News will begin coverage of Inauguration Day at 9 a.m. ET.

It will be an inauguration ceremony like never before. The National Mall will be closed and there will be no crowds of onlookers. In fact, officials in Washington, D.C., hope it will be the smallest crowd ever.

However, it may be the most glittering ceremony ever, in terms of the star power in attendance – making it more like a Super Bowl Half Time program than a solemn traditional event.

Lady Gaga will perform the National Anthem, and Jennifer Lopez will also sing – although she hasn’t yet announced what it will be, only that “you’re going to be surprised. You’re going to love it.”

Garth Brooks is also scheduled to sing, joking he’ll be “the only Republican at the ceremony.”

Biden will then give his first address as president, with the theme of “America United.”

The traditional luncheon that follows the inaugural ceremony and the inaugural balls have been canceled.

After the swearing-in ceremony is completed, Biden and Harris will take part in a Pass in Review with members of the military on the East Front of the Capitol. Then they and their spouses will honor the military by going to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where they will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Instead of a parade and walk through the streets of Washington, there will be a virtual “Parade Across America” starting around 3:15 p.m., featuring performances from all 56 states and territories. The event, hosted by the actor Tony Goldwyn, will feature appearances by Earth, Wind and Fire and former “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart.

The grand finale for the day is a star-studded, made-for-TV event called “Celebrating America,” which will air at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The show will be hosted by Academy Award winner Tom Hanks, along with Eva Longoria and Kerry Washington.
Scheduled performers include rock legend Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, John Legend, Jon Bon Jovi, Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Ant Clemons, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard performing from “iconic locations across the country.”

“Celebrating America” will be carried live by ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and MSNBC and streamed live on the presidential inaugural committee’s social media channels on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch.

And we can witness it all safely and comfortably from the warmth of our homes.

God bless America.