Usher and Demi Lovato join White House tribute to Ray Charles

Usher and Demi Lovato are heading to the White House to perform in a musical celebration of the late Ray Charles.

Gospel singer and actress Yolanda Adams, country rockers The Band Perry, soul singer Leon Bridges, R&B jazz musician Andra Day and singer-songwriter-producer Anthony Hamilton will be joining the line-up for the Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at The White House event, it was announced on Friday (19Feb16).

Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard, veteran soul singer Sam Moore and Empire star Jussie Smollett are also due to take part in the occasion, to be held in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday (24Feb16). In addition, the show will be broadcast on Friday (27Feb16) on the PBS network across the U.S., a White House representative confirmed.

It will be the 16th such event held while President Barack Obama has been in office. Prior to Wednesday evening's celebration, First Lady Michelle Obama will hold a daytime workshop with some of the artists, for more than 130 school and college pupils from across the country.

Ray Charles, who was played by Jamie Foxx in 2004's Oscar-winning Ray biopic, died on June 10, 2004, aged 73.