The B-52’s will no longer be performing at tonight’s White House state dinner honoring Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, The Associated Press reports. The set was called off to acknowledge the victims of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The B-52’s will still attend the event as guests.

On Tuesday (October 24), First Lady Jill Biden announced that the White House had made “adjustments to the entertainment portion” of the state dinner, after deciding that the B-52’s’ performance would not be appropriate while “so many are facing sorrow and pain.”

The First Lady added: “Nurturing our partnerships and relationships with our allies is critically important, especially in these tumultuous times. Food is comforting, reassuring and healing, and we hope that this dinner provides a little of that as well.”

The Marine band and the Army and Air Force Strolling Strings will provide instrumental music for the dinner in place of the B-52’s.

Musicians Reflect as Israel-Hamas War Enters Second Week