She sang for Republicans. Now she'll sing for Democrats.

On Saturday, mezzo-soprano Susan Graham will perform at the funeral mass of Sen. Edward Kennedy, which will be held at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Boston.

Graham will sing Schubert's "Ave Maria," according to her publicist.

Also scheduled to perform is Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell, who will sing "The Impossible Dream" from "Man of La Mancha." (Mitchell was seen earlier this month in "Guys and Dolls" at the Hollywood Bowl, performing alongside Jessica Biel.)

In addition, Placido Domingo and Yo-Yo Ma will perform at the service. The two were seen at the Bowl earlier this week in a concert with the L.A. Philharmonic.

Culture Monster remembers that Graham performed at the second inauguration of George W. Bush in 2005. The opera star hails from Midland, Texas, which also happens to be the home of the former Republican president.

Graham is no stranger to L.A. classical fans, having performed "The Merry Widow," "The Coronation of Poppea" and other works at the L.A. Opera.

The funeral mass of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy today brought together a remarkable cross section of America's political leadership.


Amid a steady rain in the Roxbury section of Boston, limousines lined the streets outside the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and filled the church with dignitaries, politicians, celebrities and dozens of Kennedy family members.

Former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, along with Vice President Joe Biden, who spoke at the memorial service Friday evening at the JFK Library in Boston, were present. Former Vice President Al Gore was in attendance, as well as many members of the Obama Cabinet.

The eulogy was delivered by President Barack Obama.


Funeral remarks were given by the senator's sons, Ted Kennedy Jr. and Rep Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I. Readings were delivered by the senator's daughter Kara, stepson G. Curran Raclin Jr. and stepdaughter Caroline Raclin. Prayers were offered by a group of the youngest Kennedys, some of his grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Performing at the funeral mass were world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Spanish tenor Placido Domingo, among others.

Several priests were involved in conducting the service. Cardinal O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston, closed the mass.

The pallbearers were all family members, including his children and stepchildren. Also serving as pallbearers are the eldest children of each branch of the Kennedy family: Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy; Christopher Lawford, son of Kennedy's sister Patricia; Bobby Shriver, son Eunice Kennedy Shriver; Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, daughter of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy; Stephen Smith, eldest son of the only remaining sibling of the senator, Jean; and Ed Michael Reggie, Kennedy's brother-in-law.

Ted Kennedy Jr. has saluted his fallen father as his greatest source of love and encouragement through tough times.

The younger Kennedy, who lost a leg from cancer at the age of 12, stood before hundreds of mourners Saturday to memoralize Sen. Edward Kennedy at a funeral Mass in Boston. Kennedy's son said, "Although it hasn't been easy at times to live with this name, I've never been more proud of it than I am today."

Said Ted Kennedy Jr.: "He was not perfect — far from it. But my father believed in redemption and he never surrendered, never stopped trying to right wrongs, either as a result of his own failings or ours."