Amanda Gorman, the youngest poet to read at the inauguration in recent history and the first national youth poet laureate, read her poem “The Hill We Climb,” following Biden’s inaugural address.

“We've seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it, would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy,” she said. “And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated.”

“When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid,” she added at the end of the poem. “The new dawn blooms as we free it for there is always light if only we're brave enough to see it, if only we're brave enough to be it.

Gorman, 22, told NPR that she finished writing the poem just after rioters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Before Biden took the oath of office, Jennifer Lopez sang “America the Beautiful” and “This Land is Your Land.”

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, introducing the oath of office, commented that this was the first inauguration where “J. Lo was the warm-up act for Chief Justice Roberts.”

Following Biden’s inaugural address, country singer Garth Brooks sang “Amazing Grace,” asking the country to join in for the last verse of the song.

Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt, the chair of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, called the song one “in our culture is as close to both poetry and prayer as you could possibly come.”

In a hopeful inaugural address, which included extending an olive branch to those Americans who didn't support him, Biden said -- with a united front -- the nation will go on from this day to "write the next chapter in American history."

"My fellow Americans, I close the day where I began, with a sacred oath before God and all of you. I give you my word, I will always level with you. I will defend the Constitution. I'll defend our democracy. I'll defend America," Biden said.

"I do in your service, thinking not of power but of possibilities, not of personal injuries but the public good. And together we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness," Biden continued.

Biden received over 81 million votes in the election, but throughout his remarks he reached across the aisle, asking those 74 million who didn’t vote for him to measure him by his heart, saying he would fight for them just as much as for those who supported him -- repeating a promise Biden made on the campaign trail.

Invoking his Catholic faith, Biden went on to say, "May this be the story that guides us, the story that inspires us, and the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history, we met the moment."

"With purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasked of our time, sustained by faith, driven by conviction, and devoted to one another and the country we love with all our hearts. May God bless America and may God protect our troops," he said to finish his first speech as president.

In his first speech as president, illustrating his empathy and his personal upbringing, Biden addressed his "fellow Americans" who may view the future with fear and trepidation -- but called on them not to turn inwards in difficult times.

"The answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who don't look like you or worship the way you do or don't get their news from the same source as you do," Biden said. "We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus -- rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal."

"We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts. If we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we are willing to stand in the other person’s shoes," he continued.

Biden did not say the word “Trump" in his speech -- nor did any of the speakers who preceded him.