Why Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Dad Told Son Not to Perform ‘Hamilton’ Song at White House Event

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s father is recounting the time he told his son not to perform a song from Hamilton at the White House.

Luis A. Miranda Jr. recently told People magazine that he initially encouraged the Tony winner to perform something “we know works,” specifically a song from his Broadway musical In the Heights, at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word in 2009.

“He was invited to the White House. He was asked to sing something from In the Heights, and he told me, ‘Dad, you know that I’ve been working on Hamilton. Do you think that I could play the only song I have?’” Luis recalled Lin-Manuel asking him.

“I’m like, ‘No. No, why don’t you go with what we know works, which is In the Heights,’” he continued, noting that his son ultimately went against his advice, but that the gamble clearly paid off.