Singer Beyoncé Knowles surprised many of her fans Tuesday when they learned the accomplished performer didn't sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" live at President Barack Obama's second inauguration.
The U.S. Marine Corps Band, which provides the music for the inauguration, confirmed that the pop diva lip-synched to a pre-recorded track of the national anthem.
Beyoncé, whose performance drew loud applause from the estimated 600,000 in attendance and high praise from several media outlets, didn't rehearse the anthem with the U.S. Marine Corps Band until the night before the ceremony, according to
US Weekly.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Marine Corp Band who was not named issued a statement to TMZ.
"We all know Beyoncé can sing. We don't know why she chose to use the pre-recorded track," the spokesperson said.
Even though it took a day for the news to be confirmed, attendees in close proximity to the stage during the ceremony could see that Beyoncé wasn't singing during the anthem and that the U.S. Marine Corps Band wasn't performing, according to the Washingtonian.
Beyoncé or her rep has yet to say why she opted for the pre-recorded anthem.
One person who decided not to lip-synch her performance was Kelly Clarkson, who sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee" without a backup track, according to the Marine rep.
This isn't the first time a pre-recorded track has been used at an inaugural ceremony.
In 2009, during President Obama's first inauguration, strong winds and frigid temperatures cancelled cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Itzhak Perlman's live performances. The two musicians mimed their way through a pre-recorded tape during the ceremony.
Beyoncé, along with her rapper-turned-entrepreneur husband Jay-Z, was a major supporter of Obama in both his 2008 and 2012 campaigns. Beyoncé previously performed at the 2008 inauguration ball before the first family, where she sang the late Etta James' "At Last."
Beyoncé's next major performance will be Sunday, Feb. 3, before millions of Americans at the Super Bowl XLVII's halftime show. The big game will be held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, in New Orleans.
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