Beyonce lip-sync controversy: Inaugural official, Aretha Franklin weigh in
US singer Beyonce performs the National Anthem to conclude the 57th Presidential Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in of US President Barack Obama at the US Capitol on January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC.
A number of high ranking individuals are weighing in on Beyonce's lip-sync controversy. Did she, or didn't she, pre-record “The Star-Spangled Banner” at President Barack Obama's inauguration on Monday?
An inaugural official confirmed to CNN, "She did not sing live.” The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Beyonce made “the decision herself the night before Inauguration Day.” However, this was not an official confirmation.
The Marine Corps Band alleges Beyonce did not want to risk a misstep at the inauguration. As GlobalPost reported, a spokeswoman for the Marine Corps Band told The Washingtonian "it was standard procedure to record a backing track."
Meanwhile, singer Aretha Franklin said she is not surprised.
CBS News reported, "I am not surprised she pre-recorded. She wanted her performance to be what she wanted to be and she realized it wasn't going to be the way she wanted it to be or she was going to be running a risk."
"When I heard the news… I really laughed," Franklin told ABC News. "I thought it was funny because the weather down there was about 46 or 44 degrees and for most singers that is just not good singing weather. When I heard that I just really cracked up. I thought it was really funny, but she did a beautiful job with the pre-record … next time I'll probably do the same."
And Franklin knows what she is talking about.
The Queen of Soul sang live at Obama's first inauguration in 2009, ABC News reported.
More from GlobalPost: Beyonce rumored to have lip-synced anthem at inauguration
However, Franklin did admit to ABC News that she lip-synced at Game 5 of the NBA Finals in June of 2004.
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