Beyoncé Defends Inauguration Lip Sync, Promises She’ll Be Live at Super Bowl

January 31, 2013



This afternoon, at a pre-Super Bowl press conference, Beyoncé admitted she sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" along with a backing track at this month's presidential inauguration. She did so after opening with an a cappella rendition of the anthem, showing critics what she could do before telling them, followed by a winking "Any questions?" and a laugh.

After singing, here's what she had to say about the controversy:


I am a perfectionist. One thing about me—I practice until my feet bleed; and I did not have time to rehearse with the orchestra. It was a live television show and a very, very, very emotional show for me, one of my proudest moments; and due to the weather, due to the delay, due to no proper soundcheck, I did not feel comfortable taking a risk. It was about the president and the inauguration and I wanted to make him and my country proud. So I decided to sing along with my pre-recorded track, which is very common in the music industry. And I'm very proud of my performance.

Later, she continued:

I will absolutely be singing live [on Sunday]. I am well-rehearsed and I will be singing live. This is what I was born to do.

Watch Beyoncé and her team prep for Sunday's show below, then revisit some of her best TV performances.


Beyoncé Defends Inauguration Lip Sync, Promises She’ll Be Live at Super Bowl