Beyoncé performed the U.S. national anthem at Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013.
The ceremony took place on January 21, 2013, at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Beyoncé sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the public inauguration ceremony after Obama took the presidential oath for his second term.
The performance attracted major attention, but it later became controversial because reports indicated that Beyoncé had used a prerecorded vocal track or guide track. The Marine Band’s performance and the cold weather were among the practical factors discussed afterward. Beyoncé subsequently sang the anthem live at a 2013 Super Bowl press event.
This event is distinct from Beyoncé’s 2009 performance at Obama’s first inaugural celebrations, when she sang “At Last” for Barack and Michelle Obama’s first dance. The inauguration anthem therefore belongs specifically to Obama’s second inauguration in 2013.