01:31 PM EDT 05/24/2013
Barack Obama
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PEOPLE's Music Critic: Why We're Upset About Beyoncé's Lip-Synching Drama
Originally posted 01/22/2013 08:40PM
Did she lip-synch or didn't she?
That's the question surrounding Beyoncé after reports surfaced that she didn't sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" live at yesterday's presidential inauguration.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Marine Band, which backed the pop diva at the ceremony, said Tuesday that Mrs. Jay-Z decided to use a previously recorded vocal track before delivering the national anthem, but later on another spokesperson, this one for the Pentagon, said there was no way of knowing whether the 16-time Grammy winner was guilty of lip-synching or not.
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Barack Obama & Family Party at Star-Studded Post Inauguration Bash
Originally posted 01/22/2013 07:50PM
President Barack Obama celebrated his second inauguration Monday night with a private party following his very public day.
The Obama family – including wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha – headed to the White House later on in the evening for a black tie affair, which included celebrities and political stars, as well as a late night buffet of desserts.
The Obamas were surrounded by 300 family and friends, including Bill Clinton (without his wife Secretary of State Hillary Clinton), John Kerry and Colin Powell. Lucky celebs who landed an invite were Swizz Beatz and wife Alicia Keys – who shared her inauguration photos with PEOPLE – Usher, John Legend and fiancée Chrissy Teigen, Jennifer Hudson, Katy Perry and John Mayer (who were "quite cute," says a source), Kelly Clarkson and her fiancé Brandon Blackstock, Eva Longoria, Kerry Washington and country star Brad Paisley.
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Beyoncé: Did She Lip-Sync the 'Star-Spangled Banner' at Inauguration?
Originally posted 01/22/2013 02:45PM
Was there less to Beyoncé than met the ear?
The pop star, 31, wowed the crowd of about 800,000 people during Monday's presidential Inauguration with her powerful rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner."
But it wasn't a live performance, according to a Marine Corps Band spokesperson, who says the band wasn't playing and Beyoncé was lip-syncing to her own voice.
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Kelly Clarkson & Fiancé Brandon Blackstock Attend Inaugural Ball
Originally posted 01/22/2013 11:35AM
After helping President Barack Obama begin his second term with a powerful rendition of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," Kelly Clarkson celebrated in style.
The singer – who is engaged to Nashville-based talent manager Brandon Blackstock – attended the inaugural ball with her fiancé on Monday.
Sharing her political partying experience with her 2.6 million followers, Clarkson, 30, chronicled her evening on Twitter.
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President Obama: I Love Michelle's New Bangs
Originally posted 01/21/2013 04:20PM
First Lady Michelle Obama's new do has the approval of a very powerful man.
Following his official swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, President Barack Obama attended an Inauguration eve gala at the National Building Museum, where he complimented his wife's fresh look.
"To address the most significant event of the weekend, I love her bangs," Obama said, according to USA Today. "She looks good. She always looks good."
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Katy Perry Channels Aretha Franklin at Inauguration
Originally posted 01/21/2013 01:05PM
Katy Perry was feeling festive – and possibly a little nostalgic – at the Inauguration of President Barack Obama on Monday.
The "Teenage Dream" singer, 28, who was joined by beau John Mayer, 35, in Washington, D.C., for the festivities, sported a fun little hat with a miniature version of the bow Aretha Franklin wore to the same event in 2009.
"I had it made," Perry told PEOPLE. "I thought it would be fun to do a shout-out back to four years ago."
Beyonce Sings Stirring National Anthem at Barack Obama Inauguration
Originally posted 01/21/2013 12:05PM
After being sworn into office during a private ceremony on Sunday, President Barack Obama publicly began his second term during Monday's presidential Inauguration on the Capitol Steps.
With the crowd – which was estimated at roughly 800,000 people – chanting "O-ba-ma! O-ba-ma!" the President began his address.
"My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment," he said, "and we will seize it – so long as we seize it together."
Beyoncé closed out the 57th inaugural ceremony with an a powerful rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner" – while wearing a chiffon-and-velvet Emilio Pucci gown with a pair of 80-carat emerald earrings and a 50-carat emerald ring by Lorraine Schwartz.
And Kelly Clarkson performed a stirring "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" accompanied by the United States Marine Band.
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Michelle, Sasha and Malia Obama Don Colorful Coats at Inauguration
Originally posted 01/21/2013 12:15PM
It's a big day for the Obamas.
While watching President Barack Obama be sworn in publicly for his second term in office, Michelle Obama and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, looked on proudly from the platform in front of the Capitol.
But not all eyes were on the Commander in Chief, who officially started his term on Sunday. Many Inauguration watchers have been eager to see what the women in his life would be wearing.
The First Lady, who is sporting a new do, dressed in a navy Thom Browne coat and dress with the fabric inspired by the textures of a man's silk tie.
She accessorized with Reed Krakoff boots and a jeweled belt and gloves from J. Crew and earrings designed by Cathy Waterman. At the end of the Inaugural festivities, Michelle's entire outfit will go to the National Archives.
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Sasha Obama Tells Dad at Swearing-In Ceremony: 'You Didn't Mess Up'
Originally posted 01/20/2013 05:45PM
Monday's inauguration festivities are expected to draw in about 800,000 people as the country's top officials are publicly sworn into office.
But on Sunday President Barack Obama was in no shortage of good company in a room with two of his biggest supporters: daughters Malia, 14, and Sasha, 11, who joined their father in a private White House Blue Room ceremony as he placed his hand on his wife's family Bible and officially began his second term as President of the United States.
So how did his leading ladies, including First Lady Michelle Obama, mark the milestone?
"I'm so happy. Yay!" Malia was heard saying.
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President Barack Obama Sworn In for Second Term
Originally posted 01/20/2013 11:55AM
Hours after Vice President Joe Biden was sworn in to begin his second term of office on Sunday, Barack Obama placed his hand on his wife's family Bible and did solemnly swear to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and officially began his second term as President of the United States.
Sunday's private ceremonies – required by the Constitution to take place on Jan. 20 – were in anticipation of Monday's public swearing in of the country's top officials and the attendant formalities and festivities, which are expected to attract 800,000 people.
Obama was sworn in just before noon by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in the White House Blue Room, with only the President's immediate family – wife Michelle, daughters Sasha and Malia – and a few reporters in attendance.
The President said, "I did it!"
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