From Beyoncé to Lady Gaga, who else sang the national anthem at presidential inaugurations?
Jan 20, 2025
President-elect Donald Trump selected opera tenor Christopher Macchio to perform the national anthem at Monday’s inauguration, at which Carrie Underwood will also perform “America the Beautiful.” Here’s a list of some singers at previous presidential inaugurations:
John F Kennedy, 1961: Contralto Marian Anderson sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965: The United States Marine Band performed the national anthem.
Richard Nixon, 1969: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir accompanied by the United States Marine Band performed the national anthem.
Richard Nixon, 1973: Jazz great Ethel Ennis sang the national anthem.
FILE – Lady Gaga performs the National Anthem as President-elect Joe Biden watches during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
FILE – Singer Marian Anderson smiles at the Pierre Hotel in New York, Nov. 28, 1979. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File)
FILE – Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton, right, greets Santita Jackson, left, daughter of Jesse Jackson, center, at a “Rebuild America” conference in Washington, June 13, 1992. (AP Photo/Greg Gibson, File)
FILE – Mezzo soprano Marilyn Horne sings on Capitol Hill, January 20, 1993, joined by President Clinton, left, as former President Bush looks on during the inaugural ceremony. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)
FILE – Soprano Jessye Norman performs during The Dream Concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York, Sept. 18, 2007. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, File)
FILE – Aretha Franklin performs at the inauguration for President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)
FILE – Sgt. 1st Class Alvy Powell sings the national anthem before a baseball game in Washington, July 4, 2013. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
FILE – Vice President Mike Pence, center, and President Donald Trump, right, listen to the singing of the national anthem by Jackie Evancho during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
Show Caption1 of 8FILE – Lady Gaga performs the National Anthem as President-elect Joe Biden watches during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
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Jimmy Carter, 1977: Cantor Isaac Goodfriend, a Holocaust survivor, accompanied by the U.S. Marine Band sang the national anthem.
Ronald Reagan, 1981: Amateur singer Juanita Booker sang the national anthem.
Ronald Reagan, 1985: The United States Marine Band performed “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Opera singer Jessye Norman also performed.
George Bush, 1989: Staff Sergeant Alvy Powell of the U.S. Army Band sang the national anthem.
Bill Clinton, 1993: Opera singer Marilyn Horne sang the national anthem.
Bill Clinton, 1997: Santita Jackson, the daughter of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and the Resurrection Choir sang the national anthem. Jessye Norman also performed.
George W. Bush, 2001: Army Staff Sgt. Alec T. Maly sang the national anthem.
George W. Bush, 2005: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bradley Bennett sang the national anthem. Singers Susan Graham and Denyce Graves also performed.
Barack Obama, 2009: The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters sang the national anthem. Aretha Franklin also performed.
Barack Obama, 2013: Beyoncé performed the national anthem and later said she had lip-synced to a taped track. James Taylor also sang.
Donald Trump, 2017: Jackie Evancho sang the national anthem.
Joe Biden, 2021: Lady Gaga sang the national anthem. Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks also performed.