Beyonce breaks her silence

The superstar faced the music at a press conference before the Super Bowl on Thursday, admitting that she did lip-sync on Inauguration Day.

Beyonce hadn’t spoken publicly since it was said that she did not perform rendition of the national anthem live at Obama’s inauguration last week.

But before she answered questions, she belted out the national anthem (live of course) proving us wrong and ensuring us of her true talent and that she is, indeed, a remarkable singer that can still sing live.

As she defended herself, she admitted “I’m a perfectionist… I practice until my feet bleed… and I did not have time to rehearse with the orchestra,” Beyonce fell to her defence.

“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,” the award winning singer added.

Beyonce later added, “Like I said I’ve had a 16-year career and all of the things that I’ve done has prepared me for this. So I’m ready. I love haters. No shame, no hate.”

Beyonce performing at the 2013 Super Bowl before she addressed questions about her performance at the presidential inauguration. This (!!) performance was definitely live.

Courtesy: YouTube

When hip-hop and politics come together for the Inaugural Ball

Hosted by LaLa Anthony and the absolutely gorgeous E! News anchor Terrence J, artists gathered to honour the hip-hop community’s role in celebration of U.S. President Obama’s inauguration.

Hosts LaLa Anthony and Terrence J
Photo: rollingout online

Among the stars that attended the festivities at the Harman Center for Arts in Washington D.C. were Pharrell Williams, John Legend and Swizz Beatz, just to name a few.

But who took home some of the night’s great achieving awards?

Meek Mill, who was dressed completely in black but saved by his bright yellow shoes,  took home the Community Activist Award for his dedication to uplifting kids. As he kept his acceptance speech short he said: “If I can make a change in a child’s life, I always volunteer to do it.

Swizz Beatz accepted an award on the night as one of the most brilliant producers of the modern hip-hop era.

Swizz Beatz accepts his award at H.I.B
Photo: rolling out online

And the smooth and suave John Legend won the Humanitarian Award of the night for his continuous work for education reform in the United States.

“I think hip-hop had a role in making sure we elected a black president in America because we made it so that black people were in people’s homes … through our music and through our culture,” the R&B singer said on Sunday night at the Hip-hop Inaugural Ball.

“I think it made Barack Obama and more people like him possible, so I’m really thankful for hip-hop and the role it plays in society,” he continued.

Obama will be sworn in for a second term as president today in front of hundreds of thousands of people in Washington, D.C.

John Legend at the Hip-hop Inaugural Ball accepting his Humanitarian Award
Photo: AP. By: Mesfin Fekadu

Barack Obama sworn in for his second term as US President

President Barack Obama has kicked off his second term in office starting with a major inauguration celebration.

Obama is the first president to be sworn in twice in one weekend since Ronald Reagan (The U.S. Constitution states that the president is to be inaugurated January 20 of the year following his/her election, but because it’s fallen on a Sunday, it will take place again on Monday).

President Obama took the oath of office on a family Bible at a close gathering in the Blue Room of the White House overnight, before being sworn in again at a public ceremony tomorrow.

After the ceremony, which lasted less than a minute, Mr Obama hugged his wife, Michelle, and his two girls Malia, 14, and Sasha, 11, before saying to his youngest daughter: “I did it“.

But before it’s back to business, Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle will enjoy tomorrow’s festivities which include performances by Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson and James Taylor as they take the stage at the presidential inauguration.

Mr Obama with his immediate family beside him at the ceremony
Photo: AP