Free Republic

Halfway through her rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" at President Barack Obama's inauguration on Monday, Beyonce dramatically did away with the earpiece that singers use to hear themselves and their bands in a live setting. One viewer likened it to the gutsy move Luke Skywalker made in the dramatic chase scene in the original "Star Wars," tweeting: "Taking out the earpiece is Luke turning off the targeting system in the Death Star trench." But now a rep for the United States Marine Band says Beyonce was not even singing the song live. She was lip-syncing. The rep said that...

Beyoncé did not sing the national anthem live at President Obama’s inauguration. Millions of viewers around the world were stunned by the singer’s spectacular rendition of the anthem but The Times has learnt that she was lip-syncing to a pre-recorded backing track. A spokeswoman for the Marine Corp Band Kristen DuBois said it was standard procedure to record a backing track and Beyoncé decided shortly before her performance to rely on the studio version rather

<p>Beyoncé sang the national anthem at yesterday’s inauguration ceremony for President Obama and received overwhelming praise for her performance, ranging from Business Insider (“It was just amazing”) to TMZ (“f*cking awesome”). Beyoncé’s Instagram photo of herself in a recording studio with members of the Marine Corps Band.</p>

R'n'B-pop diva Beyonce Knowles, "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson and Grammy Award-winning artist James Taylor are just some of the artists tapped by re-elected U.S. president Barack Obama to perform the country's most patriotic songs during his upcoming inauguration ceremony on January 21. Beyonce is chosen to deliver the U.S. national anthem "The Star Spangled Banner", Kelly is selected to sing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and James is invited again to perform "America the Beautiful".

During the Presidential campaign it became quote apparent that Barack Obama was a big fan of Jay Z and Beyonce. As of September 14 Obama had tweeted more about Beyonce and Jay Z than he had about Benghazi. Just one of President Barack Obama’s last 47 tweets from his official campaign account mentioned the crisis unfolding in the Middle East or the four Americans who lost their lives in a fiery attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya on Tuesday. Among the tweets sent out by Obama’s Twitter account included a chance to win tickets to an Obama event...

With election day now upon us, Beyoncé had some kind thoughts to share about Barack Obama. The R&B superstar posted a handwritten letter on Monday to the president on her website praising his leadership and expressing her support, one day before Americans go to the polls to decide whether to grant him a second term. "Everyday we see your heart and character, inspiring all of us to give more of ourselves," wrote Beyoncé. "You are the leader to take us from where we are to where we need to be."

While thousands in New York and New Jersey struggled in the devastating aftermath of Sandy, some celebs couldn’t stop the party. Giuseppe Cipriani and son Ignazio threw a lavish bash at Cipriani 42nd Street on Wednesday night, as Halloween was canceled across the region and downtown Manhattan remained cloaked in darkness. Stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Dita Von Teese, Jay-Z and Beyoncé joined the bash, which Cipriani reps say went on until well after 5 a.m. and was not for charity. One guest told us, “The Ciprianis put a lot of effort into the party, bringing in DJs who...

Amidst the frenetic schedule of the presidential campaign, President Barack Obama has revealed his key role in giving first-time dad Jay-Z advice on child rearing. The Commander-in-Chief, speaking to Cleveland radio station Z107.9 on Friday, called the rap mogul and his superstar wife Beyonce 'good friends' and dished on what the first couple and the showbiz powerpair talk about when they spend time together. Calling the Grammy Award-winning duo 'down to earth folks,' the President said isn't blinded by their glitz and makes sure the rapper is doing his fair share to help his wife with their new baby.

Beyoncé is one of the biggest stars in the country, a beautiful singer at the top of her profession. She isn't an A-list movie star... yet. Her work in the celebrated "Dreamgirls" didn't make that happen, nor did appearances in "The Pink Panther," "Obsessed" or "Austin Powers in Goldmember." Clint Eastwood could have changed all that. The actor/director wanted Beyoncé to star in his planned remake of "A Star Is Born." Any Eastwood project is instantly Oscar bait, and his track record suggests he could have transformed the stunning chanteuse into an A-lister with just one film. Now, we'll never...

President Barack Obama attended a fundraiser at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in Manhattan that featured a champagne tower of 350 bottles worth $105,000 - more than twice the median household income of an American family. The tower of $300-a-bottle Armand de Brignac Brut Gold, known as 'Ace of Spades' because of its label, is a permanent fixture at the club. 'It’s floor-to-ceiling gold bottles in the entire space,' a 40/40 representative told the New York Post. 'It’s beautiful—breathtaking. It’s the first thing you see when you walk in. The median income for an American family was $51,413 in 2011. $105,000: The...

So today, I’ll let everyone else rave about Big Guy’s 2nd, 3rd, or 10th visit with America’s most ill-humored comedian... And they’re all talking BO’s fundraiser at Jay-Z’s 40/40 club in Manhattan where 100 lucky 1 percenters paid $40k to hear Big Guy tell them how Lady M is just like co-host Beyoncé (voted People’s Magazine “Most Beautiful Woman” this year! Beyoncé, not Lady M, Beyonabitch!)... The most beautiful woman in the world gets bodied for ObamaInstead, I’d like to spend a little time on something not getting the amount of media play that it deserves. No, not the secret...

WASHINGTON — Nix the flags and the podium. Cue the opulent 18-foot tower of gold-bottled French champagne. When President Obama addresses an elite roster of hipsters and multimillionaires, including hosts Beyoncé and Jay-Z, in New York tonight, he will do so next to a custom-designed tower of $800-per-bottle champagne that dominates the main room at Jay-Z’s 40/40 nightclub. The 350-bottle champagne tower — designed by Jeffrey Beers — is a monument to Jay-Z’s favorite bubbly, Armand de Brignac, which is known colloquially by rappers, clubgoers and connoisseurs as Ace of Spades because of its gold-spade label. “It’s floor-to-ceiling gold bottles...

Obama Fundraiser With Jay-Z And Beyonce Features “Floor-To-Ceiling” Tower Of 350 Gold Champagne Bottles Costing $800 Each, White House Bans Photos Of Event… Now why would they ban photos of an event like this?Via New York Post: Nix the flags and the podium. Cue the opulent 18-foot tower of gold-bottled French champagne.When President Obama addresses an elite roster of hipsters and multimillionaires, including hosts Beyoncé and Jay-Z, in New York tonight, he will do so next to a custom-designed tower of $800-per-bottle champagne that dominates the main room at Jay-Z’s 40/40 nightclub.The 350-bottle champagne tower — designed by Jeffrey Beers...

Barack Obama is one busy man. The President of the United States made his second appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman since taking office. After chatting with Dave, POTUS hit up Jay-Z and Beyoncé's $40,000-per-person fundraiser at The 40/40 Club in New York City.

Here’s everything we know so far, and everything we’re likely to know for the foreseeable future as the State Department has announced a “no further questions” policy. Not that the MSM would ask any questions likely to embarrass Big Guy anyway. Lessons learned: 1. It’s wrong to politicize lethal attacks on our embassies if you’re running against Big Guy. 2. The best way not to politicize this is to keep calm and carry on as if nothing happened; i.e., continue to skip daily intelligence meetings and attend all previously scheduled fundraisers. 3. This “volatile situation” in the Mid-East is not...

Wow! Embassies are burning across the Middle East, butt don’t worry; we will not be distracted from our primary mission: And as I understand it there are a couple of major initiatives under way to ensure we achieve our goal. One will be held on Tuesday at Jay-Z’s nightclub in Manhattan; and Jay-Z will be there! Along with Beyoncé, who has always been a “big fan” of BO and MO’s. BiBi was not invited as it’s really an event exclusively for mutual fan club members... ...I hate to interrupt this commercial for an important message, butt I see that “insurgents”...

I usually don't email you -- but I have an amazing invitation I have to share. Jay and I will be meeting up with President Obama for an evening in NYC sometime soon. And we want you to be there! Until midnight tonight, if you pitch in $15 or whatever you can, you'll be automatically entered to be flown out to join us. I've had the honor of meeting President Obama and the First Lady a few times -- and believe me -- it's an opportunity you don't want to miss. Don't worry about the airfare and hotel, it's taken...

Beyonce is the star of President Obama’s latest campaign ad. In the spot – released online Monday – the singer reads a letter she wrote in April that praises First Lady Michelle Obama. In the letter Beyonce praises Mrs. Obama as “the ultimate example of a truly strong African-American woman”. “No matter the pressure and the stress of being under the microscope she’s humble, loving and sincere. . . she builds and nurtures her family while also looking out for so many millions in so many ways,” says the Grammy-winning performer. How did the campaign get Beyonce to do this?...

(ThyBlackMan.com) recently read an article in which Russell Simmons defended Gwyneth Paltrow in her use of the word "n*gga" to define her time in Paris with Jay-Z, Beyonce and the rest of her "n*ggas." Gwyneth Paltrow, like most "down-ass" white girls who get very comfortable around black folks, caught herself slipping into territory that only the bravest white people go. I stand with Russell in that Gwyneth Paltrow is not entirely to blame. At worst, we can blame Gwyneth Paltrow for not being sensitive enough to realize that Jay-Z and Kanye West are not ambassadors of the black community who've...