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Who Belted Out the National Anthem at Past Inaugurations?

Washington D.C., USAMonday, January 20, 2025

Ever wondered who sang the national anthem at presidential inaugurations? Well, let's take a quick trip down memory lane. In 2017, Donald Trump picked opera tenor Christopher Macchio, with Carrie Underwood performing "America the Beautiful. " But who came before them? Back in 1961, John F. Kennedy had contralto Marian Anderson singing "The Star-Spangled Banner. " Four years later, Lyndon B. Johnson had the United States Marine Band handle the anthem. Richard Nixon's first term in 1969 saw the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Marine Band team up, while his second term in 1973 featured jazz legend Ethel Ennis. Jimmy Carter's inauguration in 1977 was special, with Holocaust survivor Cantor Isaac Goodfriend and the U. S. Marine Band. Ronald Reagan's first term in 1981 had amateur singer Juanita Booker, and his second term in 1985 saw the Marine Band again, with opera singer Jessye Norman also performing.

George H. W. Bush's 1989 inauguration had Staff Sergeant Alvy Powell of the U. S. Army Band singing. Bill Clinton's first term in 1993 featured opera singer Marilyn Horne, and his second term in 1997 had Santita Jackson and the Resurrection Choir, with Jessye Norman performing again. George W. Bush's first term in 2001 had Army Staff Sgt. Alec T. Maly, and his second term in 2005 featured Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bradley Bennett, along with singers Susan Graham and Denyce Graves. Barack Obama's first term in 2009 had the U. S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, with Aretha Franklin also performing. His second term in 2013 saw Beyoncé, who later admitted to lip-syncing. In 2017, Jackie Evancho sang for Donald Trump, and in 2021, Lady Gaga belted it out for Joe Biden, with Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks also performing.

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