Inuaguration official: Beyonce did lip-sync her performance

After speculation that Beyonce's stunning performance "The Star Spangled Banner" was prerecorded, an inaugural official who asked not to be identified told CNN Wednesday that she did lip-sync her performance on Inauguration Day.

The U.S. Marine Band said in a statement Tuesday that the musical accompaniment was prerecorded, explaining that "there was no opportunity for Ms. Knowles-Carter to rehearse with the Marine Band before the Inauguration so it was determined that a live performance by the band was ill-advised for such a high-profile event."

Beyonce's Inauguration performance of 'The Star Spangled Banner'Beyonce's Inauguration performance of 'The Star Spangled Banner'

However, the official confirmed that the entire thing was prerecorded, and what was heard by spectators and viewers was the sound of that recording.

Music legend Aretha Franklin expressed both sides of this equation Wednesday, saying she “laughed” when she heard about the controversy. She sang live at the 2009 Obama inaugural, despite the cold. “I wanted to give people the real thing,” she told ABC News.

However, she said that the low temperatures are hard on musician's voices, and the mid-40 degree temperatures aren't for good for singing.

Anderson Cooper had something to say about her performance, too: "We got to look at Beyonce's beautiful face and hear Beyonce's beautiful voice ... There is only one thing we should be saying today and that is: 'Thank you, Beyonce.'"

You can watch her performance at the inauguration to the left of this article. What do you think of her performance, and does it matter to you whether she performed live or not?

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Emily Sutherlin is also the Pregnancy Examiner, Celebrity Examiner and Women’s Issues Examiner.

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