Who else sang the national anthem at presidential inaugurations?
Published 2:49 pm Saturday, December 17, 2016
On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump picked “America’s Got Talent” star Jackie Evancho to sing the national anthem at his Jan. 20 inauguration. Here’s a list of some previous singers who sang at 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.
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: Beyonce performed the national anthem. She later said she had lip synced to a taped track. (James Taylor also sang.)