Superstar Beyoncé Knowles brought the house down when she performed the "Star-Spangled Banner" Monday at the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
But today the Marine Corps Band confirmed to News4 that Beyoncé decided to perform to a pre-recorded track at the last minute due to her busy schedule.
The news was previously reported by Washingtonian magazine Tuesday.
"We received last-minute word that Beyoncé wanted to use the recording," the magazine quotes a spokesperson as saying.
Colonel Colburn, the Director of Marine Corps Band, told NBC News that all music for the inaugural festivities is pre-recorded in case of bad weather or extenuating circumstances.
Beyonce, who has been busy getting ready for the Superbowl, had not had time to rehearse with the Marine Corps Band, Colburn said. Colburn said she expressed concern about that, adding that he felt any artist would be uncomfortable under those circumstances.
He said that, "it looked and sounded like she was singing her heart out," from his spot, but he really didn't know whether she was actually singing over the track playing, adding that only the sound person and Beyonce herself would know that.
He said the band "created a visual simulation of playing," since there was cameras on them, but the entire performance was from a recorded track.
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The Marine Band did perform live elsewhere in the ceremony.
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BuzzFeed noted that the singer didn't actually rehearse with the Marine Band until the night before -- possibly because she was preparing for her upcoming Super Bowl performance.
More from the Inauguration:
