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From Beyoncé to Lady Gaga, Who Else Sang the National Anthem at Presidential Inaugurations?

FILE PHOTO: Donald Trump takes the stage to address supporters at his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Donald Trump takes the stage to address supporters at his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
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From Beyoncé to Lady Gaga, Who Else Sang the National Anthem at Presidential Inaugurations?

FILE PHOTO: Donald Trump takes the stage to address supporters at his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Donald Trump takes the stage to address supporters at his rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo

President-elect Donald Trump selected opera tenor Christopher Macchio to perform the national anthem at Monday's inauguration, at which Carrie Underwood will also perform “America the Beautiful,” The Associated Press reported. Here’s a list of some singers at previous 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 US 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 US 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: Beyoncé performed the national anthem and later said she had lip-synced to a taped track. James Taylor also sang.
Donald Trump, 2017: Jackie Evancho sang the national anthem.
Joe Biden, 2021: Lady Gaga sang the national anthem. Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks also performed.

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Berlin Film Festival Organizers Unveil 2025 Competition Line-up

File Photo: Executive Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Mariette Rissenbeek and Artistic Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Carlo Chatrian, Lupita Nyong'o, Jury President and jury members Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhk stand onstage during the opening gala of the 74th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
File Photo: Executive Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Mariette Rissenbeek and Artistic Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Carlo Chatrian, Lupita Nyong'o, Jury President and jury members Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhk stand onstage during the opening gala of the 74th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
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Berlin Film Festival Organizers Unveil 2025 Competition Line-up

File Photo: Executive Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Mariette Rissenbeek and Artistic Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Carlo Chatrian, Lupita Nyong'o, Jury President and jury members Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhk stand onstage during the opening gala of the 74th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
File Photo: Executive Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Mariette Rissenbeek and Artistic Director of the Berlin International Film Festival Carlo Chatrian, Lupita Nyong'o, Jury President and jury members Brady Corbet, Ann Hui, Christian Petzold, Albert Serra, Jasmine Trinca and Oksana Zabuzhk stand onstage during the opening gala of the 74th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

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Richard Linklater's new feature about a Broadway composer, a documentary about young people in war-torn Ukraine and a homage to 1960s' spy films were among the films unveiled on Tuesday as part of the 2025 Berlin Film Festival's competition line-up.

"This is a major A-list festival with a thriving market," said new festival director Tricia Tuttle, with guests from more than 150 countries coming to the 75th edition of the festival, Reuters reported.

The 19 films in contention for the festival's Golden Bear top prize feature several directors making their return to the German capital, including Romania's Radu Jude, with his new dark comedy "Kontinental '25," and South Korea's Hong Sang-soo with his languorous family comedy "What Does that Nature Say to You".

Linklater, the US director known for "Before Sunrise," makes a buzzy return to the festival after more than a decade with "Blue Moon," about composer Lorenz Hart - the other half of famous songwriting team Rodgers and Hart - with an all-star cast including Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley and Andrew Scott.

"Reflection in a Dead Diamond" is Belgium-based duo Helene Cattet and Bruno Forzani's maximalist spy feature, while "Dreams" stars Jessica Chastain as an heiress who falls in love with a Mexican ballet dancer, and "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You" about a child's mysterious illness features Rose Byrne along with late-show TV host Conan O'Brien and rapper ASAP Rocky.

"Timestamp" is Kateryna Gornostai's observational documentary about life in Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion marks one of the more overtly political entries this year.

POLITICS AS USUAL?

The Berlin Film Festival, which this year runs from Feb. 13 to 23, is considered more political than its peers - Cannes, Venice, Sundance and Toronto.

"We do not shy away from this. It's arguably in the DNA of the city itself and also in the festival itself," US-born Tuttle told reporters.

The festival ends on the day of Germany's national election, though Tuttle said it does not plan to mark the event in any way other than encouraging people to vote.

Outside the competition, Oscar-winning "Parasite" director Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi "Mickey 17" with Robert Pattison will have its German premiere during the festival, as will James Mangold's Bob Dylan biopic with Timothee Chalamet "A Complete Unknown".

Tuttle took charge amid financial uncertainty at the festival, which had to slim down its program last year, and Berlin slashed its 2025 culture budget by millions of euros.

However, ahead of Tuesday's news conference, Germany's culture ministry said it would contribute an extra 1.9 million euros ($1.97 million) to the festival for its 75th anniversary.

That boost "allows us to deliver the festival with a balanced budget this year and... to relive the festival in the way that we want to in this anniversary year," said Tuttle.

US director Todd Haynes heads the international jury that will award this year's top prize. "Run Lola Run" director Tom Tykwer's new film "The Light" will open the festival.