Beyonce Says She Sang Along With Prerecorded Track At Obama Inauguration

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Beyonce stepped in front of the media Thursday to preview her halftime performance at the Super Bowl.

After a brief greeting, the superstar asked the audience to stand and immediately belted out an unaccompanied rendition of the "The Star-Spangled Banner" which was received with hoots and applause.

She was promptly asked about her much-discussed rendition of the national anthem at President Barack Obama's inauguration last week. Her critically praised performance came under scrutiny less than a day later when a representative from the U.S. Marine Band said she wasn't singing live and the band's accompanying performance was taped.

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"Well, I am a perfectionist," Beyonce said. "I practice until my feet bleed, and I did not have time to rehearse with the orchestra. It was a live television show, and a very, very important, emotional show for me, one of my proudest moments. And due to the weather, due to the delay, due to no proper sound check, I did not feel comfortable taking a risk. It was about the president and the inauguration and I wanted to make him and my country proud. So I decided to sing along with my prerecorded track, which is very common in the music industry. I am very proud of my performance."

She also wouldn't say which team she was rooting for. But one thing was for certain:

"I will absolutely be singing live," Beyonce said. "I am well rehearsed. I will absolutely be singing live. This is what I was born to do, what I was born for."

The use of a recording is typical in big events. In 2009, cellist Yo-Yo Ma was questioned about "hand-synching" for Obama's first inauguration. Ma said instruments weren't functioning properly in 19-degree weather.

"The 2009 Super Bowl was contentious. Jennifer Hudson lip synced the National Anthem and Faith Hill lip synced 'America the Beautiful,'" said Dorothy Cascerceri of In Touch magazine.

At the 1991 Super Bowl, Whitney Houston's memorable performance of the national anthem was also sung to a track.

There has been plenty of speculation about Beyonce's Super Bowl performance, including reports there would be a Destiny's Child reunion with Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland (Williams has shot down such speculation). Some are also curious about whether her husband, Jay-Z, will join her onstage, as they often do for each other's shows.

Beyonce wouldn't tip her hand as to what to expect from her show.

"I can't really give you any details, I'm sorry," the singer said coyly. "I'm so anxious."

At the news conference, she also talked about her up coming documentary "Life Is But A Dream." Beyonce directed the intimate look at her life, CBS 2's Otis Livingston reported.

"I feel like it's time. It's time for people to really get to know me and see a different side," she said.

Beyonce has teased photos and video of herself preparing for the show, which will perhaps be the biggest audience of her career.

Last year, Madonna's halftime performance was the most-watched Super Bowl halftime performance ever, with an average of 114 million viewers. It garnered more viewers than the game itself, which was the most-watched U.S. TV event in history.

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