Beyonce sings At Last for Barack – Michelle Obama first dance

Barack Obama’s Inaugural Day swearing-in ceremony is likely to set a new precedent in terms of celebrity participation.

For the first time, the Presidential Oath of Office of a US President will be such a multi-cultural affair with performances by artists like Aretha Franklin, the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus choruses, the  U.S. Navy and Marines bands.

Aretha Franklin will sing at Barack Obama

Inauguration Day will also have a musical selection of John Williams, performed by the quartet: Itzhak Perlman, (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Gabriela Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet).

As per tradition, on Inaugural Night, the Presidential Inaugural Committee will host 10 inaugural balls that include the Commander-in-Chief’s Ball, the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball, the Youth Inaugural Ball, five regional balls, and two balls for Illinois and Hawaii, his home states.

Beyonce will sing At Last for Barack and Michelle Obama

Beyonce is said to provide the vocals for Barack and Michelle Obama’s first dance on Inauguration night. She will sing Etta James’ classic At Last.

Reports also say that Beyonce will perform at the Neighborhood Ball that will be held at the Washington Convention Center. She will be accompanied by husband Jay-Z, will.i.am, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Shakira, Sting, Faith Hill, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder and Maroon 5.

Mariah Carey will perform at the Neighborhood Ball

The Neighborhood Ball will see the likes of celebrities like Jessica Alba, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kate Walsh as presenters.

Hollywood will be more than adequately represented by Anne Hathaway, Susan Sarandon, Marcia Cross, Tim Robbins, Seal, Adrian Grenier, Ashley Judd, Jane Krakowski, Rachael Leigh Cook, Spike Lee and Ron Howard.

Sting will perform at the Neighborhood ball

Barack Obama’s Inaugural opening ceremony on January 19, 2009 included performances from artists like U2, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Shakira and Usher among others.

The ceremony also included Martin Luther King III quoting John F. Kennedy, Laura Linney quoting Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Tom Hanks quoting Abraham Lincoln.