Official: Beyonce 'did not sing live'

Beyonce did not sing the US national anthem live at this week's public swearing-in ceremony of President Barack Obama for his second term, CNN quoted an inaugural official as saying Wednesday.

The R&B singer has yet to comment on a furor over whether or not she lip-synced the words on Monday to "The Star-Spangled Banner" before an estimated crowd of one million people on the National Mall in Washington.

"She did not sing live," the unnamed inaugural official was quoted as saying.

The official also told CNN that Beyonce herself has decided on Sunday not to perform live, as she had arrived too late to have proper rehearsal time with the US Marine Band.

On Tuesday, the US Marine Corps confirmed that, instead of its band playing live to accompany Beyonce, a pre-recorded version of the anthem was used.

But it added that, as far as the Grammy-winning chart-topper's vocal performance was concerned, it was not in a position to say whether or not she sang live.