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Beyoncé tops bill at Obama concert
By Mark Blunden, London Lite Last updated at 12:30pm on 19.01.09Beyoncé closed a star-studded concert in honour of Barack Obama attended by nearly half a million people. Fans braved near-freezing conditions to pack Washington's National Mall yesterday, ahead of the President-elect's inauguration tomorrow.
Destiny's child: Beyoncé's musical tribute to America's first black president
Beyoncé was joined by a string of A-list musicians including Bono and Bruce Springsteen. Mary J Blige performed the finale, America The Beautiful.
In harmony: Beyoncé with stars including Bono, Stevie Wonder on harmonica, and Springsteen
Gospel and soul were the main themes, but there were plenty of rock, hip hop, country and jazz stars to reflect Obama's inclusive campaign.
Tight security: the Obama family watching the show behind bullet-proof glass with vice-President-elect Joe Biden and his wife
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Ce l ebr at ion at the Linc ol n Memorial kicked off with the Democrat winner's campaign theme, The Rising, performed by Springsteen and a gospel choir. The unlikely pairing of soul singer Bettye LaVette and Jon Bon Jovi sang Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come, changing the line to: "A change has come." Will.i.am was accompanied by Herbie Hancock and Sheryl Crow for Bob Marley's One Love.
Pride: U2's Bono on stage
There were poignant reminders of the African-American struggle as 40 years ago civil rights supporters had gathered at the same spot to listen to Dr Mar t in Luther King. Speakers included Tiger Woods and Samuel L Jackson, who paid tribute to anti-segregation heroine Rosa Parks.
U2 sang Pride (In the Name of Love), about Dr King, but Bono courted controversy, adding afterwards: "And also a Palestinian dream."
There were also performances by Usher and Shakira on Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground as Wonder sang "O-ba-ma".
Security nerves were evident as the Obama family were shielded by a bulletproof glass screen, with snipers on the roof of the Lincoln Memorial.
As the concert wound down, the biggest security operation in US history continued ahead of the inauguration on the steps of the Capitol Building where guests will include Hudson river hero pilot Chesley Sullenberger.
