Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Clarkson & James Taylor will perform at President Barack Obama’s inauguration as he officially begins his second term this month.

Obama was personally involved in selecting the performers.

“Their music is often at the heart of the American story & speaks to folks across the country,” said Obama, who won a second term in November.

Cuban-American Richard Blanco will become the youngest ever inaugural poet at the quadrennial event, held in Washington D.C. on the 21st of January.

He will moreover be the first Hispanic or gay writer to take the role.

Obama said: “Richard’s writing will be wonderfully fitting for an inaugural that will celebrate the strength of the American people & our nation’s tremendous diversity.”

For the music, Beyonce will sing the national anthem, Clarkson will perform “My Country Tis of Thee” & Taylor will donate his rendition of “America the Beautiful.”

Taylor & Beyonce both sang at inaugural balls in 2009 after Obama was elected; her rendition of Etta James’ “At Last” has since become a staple of her live shows.

A vocal surrogate for Obama, she moreover wrote an open letter during the re-election campaign praising “the leader to take us from where We\'re to where we need to be.”

She & Jay-Z actively raised funds for Obama as well.

Source -Thehollywoodgossip