(CNN) - The entertainment world may be in a swoon over Barack Obama, but one legendary soul singer is fuming at the new president and the pop star who serenaded the first couple on inauguration night.
Etta James, famous for her rendition of the song “At Last,” is apparently miffed that pop star Beyonce was tapped to perform the ballad as the president and first lady slow-danced during the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball on January 20.
“You guys know your president, right?” the singer asked an audience in Canada last week, according to audio posted on TMZ.com. “You know the one with big ears? Yeah, wait a minute. He ain’t my president.”
She then went after Beyonce: “That woman singing for him, singing my song? She’s gonna get her ass whipped.”
James added that she “can’t stand Beyonce” and that the starlet “has no business up there singing, singing up there on a big old President day, singing my song that I been singing forever.”
But is James flip-flopping on Beyonce? She did not raise an objection when the singer portrayed her in the film “Cadillac Records” - and just recently, James’s son told a New York paper that his mother was moved by the inauguration night performance.
From CNN Politics
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All of ya'll saying Beyonce didn't do the song justice are haters. There is room for every talent to shine, and the two singers can't be compared. Beyonce is talented, no matter what you think, her bank account proves it. Its a new season, but it doesn't mean Etta was any less talented. It just means times have changed a bit. Also, I'm with the person that commented on how blacks keep other blacks down. How petty to disrespect your President over jealously. Is it really that serious? Etta should feel good that beyonce is successful since she paved the way, and she should rally behind her President and allow him to be judged on political actions versus her own feelings and disappointments!
February 5th, 2009 6:42 pm ET
Etta……..dear, that is not YOUR SONG, the same one was written before you were born!!! unless you were born in the 1930s???????
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To Beachgirl: Um, yes Etta James was born in the 30's. She may have a case of sourgrapes but she's always been known for misbehavior as well as her voice.
Beyonce had no business singing that song. Even Queen Latifah did a better job than Beyonce.
Who is Etta James? Must have been before my time...
Does she OWN the rights to that song? She sure sounds like a bitter person. If she wanted to sing, why didn't she offer? She sounds like she might be staring alzeheimers in the face????
She didn't even write the song. Glen Miller recorded it in 1941, she was 3 years old then. It was a Nat King Cole song in '57 too.
It's a sad commentary that she was neglected at her stage in live. At Last............is her song............Then again..........she was hardh towards the other girl without givibg reasons.........I don't support or Obama or any progressive socialist abortionist. He is NOT my president nor the Unborn Childs,.That's for darn sure. That said...........who gives a squat about ego's gone awry?
Etta James is a has-been, most people think she's dead, she's so old.
Oh and if Ms. James was so upset about Beyonce doing the song why did she approve of her immitating her in the movie Cadillac Records and performing the song in the movie.
See that's what happens when you drink and do drugs to much... it kills the brain cells!!!!!
Oh snap... A cat fight, let me get some popcorn...
Good for Miss James!
Life's too short, Etta, get over it (though yours IS the best version ever). OTOH, if Obama asked Harry Connick, jr. to sing, say, "I left My Heart in San Francisco," I'd be a little ticked if I were Tony Bennett.
I voted for Obama and I am beyond happy that he's our President. That being said, it was pretty tasteless not letting Etta James sing it. President Obama shouldn't apologize for Daschle, he should apologize for this. Beyonce's got the looks, but she's no Etta James.
If McCain and Palin had won, they could have had Hank Williams Jr. sing "At Last...I can Attack Iran".
if i was prez i would rather have jennifer hudson serenade me over either of those two. never heard of etta james or her song lol
Maybe Etta and Rush Limbaugh can start a mutual admiration society, as both of their comments in regards to Obama are a lot of hot air spewed by self important people. Perhaps the reason she wasn't invited to sing at the inauguration is...oh, I don't know...she runs off at the mouth?
I guess she feels Dolly Parton should whoop Whitney Houston's backside too for singing "I will always love you"?
Joseph February 5th, 2009 6:21 pm ET
Whether you voted for him or not he is your President and he deserves your respect.......
Saying hes not your President and making fun of how he looks is outright mean spirited and has no place in this country......
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I AM SORRY, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN THE LAST 8 YEARS?????
Etta James??? Ohhhhh.........thaaaaat Etta James! I thought she was a deceased? Wow, she sure looks and sounds like it.
Sooo much ado about nothing. Let's focus on real issues like living a life that is pleasing to Jesus Christ who died on the cross for your sins and mine.
Lou from CT February 5th, 2009 5:59 pm ET
Etta needs to calm down – it is possible Mr Obama did not know how to get in touch with her. This is a non-issue.
You have got to be kidding right Lou?????????
He was the President elect at the time, he could have had someone find her in a matter of hours. He did not try, but the truth is,,, this is nothing more than tabloid news reporting.
Okay. A little obnoxious for James to say that Beyonce was singing HER song. Didn't James do a rendition? So isn't it not really James' song. Stupid. I agree with Dakota. Definitely crack or mental issues.
better than brittney singing it lol
BEACHGIRL-
ETTA IS WAY OLDER THEN MY DAD AND HE WAS BORN IN 45'
SO YEAH ETTA JAMES WOULD HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE 30's...
Even if it is her song...she's been singing.....BEYONCE was choosen.
ETTA CAN BITE ME.
Wow, so much american hate!!
Why don't you save it for your enemies? Oh, I forgot americans are there own enemies, excuse me.
I would expect a woman of Etta James' reknown to comport herself in a manner expected of a celebrity........ not call Beyonce out for some whoop-@. I'm disappointed.
It doesn't matter who sang it first or who sang it better.... I would think it would have been an honor to have "her" song sung at the inauguration.
I thought the comment was funny and in good spirit. Is Etta the one who was on that show Touched by an Angel? Man, she lost some weight. You go gurl. But for reals, lay off of Medea, oh, I mean Etta. I think Barack needs to invite Ms. Etta to the White House. And I think somebody needs to give Ms. Etta her own reality TV show 'cus that old heifer is a trip. Talk about kicking anything at your age....heifer please. Did too much clairol get in your brain?
I hope Etta James is happy with this new attention she is getting. Tomorrow people will be talking about somebody else and her 15 minutes of fame will be over.
Those comments she made were totally uncalled for. It just all sounded to me like Etta had had one drink too many and her mouth got loose and she couldn't catch it.