Wednesday 23rd January 2013 by Michael Baggs | Photos by WENN.com

Tags: Beyonce

Aretha Franklin claims she laughed out loud when she heard Beyonce had mimed at Barack Obama's second inauguration ceremony this week, and wishes she had done the same when she performed in 2009.

The music legend claims that weather conditions at the event in Washington earlier this week would have made it impossible for any singer to have performed live, and says that Beyonce did a really good job miming 'The Star Spangled Banner'.

"When I heard the news this evening that she was pre-recorded I really laughed. I thought it was funny because the weather down there was about 46 or 44 degrees and for most singers that is just not good singing weather," said Franklin in an interview with ABC news. "When I heard that I just really cracked up. I thought it was really funny, but she did a beautiful job with the pre-record."

Franklin performed at Obama's first inuaguration ceremony in 2009, and now wishes she had done the same.

Watch Beyonce's performance below

"Next time I'll probably do the same," Aretha adds. "I wanted to give people the real thing and pre-recording never crossed my mind."

Beyonce stunned viewers the world over with her performance of the American national anthem, but it was later revealed that he had mimed to a pre-record.

The Times newspaper claims to have had confirmation from a spokesperson for the Marine Corp Band, revealing that it is 'standard procedure' for performers to mime at such events. Organisers were said to be unwilling to allow Beyonce to perform live and she performed to a pre-recorded version of the track.

Yo Yo Ma is also said to have mimed his cello performance in 2008 due to similar precautions. Beyonce was seen tearing her earpiece out during the song, which was seen as many as yet another highlight of her showstopping performance - but it now appears that the act was a fake, if dramatic, gesture.

Below: Beyonce steals the show at Barack Obama's second inuaguration