Lizzo invited to James Madison's home after playing his 200-year-old crystal flute

vt-author-image

By Asiya Ali

Article saved!Article saved!

After playing a 200-year-old flute once owned by James Madison, Lizzo has now been presented with the opportunity to perform at his home.

The 34-year-old singer was invited to the Virginia House, called Montpelier, which is a museum and memorial to the former president of the United States who led the nation from 1809 to 1817.

According to TMZ, a representative of the Montpelier estate said that they had extended an invitation to the singer - whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson - to perform at Madison's home after her first performance with his flute went viral.

Additionally, the 2,650-acre Virginia estate employees also shared a statement to Billboard about the 'Juice' musician's invitation, saying: "We’re crossing our fingers that she would consider adding a stop at James Madison’s Montpelier" after her tour.

Watch Lizzo play the 200-year flute below:

The fourth president - who is considered the architect of the Bill of Rights - grew up in the house and lived there before and after his presidency until he died in 1836, according to the website for the home.

Visitors can now take tours of the house and grounds and see exhibitions like The Mere Distinction of Colour, which is a gallery that looks at the impact of slavery on modern-day conversations about race, identity, and human rights.

The 'Truth Hurts' singer first got the chance to play the renowned crystal flute - which was made by the French mechanic Claude Laurent for the former President’s second inauguration - when the Library of Congress invited her to look at their large flute collection.

The crystal flute was almost destroyed in April 1814, during the war, when the British entered Washington, D.C. However, according to the Library, the first lady Dolley Madison retrieved it from the White House.

Lizzo accepted their offer and took a tour of the collection when she was in Washington on September 28 for her The Special tour. At the library hall, she performed an arrangement of the folk tune The Carnival of Venice with the crystal instrument.

wp-image-1263140400 size-full
Credit: UPI / Alamy

"She is amazingly talented," Carol Lynn Ward-Bamford, curator for the Library of Congress flute collection, told the Washington Post. "It was one happy afternoon watching her enjoy and love being at the library and Great Hall."

Not only did the 'About Damn Time' singer play the instrument in the Library's Great Hall during her visit, but they also let her play it at her concert.

The instrument was safely transported to the Capitol One Arena and was delivered to Lizzo on stage. Before trying out the precious instrument, she jested that it was like "playing a wine glass".

The award-winning musician played a few notes - while twerking - and then announced that she had made history as the first person to play the flute in 200 years.

Lizzo also thanked the library for the opportunity, saying: "Thank you to the Library of Congress for preserving our history and making history so freaking cool. History is freaking cool, you guys."

Of course, the joyous moment rubbed some people up the wrong way as they claimed she degraded American history by using such a unique relic as part of her performance.

But, clearly, the staff at the late president's estate would love for her to play a tune on the bedazzled instrument again.

Featured image credit: Sipa US / Alamy

Lizzo invited to James Madison's home after playing his 200-year-old crystal flute

vt-author-image

By Asiya Ali

Article saved!Article saved!

After playing a 200-year-old flute once owned by James Madison, Lizzo has now been presented with the opportunity to perform at his home.

The 34-year-old singer was invited to the Virginia House, called Montpelier, which is a museum and memorial to the former president of the United States who led the nation from 1809 to 1817.

According to TMZ, a representative of the Montpelier estate said that they had extended an invitation to the singer - whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson - to perform at Madison's home after her first performance with his flute went viral.

Additionally, the 2,650-acre Virginia estate employees also shared a statement to Billboard about the 'Juice' musician's invitation, saying: "We’re crossing our fingers that she would consider adding a stop at James Madison’s Montpelier" after her tour.

Watch Lizzo play the 200-year flute below:

The fourth president - who is considered the architect of the Bill of Rights - grew up in the house and lived there before and after his presidency until he died in 1836, according to the website for the home.

Visitors can now take tours of the house and grounds and see exhibitions like The Mere Distinction of Colour, which is a gallery that looks at the impact of slavery on modern-day conversations about race, identity, and human rights.

The 'Truth Hurts' singer first got the chance to play the renowned crystal flute - which was made by the French mechanic Claude Laurent for the former President’s second inauguration - when the Library of Congress invited her to look at their large flute collection.

The crystal flute was almost destroyed in April 1814, during the war, when the British entered Washington, D.C. However, according to the Library, the first lady Dolley Madison retrieved it from the White House.

Lizzo accepted their offer and took a tour of the collection when she was in Washington on September 28 for her The Special tour. At the library hall, she performed an arrangement of the folk tune The Carnival of Venice with the crystal instrument.

wp-image-1263140400 size-full
Credit: UPI / Alamy

"She is amazingly talented," Carol Lynn Ward-Bamford, curator for the Library of Congress flute collection, told the Washington Post. "It was one happy afternoon watching her enjoy and love being at the library and Great Hall."

Not only did the 'About Damn Time' singer play the instrument in the Library's Great Hall during her visit, but they also let her play it at her concert.

The instrument was safely transported to the Capitol One Arena and was delivered to Lizzo on stage. Before trying out the precious instrument, she jested that it was like "playing a wine glass".

The award-winning musician played a few notes - while twerking - and then announced that she had made history as the first person to play the flute in 200 years.

Lizzo also thanked the library for the opportunity, saying: "Thank you to the Library of Congress for preserving our history and making history so freaking cool. History is freaking cool, you guys."

Of course, the joyous moment rubbed some people up the wrong way as they claimed she degraded American history by using such a unique relic as part of her performance.

But, clearly, the staff at the late president's estate would love for her to play a tune on the bedazzled instrument again.

Featured image credit: Sipa US / Alamy