Lizzo
Lizzo plays James Madison's 200-year-old crystal flute. Some people visit Washington, D.C., for the tourist attractions, like monuments and museums. They probably don't expect to see history of being made at a pop concert — but that's what happened to an arena full of fans at Lizzo's concert Tuesday night.
Wearing a glittery bodysuit, the singer held the instrument carefully.
"Wow," she said. Holding it up to the audience, Lizzo explained: “It's crystal. It's like playing out of a wine glass."
She proceeded to play a note. As the crowd went wild, Lizzo trilled the flute while twerking.
“I just twerked and played James Madison's crystal flute from the 1800s,” Lizzo told the audience, after returning the flute. “We just made history tonight.”
The superstar singer, rapper and classically trained flutist took a quick but momentous break from the setlist of "The Special Tour" to play a crystal flute that was owned by former President James Madison and loaned to her by the Library of Congress. That makes Lizzo the first and only person to play the centuries-old flute. Some believe Dolley Madison, the first lady, saved the flute along with a famous portrait of George Washington, the first president, before British troops burned the White House in 1814.
Madison was the fourth US president, in office from 1809 to 1817. Ordinarily, his crystal flute is housed at the Library of Congress. It was specially made for Madison's second inauguration by Claude Laurent, a French watchmaker and mechanic. Madison's name and title are engraved on the instrument, as is 1813, the year it was made. Here's the longer version. The flute is among the more than 1,800 flutes that now live in the Library of Congress, which has the largest such collection in the world, according to Carla Hayden, the librarian of Congress (a position nominated by the U.S. president and confirmed by the Senate ). Notably, Hayden is the first woman and first African American to hold the title.
This used to be a great place to come and hear about new and unheralded artists. Now, it's just turned into a shill factory for the Founding Fathers' delicate instruments. Last week, it was Ben Franklin's glass tuba, the week before that it was George Washington's faberge mandolin. What's next? John Adams' fiberglass hurdy gurdy?!?!? I've had enough! hope the checks from the Library of Congress are worth losing readers!
In the meantime, D.C. residents as well as history buffs and Lizzo fans from far and wide are amplifying the videos on social media and praising all involved for making the unforgettable moment possible — and especially Lizzo for championing the importance of history. As she said herself onstage:
"History is freaking cool, you guys!" As Lizzo played Madison's flute on Tuesday, she drew roars from the crowd. She then thanks the library.
Melissa Viviane Jefferson (born April 27, 1988), known professionally as Lizzo, is an American singer, rapper, flutist, and songwriter. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she later moved to Houston, Texas, where she began performing before moving to Minneapolis, where she began her recording career in hip hop music. Prior to signing with Nice Life Recording Company and Atlantic Records, Lizzo released two studio albums—Lizzobangers (2013) and Big Grrrl Small World (2015). Lizzo's first major-label EP, Coconut Oil, was released in 2016.
When asked about her sexuality in a June 2018 interview, Lizzo stated, "I personally don't ascribe to just one thing ... That's why the colors for LGBTQ+ are a rainbow! Because there's a spectrum and right now we try to keep it black and white. That's just not working for me."She has a strong LGBTQ+ following and has dubbed her fans "Lizzbians".[108] She later stated that she considers herself an ally and "leans heterosexual".
Lizzo grew up attending the Church of God in Christ. As of June 2020, Lizzo is a vegan. In 2022, Lizzo was romantically linked to comedian Myke Wright. She donated $500,000 to Planned Parenthood after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
Throughout her career, Lizzo has been subject to body shaming. She is considered an image for body positivity and self-confidence. She partially credits social media, and the Internet in general, for changing the narrative around size and giving visibility to overweight women. In December 2019, Lizzo sparked controversy at a Los Angeles Lakers game, where on camera she danced and twerked to her song "Juice" while wearing a dress that revealed her thong. In an interview with CBS This Morning she said, "Anyone who knows me knows that this is how I've always been. This is how I've always liked to dress."[
