HOH’s One-Minute Recess: Beatlemania Hits Washington
Sir Paul McCartney is arguably the most famous entertainer alive today — but it turns out that even a music legend gets nervous to meet the president.
President Barack Obama will present McCartney with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during a special tribute concert in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday. McCartney admitted at a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Library that he’s a big Obama fan — and has a few butterflies about performing for the commander in chief.
“For an English kid growing up in Liverpool, the White House — that’s pretty special,” McCartney told reporters.
“Let’s face it, this is not our usual crowd,” McCartney added. “So we’re going to be nervous. … I intend to just have fun.”
McCartney spent most of his Tuesday at the Library, where he gave a special evening performance for attendees ranging from Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to comedian Jerry Seinfeld and the Jonas Brothers. Everybody appeared in awe of the Beatles star — even some of the typically jaded reporters at the press conference geeked out and asked McCartney to sign their Beatles memorabilia.
(HOH notes that after the presser wrapped up, McCartney graciously hung around to sign a few things before being whisked away.)
McCartney has also done a few touristy things while in D.C. — Librarian of Congress James Billington gave McCartney a tour earlier in the day, the singer noted. “It was something else,” McCartney said.
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