Beyonce Belts National Anthem At Super Bowl Event... Because She Can

Queen Bey owns up to inauguration rumors, but redeems herself with a live rendition of the previously aided 'Star-Spangled Banner.'

Decked out in all-white everything, Beyoncé took on all the critics and haters onstage in New Orleans on Thursday (January 31). She not only opened up about this Sunday's Super Bowl halftime performance, but sent a clear message about her talents.

Before she even took one single question, she belted out the national anthem, and finally addressed the speculation that she didn't sing it live at President Obama's inauguration last week, owning up to the chatter that she sang with a pre-recorded track at last week's inauguration.

Beyonce Sings The National Anthem At Super Bowl Press Conference

"Well, I am a perfectionist and one thing about me: I practice until my feet bleed. I did not have time to rehearse with the orchestra," she told the room of reporters. "It was a live television show and one of my proudest moments. Due to the weather, due to the delay, due to no proper sound check, I did not feel comfortable taking the risk. I wanted to make [Obama] and my country proud, so I decided to sing along with my pre-recorded track and I'm very proud of my performance."

She later addressed the controversy, noting that she "absolutely" intends to sing live on Sunday. "Typically they have you sing a pre-recorded track 'cause anything could wrong," she said of last Monday's performance. "So I did sing along with the pre-recorded track ... I always sing live. The inauguration was unfortunately a time where I could not rehearse with the orchestra, actually because I was practicing for the Super Bowl, so it was always the plan."

And, she reiterated a number of times that "I will absolutely be singing live [on Sunday]. I am well-rehearsed and I will be singing live. This is what I was born to do." She added, "Like I said I've had a 16-year career and all of the things that I've done has prepared me for this. So I'm ready. I love haters. No shame, no hate."

While she was open to discussing the lip-synch scandal, she decided to play coy when it came to divulging any details about Sunday's big show. With so many rumors floating around about what she might play at the show, she explained, "That was the hardest thing. I have so many songs and trying to condense a career into 12 minutes is not easy."

She was equally tight-lipped about the Destiny's Child reunion rumors. "I can't really give you any details. I'm sorry," she said. "Well we just had a new release and we did a new song. It was so exciting to hear us together again. I felt like a little teenager again when I heard us harmonize. It's always such a pleasure to be around them professionally and personally."

She also wouldn't share which team she's rooting for, instead noting that she's been hard at work for this performance for months. "It is nerve-racking and it is something that we have been preparing for four or five months," she said. "So, of course, I'm nervous and I think when I was driving up I just got chills. It's where my family is from, so it really makes me emotional. It's the one thing when I'm no longer here, it's what they're going to show. I'm so honored when I got into the Superdome, I took my shoes off and I planted my feet in the ground and I just ran. I'm so, so, so happy right now in my life."

It was also announced her "Dream Girls" co-star Jennifer Hudson would perform "America the Beautiful" with the Sandy Hook Elementary choir. It was already announced that Alicia Keys will perform the national anthem.

There was one more surprise for her fans. She shared that after her Super Bowl performance she'd have some announcements for her BeyHive, including her tour plans. "This has been an aspiration for me," Beyoncé said of her own performance this Sunday. "I just thank God that I'm given this opportunity."

Which songs will Beyoncé take on at the Super Bowl? Give us your predictions in the comments!