Carla Hayden: Last News

Zack Sharf Lizzo made history this week during the Washington D.C. stop of her “The Special Tour” when she performed with a 200-year-old flute once owned by Founding Father and U.S. president James Madison. The flute was gifted to Madison in 1813 and has been maintained by the Library of Congress. “Bitch, I just twerked and played James Madison’s crystal flute from the 1800s,” Lizzo told concertgoers. “We just made history tonight!” Lizzo is a classically trained flutist and only blew a few notes out of Madison’s crystal flute, which she was invited to play by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, and yet Republicans are up in arms over the brief performance. Several GOP members took to social media after videos of Lizzo playing the flute went viral to accuse her of “desecrating American history just for the sake of it,” as right-wing pundit Matt Walsh alleged on Twitter.

The Library of Congress National Film Registry has unveiled their 25 movie title additions for the year, a quarter of them being films from the 1980s.

Rebecca Rubin Senior Film and Media Reporter David Fincher’s 2010 Facebook drama “The Social Network,” 1974’s indie horror classic “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey’s Catskills-set love affair “Dirty Dancing” have been selected for preservation by the National Film Registry. The Librarian of Congress annually recognizes 25 motion pictures that are at least 10 years old and register as “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. This year, more than 6,700 titles were submitted by the public for consideration.

Elton John and his longtime writing partner Bernie Taupin are being honored in a new PBS special and there’s an incredible performers lineup!

Queen Latifah has done a lot over her 30-year career and she's celebrating some major milestones!Among her many accolades? The beloved «First Lady of Hip-Hop» made history in April when she became the first-ever female rapper to be inducted into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry with her classic 1989 debut album, .On April 12, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced that Queen Latifah is among several music icons, including Madonna («Like a Virgin»), Mariah Carey («All I Want for Christmas Is You») and 22 others whose musical recordings will be preserved in the Library of Congress for 2023.«The National Recording Registry preserves our history through recorded sound and reflects our nation's diverse culture,» Hayden said at the time. «The national library is proud to help ensure these recordings are preserved for generations to come, and we welcome the public's input on what songs, speeches, podcasts or recorded sounds we should preserve next.

Joni Mitchell made a rare live appearance to perform at the Library of Congress as part of the Gershwin Prize awards this week.Mitchell appeared at the Library of Congress in Washington DC on Thursday (March 2) as part of the LOC’s Gershwin Prize week. Footage shared on social media from the event shows Mitchell performing her 1966 hit ‘The Circle Game’ and ‘Summertime’ – see below.The Canadian folk singer was at the Library as part of the Live at the Library series in conversation with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.

Joni Mitchell will receive the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, with plans for a tribute concert in Washington, D.C. that will air on PBS stations on March 31.

Special! Lizzo recently showed off her skills on a very unique instrument: former President James Madison’s 200-year-old crystal flute.

Lizzo just played an instrument with a whole lot of history. During the 34-year-old singer's Tuesday concert at Washington, D.C.'s Capital One Arena, Lizzo played a crystal flute gifted to President James Madison by Claude Laurent in 1813, which currently resides at the Library of Congress.«I want everybody to make some noise for James Madison’s crystal flute, y'all,» Lizzo told the crowd as Library curator Carol Lynn Ward-Bamford brought the instrument out onstage.

Lizzo is an appreciator of history, even as she continues to make it. Tuesday night (September 27) at the Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C., she played a two-century-old crystal flute gifted by French craftsman Claude Laurent to James Madison — the fourth president of the United States of America — in 1813 to honor his second inauguration.

James Madison’s crystal flute during a concert on Wednesday night in Washington, DC. Loaned to her by the Library of Congress, handlers appeared onstage during “The Special Tour” stop, gently lending the Grammy-winning artist the 200-year-old instrument. “Bitch, I’m scared,” the “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)” songstress declared into the microphone.

EXCLUSIVE: Six finalists were announced today for the richest prize in documentary film—the 4th Annual Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film.

Livin’ La Vida Loca is one of the most iconic Latin pop songs, and it is going to be added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. The song composed by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa and performed by Ricky Martin is one of 25 pieces that were considered all-time cultural treasures worthy of preservation based on its cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.Livin’ La Vida Loca, marked a before and after in Latin crossover upon its release on March 23, 1999.

Lin-Manuel Miranda introduced a Hamilton cast performance of Dear Theodosia as part of the congressional events marking the first anniversary of the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

The first anniversary of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol will be marked by continuous coverage across the broadcast and cable news networks, as reporters and anchors recount the events of that day while sharing plenty of consternation over what has happened since.

Meghan Markle has been making headlines for the publication of her children’s book The Bench.