Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

South Korea's President Stuns White House Dinner Attendees By Sweetly Singing 'American Pie'

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol sings "American Pie" during a state dinner at the White House
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President Yoon Suk Yeol got a standing ovation from the White House crowd after showing off his vocal chops with the Don McLean classic.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol surprised everyone with his musical talent during the White House state dinner on Wednesday.

After a musical medley by three Broadway stars, First Lady Jill Biden requested the trio sing one more song—Yoon’s favorite, "American Pie"—which was made famous by singer Don McLean in 1971.


The South Korean leader then took the microphone and delivered a brief rendition, followed by a full performance to huge cheers and a standing ovation from guests. President Joe Biden led the acclaim for his counterpart's musical abilities, and even handed him an autographed guitar from McLean himself.

The room cheered at the sight of the politician very clearly enjoying himself as he performed the first verse of the classic song.

You can see the performance below.

South Korean President Yoon sings 'American Pie'www.youtube.com

The footage circulated on social media as well when journalists like Reuters White House correspondent Jeff Mason shared it.

Footage of the performance quickly went viral and prompted many to express their

Many viewed the performance as an example of camaraderie between American politicians and their allies.








The performance came after the two leaders announced an agreement to counter North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s nuclear threats, and amid Yoon's six-day state visit to Washington to mark the 70th anniversary of the U.S. and South Korea's alliance.

The South Korean President's visit also included an opportunity to address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday.

Despite the post-dinner entertainment and the guest stars, Yoon's performance was the talk of the night, with movie star Angelina Jolie among the guests who gave him a standing ovation.

"American Pie," which was written by Don McLean, has become a symbol of American popular culture and has been sung in karaoke bars and venues around the world.

The musical performance was a welcome change from the recent leak of classified Defense Department documents.

In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Yoon said that it will not affect the relationship between the two countries. As the South Korean president's visit continues, he has proven that he is not only a skilled politician, but a talented performer as well.

More from People

Elon Musk
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Neo-Nazis Celebrate After Elon Musk Appeared To Give Nazi Salute At Trump Inauguration Parade

After billionaire Elon Musk appeared to give a "Nazi salute" to the crowd at a Trump rally during yesterday's inauguration festivities, not once but twice, neo-Nazis celebrated his actions in their online channels.

Following President Donald Trump's swearing-in, Musk spoke at a rally held at D.C.'s Capital One Arena and said:

Keep ReadingShow less
Timothée Chalamet
BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images

Timothée Chalamet Rode E-Bike To Film Premiere And Got Fined For It—And People Are Obsessed

Academy Award nominee Timothée Chalamet caused a stir when arriving at the London premiere of his new Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown on a Lime e-bike.

Lime is one of London's most popular shared electric vehicle companies offering an affordable, carbon-free public transportation alternative.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Joe Biden
Rebecca Noble/Getty Images; Mandel Ngan/Pool/Getty Images

Trump's New Portrait Was Unveiled—And People Think One Side Of His Face Looks Like Biden

In case you missed it, President Donald Trump's new presidential portrait was unveiled just before his inauguration—but it has social media users weirded out now that they've realized that half of his face kind of resembles Joe Biden.

The portrait features Trump dressed in a blue suit and tie, standing before an American flag. The composition is tightly framed, focusing on his face and upper chest. His expression is stern, with a slightly raised eyebrow.

Keep ReadingShow less
A man with his hands on his head
The Biggest Mistakes People Have Ever Made At Work
The Biggest Mistakes People Have Ever Made At Work

People Share Their Best 'Oops, I Just Really F*cked Up' Experiences

"To err is human".

Anyone who claims never to have made a mistake in their life is mostly likely lying. Thankfully, most mistakes we make, be they at work or at home, alone or directly in front of people, generally go unnoticed.

Keep ReadingShow less
David Lynch with Kyle MacLachlan
Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Kyle MacLachlan Pens Beautiful Tribute To David Lynch For Giving Him His 'Entire Career'

Kyle MacLachlan, a frequent collaborator of the late filmmaker David Lynch, wrote a heartfelt tribute on social media detailing how working with the iconic director significantly changed his life.

Lynch's family announced that the filmmaker died on January 15 at the age of 78, prompting a flood of tributes from fans and industry colleagues on social media.

Keep ReadingShow less