South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at the White House state dinner on Wednesday night with a rendition of Don McLean’s “American Pie.”
After a join press conference with Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden, the latter hosted the former at the White House for a dinner prepared by James Beard Award-winning chef Edward Lee, and with Broadway stars Lea Salonga, Norm Lewis and Jessica Vosk providing entertainment.
Although BLACKPINK and Lady Gaga were originally invited to perform at the state dinner, President Yoon himself stepped up to the plate when neither were available to make an appearance.
After the Broadway singers performed “American Pie” as an encore, Biden told Yoon, “We know this is one of your favorite songs,” to which Yoon responded through a translator, “Yes, that’s true. When I was going to school, it was one of my favorite songs.”
“We want to hear you sing it,” Biden said, encouraging the Korean president forward onto the stage.
In a video taken at the event, Yoon can be seen microphone in hand belting out the first few stanzas of the English-language song, much to the delight of the crowd.
“The next state dinner we’re going to have you’re looking at the entertainment,” Biden told the audience after Yoon’s performance.
Turning to Yoon, he said, “I had no damn idea you could sing.”
Although McLean was not present at the dinner, Biden presented the Korean president with a signed guitar sent by the singer.
