BCC News [https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63058818] reports that the singer and trained flautist was granted permission by The Library of Congress to play the instrument, which arrived on stage with a police escort.

Inspecting it on stage, she said: "It's like playing out of a wine glass."

She then played a few notes while simultaneously shaking her lower body.

NOBODY HAS EVER HEARD THIS FAMOUS CRYSTAL FLUTE BEFORE

NOW YOU HAVE

IM THE FIRST & ONLY PERSON TO EVER PLAY THIS PRESIDENTIAL 200-YEAR-OLD CRYSTAL FLUTE— THANK YOU @librarycongress ?? pic.twitter.com/VgXjpC49sO

— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) September 28, 2022

James Madison, America's fourth President from 1809 to 1817, made a major contribution to the ratification of the Constitution by writing The Federalist Papers, along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. In later years, he was referred to as the Father of the Constitution.

A spokesperson for the Library of Congress told the BBC that the flute may have been played in public on a rare special occasion in the past, most likely in Madison's time.

Until Lizzo picked up the flute, the Library's curator, who has worked at the Library since 1993, had never heard it played live.

Following her historic gig, The Library of Congress tweeted to confirm the flute had been returned safely.

"We just did a DNA test," they posted. "Turns out: It's 100% that [crystal] flute" - a play on words with the lyrics from Lizzo's hit song Truth Hurts.

Grammy-winner Lizzo is currently touring the US in support of her fourth album, Special, which featured the TikTok hit, About Time.

BBC News