Dionne Warwick Comes to Washington for Inauguration

She’s a singer, actress, activist, and humanitarian. Soon Dionne Warwick may be adding “hostess extraordinaire” to her resume.

Warwick has been holding rooms at the Marriott Wardman Park hotel in Woodley Park since before the election in anticipation of a Barack Obama win. The singer, perhaps best known for her 1967 hit “I Say A Little Prayer,” is poised to celebrate the change of power on January 20 with a celebrity-studded bash—red carpet and all. Rumor has it that basketball star Shaquille O’Neal is on the confirmed guest list. As many as 5,000 people are expected to attend.

Warwick's entourage has already toured the hotel to ensure the guestrooms and party spaces are up to snuff. She's expected to officially announce her soirée, called the American Music Inaugural Ball, any day.

>> All Washingtonian.com Inauguration 2009 coverage

More>> Capital Comment Blog | News & Politics | Society Photos 

Emily Leaman