Lady Gaga belted out America’s national anthem and Jennifer Lopez performed a moving medley, featuring a line in Spanish, at the star-studded inauguration ceremony for new US President Joe Biden.

The two pop superstars were also joined by country hitmaker Garth Brooks who sang a soulful rendition of Amazing Grace at the event in Washington DC.

The ceremony was in stark contrast to Donald Trump’s inauguration four years earlier when he struggled to attract big-name musicians to perform.

Live updates as Joe Biden is sworn in as US president

Gaga wore a dove pin and a large red sculpted skirt as she sang into a gold microphone, delivering an emotional rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner.

As she left the podium, she spoke to Mr Biden and glanced at former president Barack Obama.

Gaga campaigned in Pennsylvania with Mr Biden before his election win in November, and the pair worked together when he was vice president to combat sexual assault on college campuses.

The Born This Way singer was followed at Wednesday’s ceremony by Lopez, dressed all in white, who performed a medley of This Land Is Your Land and America The Beautiful.

The singer, known as J Lo by her fans, started slowly before ramping up her performance, throwing in a line in Spanish.

She said “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” in Spanish before belting out “Let’s get loud” and then wrapping up her performance by singing the line “This land was made for you and me”.

She then blew a kiss to the crowd and turned around to say a few words to Vice President Kamala Harris before walking away.

Brooks raised a few eyebrows as he emerged to perform at the ceremony outside the US Capitol wearing jeans and a black cowboy hat.

Doffing his hat, he sang Amazing Grace a capella and asked the audience to sing a verse with him, saying: “Not just the people here, but the people at home, to work as one united.”

Leaving the podium, he donned his cowboy hat again, and shook hands and hugged Mr Obama.

Brooks had been careful to insist his decision to appear at Mr Biden’s inauguration was non-political and in the spirit of unity.

The country star turned down a chance to play for Mr Trump in 2017, citing a scheduling conflict, but previously performed during the inaugural celebration of Mr Obama in 2009.

More A-list stars are taking part in a TV programme called Celebrating America, hosted by Tom Hanks, which is taking the place of the usual official inaugural balls.

Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake and Bon Jovi are due to appear the event, while Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda will contribute a classical recitation.