By Emily Parsons

Last updated at 11:18, Saturday, 12 May 2012

Performing at the White House was “surreal, terrifying and wonderful”, according to Carlisle pop star Rumer.

Rumer

Rumer, real name Sarah Joyce, was the only UK artist asked to perform by President Barack Obama and First Lady at a concert honouring Burt Bacharach and Hal David on Wednesday.

Her performance went without a hitch though, and she told the News & Star afterwards that the experience had been “surreal and wonderful, and terrifying”.

In a Facebook message to her fans, Rumer later wrote: “I'm still alive! And in love with Secret Service agents. (When you chance upon them, and they open the door for you, cue sharp intake of breath.)”

She continued: “I do not know where to start... I couldn't hear a thing anyway but didn't help that my heart was thumping in my chest like I was going to have a heart attack. Most wonderful evening of my life.”

Rumer moved to Carlisle from the New Forest at the age of 11 with her dad Jim and sister Kathy, attending Newman School before moving south aged 16 to pursue her music career.

At the White House, despite recovering from a cold, the 32-year-old sang A House is Not a Home, written by Bacharach and David.

Concerned fans had used social media sites to bombard the singer with tips to cure a sore throat, after she tweeted she had a “terrible debilitating cold” and had lost her voice.

The all-star bill also included Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow and actor Mike Myers.

At the concert, President Obama presented Bacharach and David with the 2012 Library of Congress Prize for Popular Song, the first time the honour has gone to a songwriting team.

The concert will be broadcast on American television on May 21.

First published at 08:58, Saturday, 12 May 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk