Mariah Carey 'furious' at Obama

Mariah Carey was left "furious" after being told she wouldn't be sitting with US President Barack Obama's family during his inauguration.

The 'Touch My Body' singer - who performed at a ball to celebrate Obama being sworn in - was left aghast when she discovered she had to sit with other celebrities during Tuesday's (20.01.09) ceremony.

A source said: "Mariah was in the VIP area, where every celebrity, like Jon Bon Jovi, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and Bruce Springsteen, was seated. But somehow she thought she'd be up with the Obama family. When she realised she wasn't, she bailed."

Rapper P. Diddy - who was so delighted to see Obama become America's first African-American President he blew kisses at him as he was being sworn in - was also said to be unhappy with the ceremony, because he wasn't asked to perform while rapper Jay-Z was.

However, a spokesman for Diddy, real name Sean Combs, has denied the allegations, saying: "It was one of the greatest moments of his life. Sean was invited to the inauguration and was seated third row, with Jay-Z, at the ceremony."

Mariah's publicist declined to comment.