Eva Mendes denied inauguration tickets

Tickets for Barack Obama's January 20 inauguration in Washington have been notoriously hard to come by, even for the great and the good and the gorgeous. It's the "hottest ticket party in town", said the actress and model Eva Mendes (pictured) who had her ticket application for the swearing-in ceremony refused. "I thought I had some pull - I usually do, and I've been shut down. It's the hardest party to get into."

One way to guarantee a ticket is to perform at the actual inauguration ceremony. A specially composed piece of music by John Williams will be performed by four of the world's best classical musicians including the cellist Yo Yo Ma and the violinist Itzhak Perlman. Legendary American soul artist Aretha Franklin will sing and African American poet Elizabeth Alexander has been asked to recite a poem.

For those who can't be at the swearing-in ceremony there are at least eight glitzy inauguration balls going on in Washington that night. Beyonce Knowles and her husband Jay-Z are rumoured to be performing at one, possibly alongside Leona Lewis.

The Creative Coalition, which lobbies for government support of the arts, have confirmed that their ball will see Elvis Costello and Sting perform for celebrity guests including actresses Anne Hathaway of The Devil Wears Prada fame, Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon and Marcia Cross who plays Bree Hodge in Desperate Housewives. Sarandon's husband Tim Robbins, singer Seal and directors Spike Lee and Ron Howard are also expected.