Legends, Celebrities and Politicos !!!
A M A Z I NG Mega-Production Today!
WHO WAS THERE TODAY?!!
Rieny G. Cualoping
Grand Opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois
The Grand Opening of the Obama Presidential Center today (Invite-Only) showcased amazing A-List artists and drew many A-list celebrities, as well as four living former Presidents and their spouses!
Former President Barack Obama, joined on stage by his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters Malia and Sasha Obama, oversaw a star-studded grand opening ceremony that also featured other living former presidents: Joe Biden, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and former First Ladies Dr. Jill Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush.
Former world leaders introduced at the start of the program included former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The 19-acre Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side features a museum (designed by Tod Williams and Xx Tchien), a new Chicago Public Library branch complete with all new books, an athletic center (complete with an NBA-regulation-size basketball court), a civic center, a playground and a vegetable garden.
PROGRAM
The Obama Foundation featured several Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and musical legends among the performers participating in the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on June 18.
They include:
The Roots
Bruce Springsteen
Christina Aguilera
Common
Eddie Vedder
Jennifer Hudson
John Legend
Stevie Wonder
Marc Anthony
Tems
U2’s Bono and The Edge and
Marsai Martin
Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem and Aguilera performed, “What a Wonderful World.” Pearl Jam’s Vedder, joined by Chicago teenagers in the nonprofit Guitars Over Guns program, sang an original song called “Better Believe,” written just for the dedication.
John Legend sang “Someday We’ll All Be Free” and was joined by rapper Common and Uniting Voices Chicago for their Academy Award-winning song, “Glory.”
Bono joined with The Edge in singing the U2 song “City of Blinding Lights.” The Roots served as the house band.
CELEBRITY GUESTS
Among the celebrity guests in attendance were media mogul Oprah Winfrey, tennis legend Billie Jean King, filmmaker George Lucas (and his wife Mellody Hobson) and filmmaker Stephen Spielberg, actor Tyler Perry, actresses Gabrielle Union and Quinta Brunson, basketball player Dwyane Wade and his wife, Gabrielle Union, and TV personality Gayle King.
Comedians David Letterman, Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert were in attendance, as were musician Jon Baptiste, actors Tom Hanks (and his wife actress Rita Wilson) and actor Mark Hamill; rapper-actor LL Cool J., tennis legend Billie Jean King and Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts, and comedian actor Dave Chappelle.
John Legend was joined by his wife, model Chrissy Teigen. Model Karlie Kloss also attended.
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and
U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis (D-7th) were in attendance.
POLITICOS
Valerie Jarrett, the Obama Foundation's chief executive, stressed ahead of the opening that the center is a nonpartisan space open to people with "different political ideologies," however, some of the guests weee among the candidates jockeying in the Democratic primary for president.
Rumored 2028 White House contenders, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, were in attendance.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, also attended with Former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff , as did many megadonors and other public office hopefuls gearing up for their congressional midterms this fall.
US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York was in attendance .
Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (R) and her husband Paul Pelosi were also in attendance . Gabby Giffords was in attendance.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker was acknowledged by President Obama, as well as Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Also in attendance was Illinois First Lady MK Pritzker. Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias was in attendance. Bill Daley was in attendance. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis (D-7th).
OTHER
Civil rights leaders Andrew Young and Rev. Al Sharpton were introduced attendance.
The invite-only celebration was livestreamed and kicks off a weekend of events centered around the Obama Presidential Center, which opens to the general public on Juneteenth. Thousands more watched from a nearby park.
ENERI News Blogger
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ABOUT …
The Obama Presidential Center is a privately operated, non-federally run organization, and it's not part of the National Archives and Records Administration’s presidential library system, which comprises sixteen Presidential Libraries.
Obama and the Obama Foundation decided in 2017 to work outside the normal guardrails of the National Archives, which holds his presidential papers.
Instead, the documents are being digitized and are available for researchers and the public online in the first fully digital presidential library, managed by the National Archives.
Sources: Online and In-Person!
FW: PHOTO LINK(S)
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/18/obama-presidential-center-opening-chicago-photos-trump.html
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