The $850 million Obama Presidential Center in Chicago opened Thursday with a packed guest list spanning former presidents, global leaders, and major entertainment figures—alongside performances by Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Bono an
On Thursday. the stage for Barack Obama’s Chicago presidential center wasn’t just set with speeches and flags—it was built for a kind of American reach that shows up in the guest list. Former presidents stood alongside world leaders and entertainment icons on a 20-acre campus on Chicago’s South Side that cost $850 million in total.
The opening of the Obama Presidential Center—an $850 million project—was designed to commemorate Obama’s presidency from 2009 to 2017. and the grounds include a public library. playground. and sports facilities. The ceremony brought together a who’s who that stretched from politics to Hollywood. with music performances threading through the day.
Among those in attendance were former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Entertainment and philanthropy were woven into the lineup as Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, and Tom Hanks took their places among the guests.
Several music legends were in attendance, with Bruce Springsteen among those who performed. Obama and Springsteen have been friends for years; after Obama left the White House. the pair cohosted the podcast “Renegades: Born in the USA” and later collaborated on a book. Christina Aguilera also sang at the opening, delivering a rendition of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.”.
Jennifer Hudson performed the national anthem. Hudson grew up in Chicago, making the opening a homecoming for the EGOT-winning singer, actor, and talk show host. Bono and U2’s The Edge were part of the line-up. and Bono and U2 performed for Obama at his inauguration celebration in 2009. Stevie Wonder joined an all-star performance and. at Thursday’s opening ceremony. he joined Jennifer Hudson. John Legend. Common. and The Roots for a group performance. Wonder also performed at Obama’s inaugural celebration in 2009 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Obama in 2014.
The crowd included three late-night television legends. David Letterman, Stephen Colbert, and Conan O’Brien all attended the opening ceremony. NBA legend Dwayne Wade was spotted at the opening; Wade. a three-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer. was at the opening with his wife. actor Gabrielle Union.
For a photo moment that underscored the political weight of the day, four former presidents gathered: Obama, Joe Biden, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.
Hollywood’s biggest names were visible in Chicago as well. George Lucas attended the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center. Lucas is a major donor to the Obama Foundation, which oversaw construction of the presidential center. Steven Spielberg was there too, and he is a longtime friend of Obama. Spielberg was also named one of the honorees of the Obama Presidential Center.
Tyler Perry joined the Hollywood heavyweights in attendance. Perry built a fortune through his Madea franchise and Tyler Perry Studios. helping him amass an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion. according to Forbes. In the past, he has hosted fundraisers for Obama. Tom Hanks brought star power to the opening, and Obama awarded Hanks the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
One of Obama’s earliest supporters was also there: Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey, an honoree of the Obama Presidential Center, endorsed Obama before he had even declared his candidacy for president, and she has remained one of his longest-standing and most influential supporters.
At the center of it all was the Obama family. Former President Barack Obama. former first lady Michelle Obama. and their children. Malia Obama and Sasha Obama. attended the dedication ceremony for the opening of the project. Obama’s presidential center has been in the works since he left the White House.
The day’s overlap of former presidents, global leaders, and entertainment performers made one point hard to miss: the $850 million project wasn’t only being opened—it was being introduced to a broader public, through people who can turn attention into momentum.
Obama Presidential Center Barack Obama Chicago $850 million Justin Trudeau Angela Merkel Oprah Winfrey Tom Hanks Stevie Wonder Bruce Springsteen Christina Aguilera Jennifer Hudson Bono U2 The Edge David Letterman Stephen Colbert Conan O'Brien Dwayne Wade Gabrielle Union Joe Biden George W. Bush Bill Clinton George Lucas Steven Spielberg Tyler Perry Forbes Presidential Medal of Freedom Malia Obama Sasha Obama Michelle Obama