celebrities attended – Jackson Park filled with performers, athletes, and political heavyweights Thursday as the Obama Presidential Center opened on Chicago’s South Side. The ceremony drew icons from Mark Hamill to LL Cool J, along with musicians like Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hu
Jackson Park was full of famous faces Thursday as former President Barack Obama, his family and his supporters celebrated the opening of the Obama Presidential Center — a museum, public campus and library in the heart of his South Side stomping grounds.
The crowd swelled with local politicians. celebrities ranging from Mark Hamill to LL Cool J and David Letterman. and athletes including tennis legend Billie Jean King and basketball stars Dwyane Wade and Isiah Thomas. Marsai Martin served as the official correspondent for the watch party. held at Midway Plaisance — off site. but not far from the center.
The opening ceremony also carried a festival-worthy lineup of performers. Christina Aguilera sang a cover of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.” Aguilera previously joined Barack Obama at a Democratic National Finance Committee fundraiser in Los Angeles in 2018. where she performed at a private residence.
Marc Anthony took the stage with his 2013 hit “Vivir Mi Vida.” Anthony endorsed Obama for president in 2012 and joined him on the campaign trail to rally Latino voters. The former president’s official 2013 inauguration playlist. curated by Obama himself. includes Anthony’s 2007 cover of the Hector Lavoe song “Mi Gente.”.
Common, the Chicago rapper and producer, was also in the room. He has a long history with Obama. including being invited to the White House in 2011 to perform a poem during an evening celebrating American music and literature. In a 2021 appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. ” Common said Obama still owes him a one-on-one game of basketball.
Jennifer Hudson performed the national anthem. Michelle Obama appeared on an episode of “The Jennifer Hudson Show” last year, where she spoke with Hudson about motherhood, marriage and her South Side roots.
John Legend covered Donny Hathaway’s 1973 song “Someday We’ll All Be Free.” He was executive producer on the film “Southside With You. ” the story of how Barack and Michelle Obama first met. Legend spent a good amount of time with the Obamas to make the movie. including a double date with his wife. model Chrissy Teigen.
The Roots opened the ceremony. In 2018, Questlove curated a playlist for the release of Michelle Obama’s book, “Becoming.” Questlove and Michelle Obama also produced a podcast about Stevie Wonder called “The Wonder of Stevie.”
Bruce Springsteen performed his 2001 song “Land of Hope and Dreams.” A longtime friend of Obama. the singer-songwriter has written and performed for decades about political themes. Years ago. the duo recorded a podcast together on Springsteen’s New Jersey farm. which later became a book. “Renegades: Born in the USA.”.
Tems performed her hit “Me & U.” The Nigerian singer-songwriter was featured on Barack Obama’s 2022 and 2024 summer playlists.
U2 — Bono and The Edge — also appeared. Bono’s friendship with the Obamas spans decades: they’ve been spotted grabbing lunch in New York City and have spent years collaborating on humanitarian efforts around poverty. HIV/AIDs and debt relief. U2 performed “City of Blinding Lights” Thursday for the former president. who frequently lists the song as one of his favorite tracks. The band performed at Barack Obama’s first inauguration celebration in 2009.
Eddie Vedder performed an original song called “Better Believe” with a local nonprofit, Guitars Over Guns. Vedder has been a longtime supporter of the Obamas. At the end of Obama’s second presidential term, he performed an acoustic set alongside the Chicago Children’s Choir.
Stevie Wonder closed the performances with “All I Do” and “Signed. Sealed. Delivered (I’m Yours).” The Obamas chose Wonder’s 1972 track “You and I (We Can Conquer the World)” for their first dance as husband and wife at their 1992 wedding. Michelle Obama produced a podcast about Stevie Wonder, called “The Wonder of Stevie,” with Questlove from The Roots.
Jon Batiste was among the entertainment gathering, with his involvement reaching beyond the music. Batiste has collaborated with the Obamas as media producers and earned spots on the former president’s annual playlists. Barack Obama executive produced the documentary American Symphony. which follows tracks Batiste and his wife on her cancer journey as they learn she has recurring cancer.
Ken Burns was in attendance as well. Burns endorsed Obama for president in 2007 and compared the young senator to Abraham Lincoln. Burns and Obama have collaborated on film and media projects, including when Burns enlisted Obama as part of a project to encourage knowledge of the Gettysburg Address.
Two familiar voices guided visitors as they navigated parts of the library tour: Tom Hanks and Oprah Winfrey. Hanks narrated a 2012 campaign video for the former president, while Winfrey gave Obama an early endorsement in 2007.
George Lucas was also spotted, along with his wife, Mellody Hobson. In 2013, then-President Barack Obama awarded Lucas the National Medal of Arts during an event at the White House. Lucas spoke about Obama while on a promotional stop for a film in Japan in 2008. where he said the politician is “a hero in the making.” Hobson. a Chicagoan and businesswoman. was also seen with supporters.
Conan O’Brien attended the ceremony too. O’Brien interviewed then-senator Obama in May 2006 and pushed him on whether he’d run for president. The two have remained friendly over the years, with Obama appearing on Conan’s podcast.
Tyler Perry shared he came back for the day. He posted on Instagram that he “[f]lew halfway around the world just to be back for this moment.” The two men were caught in a famous photo at Perry’s home library taken during Black History Month in 2015. each standing beside chairs once owned by President Abraham Lincoln.
Steven Spielberg was present as well. Obama, who is close friends with Spielberg, dropped by the set of “Disclosure Day” as a surprise while the film was in production last year.
The sports presence extended far beyond the stage. When the Obama Presidential Center posted a video of the former president shooting hoops with NBA star Anthony Edwards, legendary point guard Isiah Thomas tweeted, “This is so dope!!! I gotta meet President Obama!!”
Dwyane Wade praised Obama’s game in 2012. “He was kind of like a point guard,” Wade told TIME Magazine. “He was passing a lot. He’s smooth — like he talks, like he walks.”
There was also recognition of Chicago sports leadership in the event crowd, including Bears president Kevin Warren and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Cubs Tom Ricketts.
Politics came in full force. Former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden were there, along with former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush; former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; former Vice President Kamala Harris and Douglas Emhoff. Former U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Bill Daley attended as well.
U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi were in the crowd. Ill. Reps. Mike Quigley, Bobby Rush, Bill Foster, Jonathan Jackson, Danny Davis, Robin Kelly and Terri Sewell were also listed among those present.
Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton attended. So did Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, State Sen. President Don Harmon, Comptroller Susana Mendoza and State Rep. La Shawn Ford.
City and regional leaders joined the celebration too. Mayor Brandon Johnson and former Mayors Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot were on hand. Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss were listed among those attending.
Outside Illinois, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro came, as did former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Italian PM Matteo Renzi. Presidential scholar Norm Ornstein and civil rights leader Al Sharpton were also included.
Members of the Obama White House and campaign staffers rounded out the day. Those listed were White House videographer Arun Chaudhary; White House. Senate campaign and Obama Senate press secretary Robert Gibbs; Strategist Anita Dunn; Pollster Joel Benenson; Presidential campaign. White House Justice Department. Kevin Lewis; First lady comms Katie McCormick Lelyveld; Presidential campaign. White House Senior Advisor Dan Pfeiffer; and political consultant Pete Giangreco.
Obama Presidential Center Jackson Park Barack Obama Michelle Obama celebrities athletes political leaders Christina Aguilera Jennifer Hudson Stevie Wonder U2
So basically like a big party for Obama? Cool I guess.
Didn’t realize LL Cool J was in Chicago like that. Also why is Jackson Park suddenly a museum thing, I’m confused.
Wait Mark Hamill AND Billie Jean King?? That’s actually wild. I heard somewhere it was in the park but not exactly IN the park, like “off site but near,” which feels like every event description ever.
Obama Center openings always make me think of the whole ‘presidential’ thing but it’s like a library/museum/campus… so who’s teaching there? Like are they gonna have classes or is it just for tourists? And why was Christina Aguilera singing covers… I feel like that part got lost in the headline.