The Obama Foundation has unveiled a lineup of prominent guests and entertainers expected at the opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center on Thursday.
The announcement comes only days after President Donald Trump reportedly did not attract major celebrity figures to his UFC event hosted at the White House.
At least a dozen performers are set to feature at the June 18 opening ceremony, including a mix of Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe winners, along with Hall of Fame inductees. The lineup includes major names such as Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and U2 members Bono and The Edge.
Also included on the guest list are The Roots, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Marc Anthony, Common, Tems, and actress Marsai Martin, among others set to attend the event.
The turnout serves as a striking reminder that former U.S. President Barack Obama continues to command significant cultural influence, as his legacy still attracts a high-profile gathering more than a decade after leaving office.
The official opening ceremony scheduled for Thursday will mark the start of a series of events at the center located on Chicago’s South Side, with activities expected to continue through the weekend.
The CEO of the Obama Foundation, Valerie Jarrett, has said that the grand opening event, including its musical performances, is expected to stand out as a unique celebration unlike previous ceremonies.
“The Grand Opening Ceremony will reflect a spirit of inspiration and joy, with a big boost from the performers who are sharing their talent with us. We hope to inspire people everywhere to believe in their power to bring change home,” Jarrett said in a statement.
A number of the performers involved in the grand opening are reported to be long-time Democratic supporters, some of whom have previously taken part in political campaign events alongside the Obamas and other party members, and also made appearances at the White House during Barack Obama’s time in office.
Several of the participating celebrities, including Bruce Springsteen, have been known to publicly express criticism of President Donald Trump during his second term in office.
In April, President Donald Trump reportedly used his Truth Social platform to respond to criticism from the 76-year-old musician, Bruce Springsteen, during his tour. The former president, now in his 80s, referred to the global rock star as a “dried up prune” and also called on MAGA supporters to boycott his concerts.
The Chicago event, which features a lineup of high-profile celebrities, follows President Donald Trump’s UFC birthday celebration held at the White House on Sunday, which reportedly did not attract a large number of major star attendees.
In an interview with Time magazine, UFC CEO Dana White said invitations had been extended to several high-profile figures, including Adam Sandler, Guy Ritchie, Tom Brady, Jared Leto, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson and Mario Lopez.
Instead, the event ultimately featured a lineup made up largely of lesser-known entertainers, members of the Trump family, and business figures such as Mark Zuckerberg, who has been viewed by critics as increasingly aligning himself with the administration. Comedian Nate Bargatze emerged as one of the most recognisable names in attendance, a development that reportedly sparked criticism from some fans of the Emmy-nominated entertainer.
The White House UFC event drew attention after fighter Josh Hokit made a controversial remark directed at former First Lady Michelle Obama, prompting reactions from viewers.
However, the president’s birthday celebration was not the first event linked to President Donald Trump to struggle in attracting major entertainment figures. Reports indicate that several performers originally scheduled for the Great American State Fair on the National Mall later withdrew after concluding the concert was not the politically neutral event they had initially believed it to be.
As more performers reportedly withdrew from the lineup, Trump eventually scrapped the event. This week, he announced plans to host a rally on the National Mall on the Fourth of July as part of activities commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.
