This Grand Opening Lineup Looks More Like a Music Festival Than a Presidential Center Ceremony
The opening celebration for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago is set to feature an impressive lineup of music icons, including Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, The Roots, and U2’s Bono and The Edge.
The Obama Foundation unveiled the full lineup on Tuesday ahead of the Juneteenth grand opening in John Lewis Plaza. Joining the festivities will be Christina Aguilera, Eddie Vedder, John Legend, Marc Anthony, Tems, Common, and actress Marsai Martin, among others.
“This Grand Opening ceremony will be unlike any other — filled with music, performances, and hope,” said Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett in a statement. “The event will celebrate inspiration, joy, and the power of community, elevated by the extraordinary artists sharing their talents with us. Our hope is that people everywhere will be reminded of their ability to create change in their own communities.”
The ceremony will also be streamed live beginning at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday, allowing audiences around the world to take part in the celebration.
According to reports, the project carried an estimated price tag of $850 million and became one of the most ambitious presidential library projects ever undertaken, following several years of delays and construction challenges.
The center, originally expected to open in the spring of 2026, features a museum, Obama Foundation offices, a branch of the Chicago Public Library, a playground, and a variety of community spaces designed to serve future generations.
In a video shared earlier this year, former President Barack Obama thanked local residents for their support throughout the project’s development.
“Thank you for raising Michelle, for welcoming me as one of your own and for lifting up our family every step of the way,” Obama said. “And thank you for embracing this presidential center, not as something of mine, but of yours. Hope is coming home, and it wouldn’t have happened without all of you.”
