Barack and Michelle Obama celebrate Presidential Center with heartfelt family tribute

Ahead of the public opening of the Obama Presidential Center, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcomed 500 supporters and contributors to the campus for a thank-you celebration on Tuesday. The former president shared the stage with his wife, who honored her late mother, Marian Robinson, by wearing a tribute skirt with her portrait. 

"For us to be able to give back to this community is really important to us, and that couldn't have happened without the dedication and professionalism and effort and headaches and problem-solving and talent and artistry and skill of the people here today," the former president said from the stage during the special reception celebrating the upcoming opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. The former first lady also took the opportunity to express her gratitude and explained why her husband appeared a little overwhelmed. "I am so proud of my husband. He's really messed up, I'm giving him some time, because this beautiful skirt that my stylist Meredith Koop picked out, that is a portrait, my favorite portrait of my mom, he didn't know it existed until just a few minutes ago," she said. 

Michelle continued saying she had a few weeks to settle down after seeing the skirt and that her mother would have been proud of her son-in-law today. "She was so proud of her son-in-law, and the man that he is, and has been to our family, always dreaming, probably way too big, but always pulling it off," she said. "Thank you for doing this for the South Side of Chicago. I love you." Robinson died on May 31, 2024, at age 86, and at the time, Michelle shared a heartfelt message remembering her mother as her family's foundation. "She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today," Michelle wrote on X. 

The former president told attendees he was reminded of her and her late husband, Fraser Robinson, as they represent what's best about the country and its values."People who aren't trying to get every last nickel, and aren't cutting corners when it comes to values, and treat people high and low with respect and kindness, and handle their business. Just salt of the earth, bedrock people," he said.

Standing onstage at Home Court, at the campus's athletic center, the former president pointed west and said: "I actually came to Chicago right there." On the same day, the Obama Foundation also announced the star-studded lineup for Thursday's dedication ceremony, which will be livestreamed on obama.org and the foundation's social media channels. The list of award-winning artists to perform at the grand opening ceremony included big names like Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Tems, John Legend, and The Roots, as per NBC.

The ceremony, set to take place on the presidential center's John Lewis Plaza, will mark the culmination of more than a decade of work to bring the facility to life. Among the planned performances are Marc Anthony, as well as U2's Bono and The Edge, with Chicagoans Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Vedder, and Common also on the roster, along with actress Marsai Martin.