Inside the Obama Presidential Center opening in Chicago
Inside the Obama Presidential Center opening in Chicago as thousands gather for music, emotion, and a historic moment ahead of its Juneteenth debut.
Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks and Stevie Wonder were a few big names at the Obama center opening ceremony.Former vice president Kamala Harris and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, were some politicians in the crowd.See them interact in this view from the ground.
There were 3,000 people on the plaza at the June 18 Obama Presidential Center grand opening ceremony, with almost too many celebrities to count.
A-listers in attendance included more than the performers like Marc Anthony and Stevie Wonder who brought the crowd to their feet during the program. Oprah Winfrey, who has a space named after her in the museum, was shaking hands with politicians like Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau danced in the front row seats down from former Vice President Kamala Harris (though his partner Katy Perry was not in attendance).
John Legend and Jennifer Hudson spent time in the crowd when they weren’t on stage, seated not far from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. But former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama stayed on stage with the other living presidents, except for President Donald Trump.
See the celebrities and politicians alike mingling at the grand opening ceremony:
Watch: Celebrities and politicians party together at the Obama Presidential Center
Watch Oprah talk to Pritzker, Trudeau dance and more at Obama opening
Celebrities and politicians merged at the Obama Presidential Opening in Chicago on June 18. Watch interactions between, Oprah, Pritzker, Kamala Harris.
Who was at the Obama grand opening ceremony?
Here are some celebrities who were spotted in the crowd:
Here were some politicians in attendance:
Former Vice President Kamala HarrisHouse Minority Leader Hakeem JeffriesCalifornia Gov. Gavin NewsomPennsylvania Gov. Josh ShapiroFormer Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Sen. Mark Kelly, D-ArizonaFormer Chicago Mayor Rahm EmanuelFormer House Speaker Nancy PelosiSen. Dick Durbin, D-IllinoisSen. Tammy Duckworth, D-IllinoisRep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X (Twitter), Threads, Bluesky and TikTok.