Former U.S. president Barack Obama has gathered a lineup of top celebrities to perform at the inauguration of his new cultural hub. Musicians like Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Bono and the Edge from U2, Eddie Vedder, and Bruce Springsteen are set to grace the stage at the grand opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago’s South Side.
The official unveiling of the center, which houses a museum, library, and sports arena with an NBA-regulation court, will be live-streamed on June 18 at noon ET, just a day before it opens to the public on Juneteenth, a U.S. federal holiday.
President Donald Trump is not expected to attend the event as he previously referred to the center as “Obama’s badly delayed, and tremendously over-budget, ‘library’.” Trump has been focusing on the Freedom 250 initiative this summer, aimed at commemorating the nation’s 250th birthday.
Amidst controversies, several artists have pulled out of anniversary events linked to Trump, citing political concerns. Notably, performers like Bret Michaels, the Commodores, Fab Morvan, Young MC, and Martina McBride withdrew from the Great American State Fair, prompting Trump to consider canceling the event and hosting a rally instead.
In contrast, America 250 is proceeding with its own celebrations, including the America’s Block Party concert featuring the Smashing Pumpkins, Queen Latifah, and Chris Stapleton on July 4.
The grand opening of Obama’s center follows a court order for the removal of Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center in Washington. Trump had swiftly replaced the center’s leadership with a board naming himself chairman and adding his name to the building.
Speaking about the competing events, American history and politics lecturer Clodagh Harrington highlighted the significance of the Obamas’ global influence and cultural prominence compared to the Trumps. Despite criticisms of the center’s design and amenities, the Obama Presidential Center is poised to attract around 1 million visitors annually with various attractions like a library, basketball court, garden, and playground.
