[category]
[title]
The Obama Foundation has announced an all-star lineup for the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center on June 18, bringing together music legends, hometown heroes and global stars.
The ceremony, which will take place at the Center's John Lewis Plaza on Chicago's South Side, will feature performances by Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Common, Eddie Vedder, Jennifer Hudson, Marc Anthony, Tems, The Roots and U2's Bono and The Edge. Actress and producer Marsai Martin is also scheduled to participate.
The event will be the official debut of the Obama Presidential Center, a new campus designed to serve as both a presidential archive and a community gathering space focused on civic engagement, leadership and public service. Located in Jackson Park, the center has been years in the making and represents one of the most significant cultural projects to open in Chicago in decades.
According to the Obama Foundation, the June 18 ceremony will bring together artists, community leaders and changemakers from around the world in a program centered on democracy, culture, service and hope.
"This grand opening ceremony will be unlike any other—filled with music, performances, and hope," Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation, said in a statement. "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."
Jarrett added that organizers hope the event will encourage people "to believe in their power to bring change home."
If you can't make it to Chicago, you'll still be able to watch the festivities. The ceremony will be livestreamed globally beginning at 11am CT on June 18 via Obama.org as well as the Foundation's TikTok, YouTube and Facebook channels.
The center officially opens to the public on June 19. Museum tickets for the opening weekend have already sold out, though the rest of the campus will remain free and open to visitors, so even if you missed your shot at opening-weekend museum access, you can still wander the grounds—and maybe say you were there when Chicago welcomed its newest landmark with a soundtrack worthy of a presidential inauguration.