Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening Features Star-Studded Lineup

The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago is set to host its grand opening ceremony with an all-star lineup of performers and speakers. The event, which will be livestreamed globally at noon ET on Thursday, June 18, marks the official dedication of the towering center on Chicago's South Side.

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama are scheduled to deliver speeches. The star-studded program will feature appearances and performances from a diverse group of artists. These include U2's Bono and The Edge, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Common, Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Tems, and The Roots.

Additional participants in the ceremony will include the nonprofit arts-based youth development organization Guitars Over Guns, the Illinois Army National Guard, and Uniting Voices Chicago. The event is described as an inspiring celebration of the values that shaped the Obama presidency.

The $850 million center, financed through private donations, is situated on a 19.3-acre campus within Chicago's Jackson Park. Following the grand opening ceremony, the center is scheduled to officially open its doors to the public on Friday, June 19, coinciding with Juneteenth, with a series of public celebrations and events planned throughout the weekend.

According to Billboard, the lineup was announced in a social post featuring an animated group chat with artist responses to the invitation.