Former President Barack Obama, joined by three former presidents, celebrated the opening of his presidential museum<\/a> in Chicago in an extraordinary event Thursday that brought together world leaders, A-list celebrities, athletes and other internationally known figures.<\/p>\n Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Bono, Marc Anthony and Common were all slated to perform at the dedication ceremony. The Roots served as the house band.<\/p>\n Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters shared the stage with former presidents Joe Biden, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton along with former first ladies Jill Biden, Laura Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Former Vice President Kamala Harris was also in attendance.<\/p>\n Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem and Christina Aguilera delivered a rousing rendition of \u201cWhat a Wonderful World.\u201d Pearl Jam\u2019s Eddie Vedder, joined by Chicago teenagers in the nonprofit Guitars Over Guns program, sang an original song called \u201cBetter Believe,\u201d written just for the dedication.<\/p>\n APTOPIX Obama Presidential Center <\/span>Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama on stage during the dedication ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center, Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon) <\/span>(Alex Brandon\/AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)<\/p>\n Obama and Michelle Obama are both expected to give remarks. The invite-only celebration was livestreamed and kicks off a weekend of events centered around the Obama Presidential Center<\/a>, which opens to the general public<\/a> on Juneteenth<\/a>.<\/p>\n President Donald Trump was not in attendance. He called the $850 million center a \u201ctotal disaster\u201d in a social media post in February.<\/p>\n Those at the event included California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate; civil rights leaders Andrew Young and Al Sharpton; Oprah Winfrey; comedians David Letterman, Conan O\u2019Brien and Stephen Colbert; actor Tom Hanks; tennis legend Billie Jean King and Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts.<\/p>\n Former world leaders in attendance included former Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.<\/p>\n Thousands more watched from a nearby park.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not a monument to the Obamas,\u201d said Valerie Jarrett, the Obama Foundation\u2019s chief executive and former Obama top adviser. \u201dThis is a tribute to all those who made this journey possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin Nesbitt, chair of the Obama Foundation board, wore a tan suit in a joking nod toward the outfit Obama wore in 2014, drawing criticism over his fashion choice.<\/p>\n General admission tickets for the center are sold out through the end of October. But tens of thousands of people have already been offered a sneak peek of the nearly 20-acre campus on Chicago\u2019s South Side in Jackson Park.<\/p>\n The center, located near where Obama lived and began his political career, is expected to attract more than 1 million visitors annually. It is adjacent to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in the lakefront park, and not far from the University of Chicago.<\/p>\n The campus includes a towering museum that covers the political and personal realms of the nation\u2019s first Black president and first lady, while public spaces include a branch of the Chicago Public Library, a playground and athletic center, basketball courts and a picnic area with grills.<\/p>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.shawlocal.com\/resizer\/AqLsLEW5CpSUzSJfRekXQBmKo8s=\/1440x0\/filters:format(jpg):quality(70)\/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com\/shawmedia\/4XVLFZTXOFDVLLZQCP7CVZXDFM.jpg\")
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