CHICAGO — U2 frontman Bono and singer Jennifer Hudson were among a group of internationally known performers who appeared at the dedication ceremony for the Obama Presidential Center on Thursday, as former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama marked the opening of the long-awaited civic and cultural campus on Chicago’s South Side. The event took place one day before the center opened to the public on Juneteenth, according to the Obama Foundation.
The ceremony at the center’s John Lewis Plaza brought together political leaders, community members, artists and invited guests. The Obama Foundation said the event was designed to celebrate the opening of the campus, which includes a museum, public gathering spaces, recreational facilities and cultural programming.
Bono appeared alongside fellow U2 musician The Edge as part of the entertainment program, while Hudson, a Chicago native and award-winning singer, delivered musical performances during the ceremony. The lineup also included Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Common, Eddie Vedder, Marc Anthony, Tems and The Roots, according to the Obama Foundation and local media reports.
Hudson performed the U.S. national anthem and later sang “The Impossible Dream (The Quest),” according to event coverage. Bono and The Edge participated in a segment celebrating unity and international cooperation, according to reports from the event.
Speaking during the ceremony, Michelle Obama reflected on the project’s completion and the years of planning that preceded it. “I’m proud of you,” she said while addressing her husband during remarks before attendees. Barack Obama also spoke about the center’s mission and its connection to civic engagement and public service, according to reports from the dedication.
The opening ceremony attracted a broad audience that included former Presidents Joe Biden, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, as well as public figures from entertainment, business and civic organizations. The event was invitation-only, though a public watch party and livestream were made available through the Obama Foundation.
The Obama Presidential Center, a project led by the Obama Foundation, has been under development for more than a decade. Foundation officials have described the campus as a place for community programming, education and public engagement.
As of Friday, the center had officially opened to visitors, with additional public events and performances scheduled throughout the opening weekend, according to the Obama Foundation.
