Chicago Welcomes a-Star Fueled Opening for the Obama Presidential Center

The Barack Obama Presidential Center opened in Chicago as a $850 million, 20-acre complex featuring a public library, park, and sports facilities to honor Obama’s 2009–2017 presidency. The ceremony drew a who’s who of power and pop culture, including former presidents Biden, Bush, and Clinton; world leaders like Justin Trudeau and Angela Merkel; and celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Bono and The Edge, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Tyler Perry, Stephen Colbert, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Dwyane Wade, and the Obama family. Performances featured Springsteen and Wonder among others, underscoring the center’s prominence in post-presidential life and its ties to American cultural and political influence.