Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen among the star-studded lineup that performed at the inauguration of the Obama center
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Former American president Barack Obama has arranged a number of stars to perform at the grand opening of his new cultural center.
Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, U2's Bono and the Edge, Eddie Vedder and Bruce Springsteen are among the artists scheduled to take the stage to celebrate the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center on Chicago's South Side.
The live-streamed grand opening of the facility — which houses a museum, library, and sports arena including an NBA court — is scheduled for June 18 at noon ET, one day before it opens to the public for the US Juneteenth holiday.
US President Donald Trump, however, may be absent. Earlier this year called the institution “Obama's badly delayed, and over-budgeted, 'library.'
Much of Trump's focus this summer has instead been on the administration's broader Freedom 250 initiative, which is intended to commemorate the nation's 250th birthday.
It included the White House-hosted Freedom 250 UFC event on Sunday for Trump's 80th birthday. Fighter Josh Hokit used his post-fight interview at the event to bash Michelle Obama.
Such programs have led critics to accuse Trump of using presidential events and public spaces to promote his own political brand, and his decision to call the event a convention is likely to intensify that scrutiny.
Part of this confusion comes from Trump bypassing a federally created, bipartisan committee – America 250 – that was assigned for the past ten years to honor the coming years. The move from that group to the pro-Trump committee led by Trump, Freedom 250, has led to confusion.
Recently, several players withdrew from the Great American State Fair, another 25th anniversary event scheduled to run from June 25 to July 10, saying they did not realize how closely he was connected to Trump. Musicians Bret Michaels, The Commodores, Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli, Young MC and Martina McBride have all announced they are canceling their appearances.
In an Instagram post, Michaels said the event, which he said was initially described to him as an opportunity to honor men and women and other “hard-working Americans,” “turned into something more divisive than that.” [he] agreed to be a part.”
Performers still expected to appear include Flo Rida and Vanilla Ice – the only remaining acts of the nine originally scheduled to perform.
Trump then suggested that the original concept of the event should be canceled after “the most expensive artists, that no one wants to hear” came out. Next, he said he will address the first rally on June 24 on the National Mall instead, which he calls “The Number One Attraction anywhere in the world.”
Meanwhile, America 250 is also moving forward with its celebrations – including America's Block Party concert on July 4, featuring the Smashing Pumpkins, Queen Latifah and Chris Stapleton.
The Obama center's grand opening comes less than a week after a federal court deadline for the Kennedy Center to remove Trump's name from the front of the building. Officials at the center said earlier this week that Trump's name had been removed, although it is still covered in tar.
Named after the late Democratic Alliance president John F. Kennedy, Trump quickly fired the agency's leadership in January 2025 and installed a board of trustees that appointed him as chairman. His name was added to the building soon after.
Competition for presidential prominence
Speaking to CBC News, University College Cork lecturer in American history and politics Clodagh Harrington said different events and institutions are talking about a possible competition for prominence.
While the number or star power of those who appear at Obama or Trump events is not necessarily high, he said they speak to Obama's world-class brand and “higher cultural relevance.”
That legitimacy is something that could not be said about the Trumps — “and I'm not sure that's going to change,” he added.
“I think Donald Trump has had an incredible impact — not least in his second term — but they don't have the kind of legitimacy that the Obamas did,” she said.
“It's been passive on the part of the Obamas, and maybe that's something that Donald Trump has a hard time accepting.”
Obama officials, however, have been criticized for the size of the facility and its beauty. “The building has an eerie presence, its windowless dimensions reminiscent of a sinister sci-fi headquarters,” wrote Oliver Wainwright of the Guardian.
There was also criticism of the decision not to have a National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) facility on site.
About 1 million people are expected to visit the center's 20-acre campus each year, highlights of which include a public library branch, an NBA-level basketball court, fruit and vegetable gardens and a playground.
