On Friday night, Barack Obama hosted his final musical event as president: “Love and Happiness”, presented in collaboration with BET, featured performances from Usher, The Roots, Janelle Monáe, De La Soul, Jill Scott, Yolanda Adams, and Michelle Williams, among others.
Speaking at the event, Obama reminisced over the numerous musical events he and First Lady Michelle Obama have hosted over the last eight years. “We’ve had Bob Dylan and we’ve had Jennifer Hudson. Gloria Estefan and Los Lobos. Aretha, Patti, Smokey. I’ve had Paul McCartney singing ‘Michelle’ to Michelle and Stevie singing ‘Happy Birthday.’”
“We’ve had Buddy Guy and Mick Jagger getting me to sing ‘Sweet Home Chicago,’” he continued. “So this has been one of our favorite traditions, and it’s with a little bit of bittersweetness that this is our final musical evening as president and first lady.”
Obama also recounted musical events put on by past presidents, including President John F. Kennedy doing the twist in the White House’s East Room. It “may not sound like a big deal to you, but that was sort of the twerking of their time,” he said, adding, “There will be no twerking tonight. At least not by me. I don’t know about Usher.”
Obama did, however, dance along to Drake’s “Hotline Bling” and even dabbed with Usher, according to a tweet from the musician James Poyser. Watch video below.
The concert was filmed by BET and will air on the network on November 15th.
