No one has brought more soul to the White House than President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama. Wednesday, Feb. 24 marked the last "In Performance at the White House" and revealed what could quite possibly be the best and most star-studded one yet; with live musical performances from Jussie Smollett, Andra Day, Usher, Anthony Hamilton and many others, making it a night of soul to remember.
According to EUR, a special tribute to the late Ray Charles took place this week at the White House in what has been marked as the last special performance of its kind given by the Obama administration. The event titled Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House, captured stellar performances from music artist like Empire star and NAACP Image Award recipient, Smollett, along with Usher, Day, Hamilton an Brittany Howard.
Smollett took to Instagram to share some of his moments at the White House and just how much it meant to him to be there with his brother and to meet the woman he loves - our First Lady.
A photo posted by Jussie Smollett (@jussiesmollett) on Feb 24, 2016 at 11:15am PST
Back in the day my big bro Jojo and I would have to ride the bus to our separate jobs. Tonight we are riding a bus to the @whitehouse. Come through God! A photo posted by Jussie Smollett (@jussiesmollett) on Feb 24, 2016 at 2:48pm PST
Each artist performed special renditions of Charles' classic hits. Day and Hamilton sang "Let The Good Times Roll," while Usher belted out two classics, "Georgia on My Mind" and "What I'd Say."
President Obama opened the special night with a speech recounting how wonderful it has been for him and Michelle over the past seven years to be able to be a part of, and give the American people nights full of great entertainment, like the one they were having that night.
"Over the past seven years, Michelle and I have set aside nights like this to honor the music that shaped America," stated President Obama to the room full of music lovers. "Classical and country, blues and Broadway, gospel and Motown, the women of soul and the sounds of the civil rights movement. This has become one of our most cherished traditions and I want to thank PBS for helping us to put on these wonderful events."
PBS has been the exclusive network to bring the nights full of music at the White House to the living rooms of the American people, so that everyone can experience and enjoy what those who were actually present got the chance to enjoy. This year will be no different as PBS will air the wonderful event on Friday night, Feb. 26 at 9 p.m., according to the PBS website.
Not only will the music be great from the phenomenal vocalists mentioned, but viewers will also have the opportunity to hear our President attempt to join Usher in reciting some of the lyrics to "What I'd Say" one last time before the end of his term.
President Obama spoke highly of Charles during the event and recalled how his music could evoke so much emotion with just one simple note.
"No matter the feeling, whether it was love, longing or loss; Ray Charles had the rare ability to collapse our weightiest emotions into a single note," stated Obama during the Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles event, according to ABC News. "From the tiny clubs in which he started out to the arenas that he eventually filled, Ray was an electrifying performer.He couldn't see us, but we couldn't take our eyes off of him."
Watch the full event below and as it airs Feb. 26 at 9 p.m. on PBS.
