Jennifer Hudson's Voice Brings Michelle Obama to Tears at Obama Center Grand Opening

Joseph KonigThu, June 18, 2026 at 6:52 PM UTC

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Jennifer Hudson performs during opening day of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on June 18. Former first lady Michelle Obama wipes a tear as Hudson sings.Credit: Getty; AP -

Jennifer Hudson brought former first lady Michelle Obama to tears with her rendition of the National Anthem and "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" at the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center on Thursday, June 18

Hudson, dressed in all white, belted out the National Anthem in front of the star-studded crowd of former presidents, Obama administration alumni, and scores of celebrities and politicians in Chicago

PEOPLE spotted the former first lady bringing a tissue to her eye as Hudson finished "The Impossible Dream,"which Hudson famously sang in 2009 to honor Muhammad Ali

Iconic singer and Chicago native Jennifer Hudson brought former first lady Michelle Obama to tears with her rendition of the National Anthem and "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" at the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center on Thursday, June 18.

Hudson, dressed in all white, belted out the National Anthem in front of the star-studded crowd of former presidents, Obama administration alumni, and scores of celebrities and politicians in Chicago.

Jennifer Hudson performs during the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center on Thursday, June 18, in Chicago.Credit: Scott Olson/Getty

PEOPLE spotted the former first lady — sitting next to President Barack Obama and their daughters, who made a rare public appearance on Thursday — bringing a tissue to her eye as Hudson finished "The Impossible Dream."

The song was originally written for the 1965 Broadway musical Man of La Mancha.

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Former President Barack Obama claps on stage as Jennifer Hudson sings and first lady Michelle Obama wipes her eyes with a tissue on Thursday, June 18, in Chicago.Credit: Jeff Roberson/AP

Hudson, an EGOT recipient, famously sang the tune at the 2009 NAACP Image Awards in a tribute to Muhammad Ali.

Michelle was not the only one to shed tears as the Obama Presidential Center celebrated its opening more than nine years after the Obamas left the White House. On Wednesday, June 17, Barack got teary-eyed after being surprised by a portrait of his late mother-in-law Marian Robinson on Michelle's skirt at a special reception.

Other performers on Thursday included John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Bruce Springsteen, U2's Bono and The Edge, Eddie Vedder, Marc Anthony, Tems, Common, and The Roots.

"Well, my goodness, I got my tissue in hand. I don't know about all of you," Michelle said later in the ceremony after being introduced by Addison Bellone, a college student from the South Side of Chicago whom the former first lady mentored and inspired.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”