BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, U2, STEVIE WONDER AND GREAT ARTISTS UNITE AT THE OPENING OF THE OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER

Bruce Springsteen, Bono, The Edge, Stevie Wonder and other big names in music will participate in the opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center, scheduled for June 18, in Chicago. The promise of the title is clear: artists who will be at the event include Bruce Springsteen, Bono and The Edge, U2, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Common, Eddie Vedder, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Marc Anthony, Marsai Martin, The Roots and Tems. The ceremony will be broadcast live globally and will celebrate the opening of the center dedicated to the legacy of former United States President Barack Obama. The event is scheduled to take place in Chicago at 5pm BST. The Obama Foundation announced that it will bring together some of today's most important voices and global icons to mark the opening of the space. The phrase used in the official announcement summarizes the tone of the event: "Hope has a home, and it's time to open the doors." Springsteen's presence is not surprising. The musician has been a public figure critical of President Donald Trump in recent years and has been involved in strong political statements. Trump, in turn, responded with personal attacks on the singer. Bono has also come to Springsteen's defense amid this public clash, stating that "there is only one Boss in America". Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder also supported Springsteen, defending the right of artists to use their voices in public. In addition to the online broadcast, those in Chicago will be able to watch the opening at an official party with a big screen at Midway Plaisance Park, near the Obama Presidential Center. The event unites music, politics, culture and historical memory. More than an institutional ceremony, the opening will be a public celebration with some of the most influential artists of recent decades.