{"id":29743,"date":"2026-06-24T08:59:52","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T08:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=29743"},"modified":"2026-06-24T08:59:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T08:59:52","slug":"what-began-as-a-formal-ray-charles-tribute-at-the-white-house-quickly-turned-into-a-breathtaking-moment-no-one-saw-coming-barack-obama-had-already-told-guests-he-would-not-perform-insisting-the-nigh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=29743","title":{"rendered":"What began as a formal Ray Charles tribute at the White House quickly turned into a breathtaking moment no one saw coming. Barack Obama had already told guests he would not perform, insisting the night belonged fully to the music legends being honored"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Barack Obama bursts into song during Ray Charles tribute<\/h4>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

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Barack Obama just can\u2019t resist bursting into song nowadays.<\/p>\n

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The US President, who performed an\u00a0impromptu version of Amazing Grace\u00a0while speaking at a funeral last year, lead a star-studded sing-a-long at a special Ray Charles tribute concert held at the White House.<\/p>\n

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\"Rocking<\/p>\n

And although he\u2019d previously said he wouldn\u2019t be showing off his vocals this time, it seems the 54-year-old couldn\u2019t help himself as he passionately sung along to the late musician\u2019s hit What\u2019d I Say with his wife Michelle as well as Usher, Demi Lovato and The Band Perry.<\/p>\n

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\"Barack<\/div>
Barack Obama showed off his singing skills at a Ray Charles\u00a0(Picture: AP )<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Over the past seven years, Michelle and I have set aside nights like this to celebrate the music that shaped America,\u2019 he said before the annual In Performance at the White House, which was dedicated to the Hit The Road Jack singer this year.<\/p>\n

\u2018I will not sing. But for our last one [In Performance at the White House], it is fitting that we pay tribute to one of our favourites.\u2019<\/p>\n

The special also saw Usher sing Ray\u2019s classic track Georgia On My Mind and included performances from\u00a0music stars Andra Day and Anthony Hamilton.<\/p>\n

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\"Barack<\/div>
The US President describes the late musician as one of his favourites (Picture: Rex)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018To see Ray\u2019s legacy, you don\u2019t have to look far,\u2019 added Obama, whose second term as US President will end next year.<\/p>\n

\u2018Ray Charles had the rare ability to collapse our weightiest emotions into a single note.<\/p>\n

\u2018He couldn\u2019t see us, but we couldn\u2019t take our eyes off of him.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Singers Andra Day and Anthony Hamilton at In Performance at the White House (Picture: AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ray, who lost his sight when he was a child, died in 2004 at the age of 73 from acute liver disease.<\/p>\n

The hour-long special is due to air in the US on American public broadcaster PBS this Friday.<\/p>\n