Live Nation and Crown Publishing, a part of Penguin Random House, announced the list of moderators scheduled to appear with Michelle Obama on her 10-city U.S. book tour in support of her highly anticipated memoir, BECOMING. Oprah Winfrey will moderate the upcoming Chicago stop on November 13 at United Center.
Produced by Live Nation, the U.S. tour will kick off in Mrs. Obama’s home town of Chicago on Tuesday, November 13, with Oprah Winfreymoderating her conversation at the United Center. Other tour events will be moderated by such notable figures as Elizabeth Alexander (11/25 and 12/1), Valerie Jarrett (11/17 and 12/17), Michele Norris (11/24 and 12/14), Sarah Jessica Parker (12/19), Phoebe Robinson (11/29 and 12/11), Tracee Ellis Ross (11/15), and Reese Witherspoon (12/13), each of whom will engage Mrs. Obama in an inspiring and lively conversation. It is important to Mrs. Obama that her BECOMING tour events are accessible to as many people as possible.
Last week, Mrs. Obama and Live Nation announced a selection of the local and community organizations who will receive free admission to Mrs. Obama’s tour, including the below organizations in Chicago:
- Chicago CRED (Creating Real Economic Destiny) was created in 2016 to achieve a transformative reduction in Chicago gun violence. Their bold, research-based intervention strategy addresses the social, emotional and job readiness support to place program participants in permanent, full-time jobs.
- Bottom Line addresses the low college graduation rates of low-income and first-generation students. By providing consistent one-on-one support, Bottom Line has helped thousands of stay in college and complete their degrees.
As previously announced, 10 percent of ticket inventory in each market was set aside for various organizations including, but not limited to, charities, schools, and community groups in each city the tour visits. Thousands of tickets will be given away. NowThis produced this video showcasing Mrs. Obama surprising students with the exciting news.
Attendees at Mrs. Obama’s events will hear Mrs. Obama’s honest reflections on the experiences and events, both public and private, that have shaped her, from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her years spent at the most famous address in the world. Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America – the first African-American to serve in that role – she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world. In candidly recounting moments from her own extraordinary journey, Mrs. Obama will also share life lessons learned and inspire people to become the very best version of themselves.
Tickets for all dates are available at BecomingMichelleObama.com. A limited number of VIP meet and greet packages with former First Lady Michelle Obama are also available.
BECOMING will be released on November 13 in the U.S. and Canada by Crown Publishing, a part of Penguin Random House, as well as in 30 languages around the world. An audio edition of the book, read by Mrs. Obama, will be simultaneously issued in digital and physical formats by Penguin Random House Audio.