Michelle Obama 50th Birthday: POTUS Makes Moving Tribute; Beyonce Performs (PHOTOS)
Michelle Obama celebrated her 50th birthday on Saturday and various celebrities including Beyonce, and John Legend joined President Barack and First daughters Sasha and Malia in making the event a memorable occasion for the First Lady.
Mrs. Obama was flooded with tribute messages and fanfare from across the world on Friday, which was her official birthday, as many hailed her role in history as America's first African American first lady. The following day POTUS hosted a lavish birthday bash held at the White House's East Room to mark the First Lady's milestone birthday.
"Amazing. Incredible party," political analyst Donna Brazile told CNN. "Childhood friends there. People from the administration."
The event attracted a star-studded guest list of 500 and singers Beyonce, Ledisi and Legend were among those who had the crowd dancing during individual performances.
"The most important thing is, Beyonce performed, and I have to tell you, John Legend sang 'Happy Birthday,'" Brazile said.
"The most moving tribute came (from) (President) Barack Obama, who talked about the woman he met and fell in love with."
Other attendees included Samuel Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Magic Johnson, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder and many more.
Guests feasted on mini crab cakes, fried oysters on toast rounds, roast beef sliders and champagne.
Legend reportedly sang two different renditions of "Happy Birthday" when Mrs. Obama's birthday cake was brought out. The "All Of Me" singer sang the standard-issue version followed by a jazzier take.
"They said there were 500 people there, but it felt like more," a guest told People magazine. "Still, it somehow felt so intimate. And everyone got teary when Barack spoke."
The Obamas were sure to hit the dance floor throughout the night and onlookers were impressed with their hip dance moves.
"At 2 a.m., there were the President and First Lady on the dance floor with a circle around them. It was Beyonce and some of her dancers and the Obamas were more than keeping up," another attendee revealed.
"It looked like they got briefed on all the new moves. The First Lady danced like she was one of her daughters' generation," the source added.
The party continued until the early hours of Sunday morning and many are now left with fond memories of what was undoubtedly an amazing night.
"It was just an incredible party," another gust said. "Chock-full of celebrities."