Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Smokey Robinson and Natalie Cole are among the A-list musicians slated to perform at the White House's first musical production of 2010. The February concert, officially titled "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music From the Civil Rights Movement," will be a part of the White House's Black History Month festivities, and hosted by President Barack Obama and wife Michelle in the East Room. Morgan Freeman and Queen Latifah will emcee the show, while other performers on the bill include Seal, John Mellencamp, Blind Boys of Alabama and the legendary Bob Dylan.The event is part of a music series that was founded in 1978 and has spanned every administration since President Carter's. At last year's concert the President and Mrs. Obama honored Stevie Wonder's receipt of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Obama called the legendary musician his "musical hero" and performers at the event included Will.i.am, India.Aire and Tony Bennett.
This year's one-hour "In Performance at the White House" concert will be broadcast on PBS, Feb. 11 at 8PM EST. NPR will also air the show on its radio outlets throughout February.
