President Obama and the First Lady will host the “Women of Soul” concert as a part of the “In Performance at the White House” series on Thursday.
According to a White House press release, performers for the event celebrating “the great foremothers” of American music include Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Tessanne Chin, Melissa Etheridge, Ariana Grande, Janelle Monae and Jill Scott, with Greg Phillinganes as the music director.
The ladies will grace the stage performing songs that express the struggles and achievements of women over the years.
As a part of the series, Mrs. Obama will host a special daytime interactive workshop for 124 middle school, high school and college students from across the country entitled “I’m Every Woman: The History of Women in Soul.”
Robert Santelli, Executive Director of The GRAMMY Musuem in Los Angeles will be joined by the featured performers to give students an overview of the origins of the genre, important artists and the social climate of the country during the ’50s and ’60s that helped contribute to the sound of soul music.
Beginning at 11 a.m. the workshop will stream live on the White House’s website.
“Women of Soul” will be the twelfth “In Performance at the White House” program during Presidents Obama’s administration. Past events have honored the likes of Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney and Carole King among others.
“Women of Soul” will be broadcast Monday, April 7 at 9 p.m. EST on PBS.