Michelle Obama Enlists Missy Elliott, Zendaya for New Song
Oscar-nominated songwriter Diane Warren penned all-star track, “This Is for My Girls” that also includes Lea Michele, Janelle Monae and Kelly Rowland
US First Lady Michelle Obama speaking about the Let Girls Learn initiative in London. Photo: Simon Davis/DFID
Just in time for Michelle Obama’s keynote address at South by Southwest in Austin, the First Lady has assembled an all-star empowerment anthem featuring artists like Missy Elliott, Zendaya, Kelly Clarkson and more. “This Is for My Girls” will be available for download at midnight Wednesday on iTunes.
Oscar-nominated songwriter Diane Warren penned the track, which also features vocal contributions from Lea Michele, Janelle Monae, Kelly Rowland, Jadagrace and Chloe & Halle. Warren, Elliott, Queen Latifah and actress Sophia Bush will join Obama for her SXSW keynote panel on Wednesday. Both the panel and the song support the Let Girls Learn initiative and White House’s #62MillionGirls campaign, which helps young women around the world complete their education.
FLOTUS’ SXSW Music keynote follows her husband Barack‘s SXSW Interactive speech. President Obama was joined by The Texas Tribune‘s editor-in-chief Evan Smith for a conversation on civic engagement in the 21st century. The Texas festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
“I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate our event’s 30th birthday than to welcome both the president and first lady to SXSW,” the festival’s co-founder Roland Swenson said in a statement. “As each new generation comes up at SXSW they look for ways they can be of service, and it’s important to reflect and support that message. President and Mrs. Obama’s visit here will inspire attendees to that purpose.”
Between their separate Texas visits, the Obamas hosted the cast of Broadway’s Hamilton at the White House. The cast gave an intimate, stripped down performance of the perpetually sold-out show for a group of schoolchildren.
