CHICAGO — It was a presidential campaign that tapped into pop culture like never before, so it was only fitting that some of the biggest stars in the land were on hand as Barack Obama was declared the President-Elect Tuesday night.
The queen of media, Oprah Winfrey, wiped away tears as she stood among the thousands during Obama’s thank you speech at Chicago’s Grant Park.
CHICAGO — It was a presidential campaign that tapped into pop culture like never before, so it was only fitting that some of the biggest stars in the land were on hand as Barack Obama was declared the President-Elect Tuesday night.
The queen of media, Oprah Winfrey, wiped away tears as she stood among the thousands during Obama’s thank you speech at Chicago’s Grant Park.
“There are not even words to talk about what this night means,” Winfrey told Access Hollywood’s Maria Menounos as Obama became the first African-American to be elected president in the United States. “Everybody keeps using the word historic — there’s never been a night like this on the planet earth… Nothing can compare to this.”
In the interview, set to air Wednesday night, Winfrey told Menounos that she was especially moved as she cast her ballot.
“I got very emotional, but I was voting with a bunch of people who were very excited that I was voting with them,” said the 54-year-old Winfrey. “I wanted to start singing… ‘America the Beautiful’ and I got very emotional.”
Music star Usher echoed similar sentiments in an interview with Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush.
“Man, this is incredible,” shared the 30-year-old singer, who said he was prepared to leave the country had Obama not come away victorious. “It’s so incredible to see that this historical thing has happened, man. Before it was a thought of what happens if he doesn’t win. The public service that went into this and the encouragement that came out of it, it’s just incredible to see it happen.”
“This will go down in history, in black history for all of the sacrifices that the great Joseph Lowery and Martin Luther King made, this actually pays off for their sacrifice. The great Rosa Parks… So many people sacrificed for us to have a voice,” he added. “It was one thing to have a voice, but to eventually know the best way to use it and then it grows into this, it’s just incredible. I’m speechless. I don’t even know what to say.”
