Michelle Obama responds to Beyoncé letter, calls her a ‘role model’

by Donovan X. Ramsey |

First lady Michelle Obama responded Friday to a public “thank you” from singer Beyoncé, via her Twitter account, calling the singer a “role model.”

theGrio: Beyoncé pens letter praising first lady Michelle Obama

Beyoncé’s website features a handwritten letter to Michelle Obama posted Wednesday, where she calls the first lady “the ULTIMATE example of a truly strong African American woman.” Mrs. Obama wrote to the singer a few days later, saying “Thank you for the beautiful letter and for being a role model who kids everywhere can look up to.”

 

The relationship between Beyoncé and Michelle Obama goes back at least as far as the 2009 presidential inauguration, when the pop star sang Etta James’ “At Last” while the first couple took the stage to dance at the Inaugural Ball.

Beyoncé teams up with first lady for ‘Let’s Move’ campaign

In the summer of 2009, Mrs. Obama took her daughters to take in a Beyoncé concert at D.C.’s Verizon Center. Last year, Beyoncé also joined the Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, recording “Move Your Body” in service of the first lady’s fight against childhood obesity.

Follow Donovan X. Ramsey on Twitter at @idxr