Beyoncé pays homage to Michelle Obama for Time's '100 Most Influential People' list

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By Minyvonne Burke

In a heartfelt post paying homage to Michelle Obama for Time’s “100 Most Influential People,” singer Beyoncé called the former first lady “brilliant” and “regal.”

“Loving Michelle Obama wasn’t much of a choice,” Beyoncé wrote in the piece published Wednesday as part of the magazine’s annual list. “It was something that came naturally, because of how she carried herself. Because she resembled us and was moving in spaces where, as black Americans, we weren’t exactly meant to be, she seemed so powerful.”

Beyoncé — who also on Wednesday dropped a surprise live album titled “Homecoming,” recorded from her performance at Coachella last year, to coincide with the release of her Netflix documentary — has long been friends with Barack and Michelle Obama and performed at Barack Obama’s Inaugural Ball in 2009 and his inauguration in 2013.

President Barack Obama dances with first lady Michelle Obama as Beyonce sings at the Inaugural Ball in Washington on Jan. 20, 2009.Win McNamee / Getty Images file

The Grammy-winning singer described Michelle Obama as “strong and ambitious” and praised her for using her platform to help others.

“She empowers all of us to interrogate our fears and surpass greatness,” Beyoncé wrote. “I am so grateful that my daughters and my son live in a world where Michelle Obama shines as a beacon of hope who inspires all of us to do better and to be better.”

Joining Obama on the list is NBA star LeBron James, President Donald Trump, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Pope Francis, Robert Mueller and Christine Blasey Ford, who publicly accused then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. Kavanaugh, who has denied the allegations and went on to become a Supreme Court Justice, also made the list.

“Christine Blasey Ford’s ambition wasn’t to become a household name or make it onto this list. She had a good life and a successful career—and risked everything to send a warning in a moment of grave consequence,” presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., wrote about Ford.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also penned a short post praising Trump for his “pushing China and our North American neighbors for fairer trade agreements and withdrawing from the Iran nuclear agreement.”

Singer Troye Sivan called Grande the “biggest artist in the world,” while Celine Dion honored Lady Gaga for her support of the LGBTQ community and efforts to end bullying.

To view the full list of honorees, click here.

source: nbcnews.com