Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP; Courtesy Rose’s Luxury

When you’re the President—and it’s your birthday, no less—waiting in line at one of Washington, D.C.’s hottest restaurants is just not an option.

President Obama celebrated his 54^th birthday at Rose’s Luxury in Capitol Hill on Tuesday and skipped the wait that can often take several hours.

POTUS was spotted at the no reservation, small-plates restaurant with Michelle Obama, his half sister Maya Soetoro-Ng, her husband Konrad, his niece Leslie Robinson and senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, according to The Hill. The restaurant is one of the most popular in the city, having made several “best of” lists this year—including being named Bon Appetit‘s Best New Restaurant.

While there’s no word on what Obama ordered, we’re hoping the burger lover (and fan of guacamole, sans peas, of course)—who also famously flexed his POTUS power to cut the line at Franklin BBQ in Austin last year—went for the grilled hanger steak with Japanese mustard, eel sauce and Tokyo scallions or the grilled avocado with tomatillo, poblano, cotija cheese and cilantro stems.

And since it was his day to blow out the candles, even Bill Clinton was rooting for him to save room for dessert.

“Happy birthday, @POTUS!” Clinton tweeted. “Hopefully when @FLOTUS isn’t looking you can have some cake. #44turns54”

—Ana Calderone, @anacalderone

Getty

No one does Christmas bigger than the White House.

An article in Monday’s New York Times details the incredible amount of time, energy and man power that goes into entertaining at the White House over the holiday season. By the numbers? Bakers prepare over 500 hundred pounds of dough to serve roughly 25,000 holiday cookies (some of which look like Bo and Sunny, Obama’s dogs) for nonstop parties throughout the three-week season.

RELATED: 15 Super Creative Holiday Cookies That Are Surprisingly Easy to Make

The chaos begins the day after Thanksgiving, when nearly 100 volunteers venture to a warehouse on the outskirts of Washington to gather the materials — which includes 62 trees, over 70,000 ornaments and roughly 4,000 bells — to prep the White House for 20 holiday parties.

Other party preparations include deep-frying thousands of latkes, pitting dates for hors d’oeuvres and mashing sweet potatoes. The planning for the holidays is so extensive that it begins in March.

RELATED: How to Make Adorable Rice Krispies Treat Art for the Holidays

“The holidays really are an all-hands-on-deck time frame for us, where every single shop in the house has to step up, and a lot of behind-the-scenes work has to take place before we get to the actual finished product that we all get to enjoy,” said Angella Reid, the chief White House usher who oversees a huge amount of logistics, from electric wiring to floral arrangements.

“Our mission is really to make sure that whatever we do is unseen,” she continued. “I sometimes describe it as Disney — you throw the pixie dust, and it all looks perfect.”

Here are some more numbers to put it all in perspective: Roughly 1,600 pounds of lamb chops, 1,200 pounds of potatoes and 45 turkeys will be consumed.

Lea Berman, a former social secretary for Mrs. Bush, told The Times just how chaotic the so-called “most wonderful time of the year” can get.

RELATED: Your Comprehensive Guide to the Latest Holiday Flavored Foods

“It is probably the most daunting time of the year because you have a series of events, so much planning has gone into it, and for weeks before you know the behemoth of Christmas is looming.”

We’re still waiting for our invite to the extravagant holiday festivities…but in the meantime, we’ll be baking and eating cookies pretty much nonstop.

— Maria Yagoda, @mariayagoda

Pete Souza/The White House via Getty

The Obama family is downsizing.

President Barack Obama, wife Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha have made plans to relocate from their cozy quarters in the White House to an 8,200-square-foot home in the Kalorama neighborhood in Washington, D.C. at the conclusion of his presidency.

The 9-bedroom mansion with 8.5 baths may not have the same notoriety as the family’s current abode, but it still boasts plenty of suburban charm and even a few historical touches (not to mention less traffic).

RELATED: President Obama Celebrates His Birthday (and Skips the Long Line) at D.C. Hot Spot

Built in 1928, the single-family home was first listed in a newspaper ad for an estimated cost of $50,000, according to website Ghosts of DC. Although it seems like a steal compared to its current price tag—the last sale was to former White House press secretary Joe Lockhart for $5,295,000—it was most likely an impressive purchase for Charles Maddox, who resided in the mansion for three decades.

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RELATED: President Obama Dined with Anthony Bourdain in Vietnam — Guess Who Picked Up the Check

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Praised for perfecting the first air-sea radio communication, Maddox, a U.S. Navy captain also had a daughter, Muriel, who spent time in the soon-to-be presidential pad. The debutante and aspiring actress had a few successes in her career, most notably the 1950 film The Men, which starred Marlon Brando.

RELATED: Michelle Obama: We Stopped Eating Boxed Mac ‘n’ Cheese ‘Because Cheese Dust Is Not Food’

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Of course, the beautiful brick residence has since been renovated to suit the needs of today’s modern families. Lots of land, a spacious patio and a bright, white kitchen are just a few of the amenities the Obamas are expected to enjoy, ensuring the family will still be living the American dream.

—Megan Stein, @meganstein2013

Michelle Obama and her stunning thigh-high Balenciaga boots had some canine secrets to spill in Brooklyn, New York, during the final stop of her Becoming book tour on Wednesday.

During her interview with Sarah Jessica Parker for the event, which was held at Barclays Center, the former first lady shared a glimpse into her family’s post-presidential life. Transitioning from living in the White House to a “regular” home in a Washington, D.C., neighborhood has come with its surprises, as Jezebel pointed out. For the Obama family’s Portuguese water dogs, Sunny and Bo, one of the most confusing changes has been the addition of … a doorbell.

“Bo and Sunny were like, “What’s that?’ ” Obama told Parker and the crowd gathered for the event.

“They’re just now going to the door when the doorbell rings. It’s taken them two years. It’s the door, people are coming,” she added.

It may seem strange, but as Obama points out in the clip above, Sunny and Bo didn’t grow up with the ding-dong of a doorbell at the White House.

Even more jarring, though? The reaction of visitors when Obama answers the door. “They’re like, ‘Ahhh what are you doing?’ ” she said. “It’s like, ‘It’s my house. I open my door. Please come in.’ ” Gladly!

According to the results of a new Gallup poll, more Americans admire former First Lady Michelle Obama than they do former presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, marking the first time in 17 years that Clinton does not top the list of the country’s most admired women.

Obama, who has been on a coast-to-coast promotional tour for her newly released autobiography Becoming, was named by 15 percent of respondents to the survey.

Clinton fell to number three on the list, which was conducted between December 3 and December 12. Clinton shares the third-place slot with First Lady Melania Trump, with each of their names coming up 4 percent of the time.

Oprah Winfrey came in second, generating 5 percent of the responses.

The survey is viewed as a test of name recognition, and considered something of a polarization barometer. Former President Barack Obama tops the list of most admired men for the 11th consecutive year, with 19 percent of those surveyed naming him. His successor, President Donald Trump, came in second with 13 percent of the vote.

RELATED VIDEO: Michelle Obama Wears $4,000 Sequin Balenciaga Thigh-High Boots to Close Out Her Book Tour

Also among the most admired women this year is Queen Elizabeth, who placed in the top 10 for a record 50th time,  along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, human rights activist Malala Yousafzai and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.

RELATED: Michelle Obama Struggled to ‘Keep Up with the Pace’ & Sometimes Didn’t Feel ‘Good Enough’ While First Lady

Rounding out the men’s top 10 are former President George W. Bush, Pope Francis, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former President Bill Clinton, the Dalai Lama, former Vice President Joe Biden, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Vice President Mike Pence.

According to Gallup, the sitting president usually tops the list on the men’s side. Usually when the POTUS does not win, it is “when he has subpar job approval ratings, as is the case with Trump,” the organization says. “Trump and Gerald Ford are the two presidents to date who did not win the honor while in office.”

The poll said that 35 percent of Democrats named Obama their most admired man with 32 percent of Republicans naming Trump.

Michelle Obama was Democrats’ favorite woman, with 28 percent naming her, compared with 7 percent for Oprah and 7 percent for Clinton. Melania Trump was the top finisher among Republicans, at 9 percent, with Obama and Winfrey getting 5 percent each.

For wife Michelle Obama‘s 55th birthday, former President Barack Obama wants to make one thing clear:

“I knew it way back then and I’m absolutely convinced of it today — you’re one of a kind,” he wrote Thursday alongside a throwback image of the two, decades younger, smiling for the camera with his arm slung over her shoulders.

Michelle is closing the book on a very busy 54th year which saw the release of her blockbuster memoir, Becoming.

Within a month of its November release, it sold three million copies. The former first lady also embarked on an oft sold-out book tour.

“I’ve been so humbled by the response to the tour thus far and the overwhelming interest we’ve received from so many communities we weren’t able to visit this year,” she told PEOPLE last fall.

Becoming includes discussions of the Obamas’ marriage and Michelle’s fertility struggles and childhood in Chicago.

In an at-home interview with PEOPLE, she talked about the value of being so candid about her life — and about her and her husband seeking counseling for their relationship, revered by so many.

“Because we’re role models, it’s important for us to be honest and say, ‘If you’re in a marriage and there are times you want to leave, that’s normal,’ because I felt that way,” she said.

View this post on Instagram

Enjoy the holiday season with the ones you love. Michelle and I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

A post shared by Barack Obama (@barackobama) on Dec 25, 2018 at 6:15am PST

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“There were definitely times when I wished things were different,” she told PEOPLE, “but I don’t think I ever thought, ‘I’m just checking out of this.’ “

In Becoming, Michelle also opened up about a miscarriage she suffered two decades ago. She ultimately conceived daughters Malia and Sasha via in vitro fertilization (IVF).

“I felt like I failed because I didn’t know how common miscarriages were because we don’t talk about them,” Michelle told ABC’s Robin Roberts in November. “We sit in our own pain, thinking that somehow we’re broken.”

She and the president, 57, wed in 1992 having first met at a Chicago law firm where they both worked — with her as his adviser.

Then, eventually, they kissed.

She recalls in Becoming: “As soon as I allowed myself to feel anything for Barack, the feelings came rushing — a toppling blast of lust, gratitude, fulfillment, wonder.”

Chef Art Smith has cooked for four presidents throughout his career, and now he’s on the road serving up delicious meals for former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Smith is traveling with Mrs. Obama for her Becoming book tour after first meeting years ago through an introduction facilitated by Oprah Winfrey. (Smith worked as the media mogul’s personal chef for many years.)

“She’s this mega-force at the moment,” Smith says of Mrs. Obama in this week’s issue of PEOPLE. “But behind that is this beautiful, lovely lady, who loves delicious food.”

On the road, Smith along with chefs Rey Villalobos and Adrian De Berardinis, “cook very simply,” he says. “There’s usually always soups. We usually do salads, which are delicious and nutritious, a nice chicken or beef and dessert like hummingbird cake or cobbler.”

RELATED: Michael Strahan Offers Clemson Players ‘a Proper Meal’ Following Trump’s Fast Food Spread

Those meals serve an important purpose for both Mrs. Obama and her team while they prep for her to step on stage.

“It’s a time to find peace and to enjoy the meal. some small talk, but nothing too exhausting,” Smith says. “It’s very family-like. There’s the hair dresser, the makeup artist, and chief of staff.”

He continues: “We’re cloistered in a little area with the secret service away from everybody. We’re really the only ones who get close to her. So, we’re in our own little world there and it’s like we’re one big family.”

First released in November 2018, Mrs. Obama’s memoir broke records and continues to be a must-read. Her book tour, Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama, which features earnest conversations with icons like Sarah Jessica Parker and Winfrey, has became so popular that the tour was extended into 2019.

RELATED: The Obamas Still Have Fantastic Taste in Restaurants

Smith says he is just glad to be joining her on the journey—and Mrs. Obama is equally thrilled to have him.

“I couldn’t be more thankful for Art’s culinary skills,” she says. “His meals are just the right mix of healthy and comforting, which is perfect for such a busy time in my life. It’s such a blessing to have him along for this ride!”

For more from Art Smith and Michelle Obama, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now. 

Adds Smith: “She is very thoughtful, caring, and never misses an opportunity to ask how you are. She’s a great person, who is a delight to cook for.”

One of Mrs. Obama’s favorite dishes from the road is Smith’s turkey chili. Get the recipe for the dish, which he describes as a “one-pot wonder,” below.  

Art Smith’s Turkey Chili

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
3 lbs. ground turkey
1 medium-size yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1½ Tbsp. chile powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
3⁄4 tsp. chipotle chile powder
1 medium-size red bell pepper, diced (about 1¼ cups)
1 (28-oz.) can tomato puree
3 (15-oz.) cans pinto beans, drained
1¾ cups chicken stock
1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. black pepper

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large Dutch oven over high. Add half of the ground turkey, and cook, undisturbed, until browned on bottom, about 3 minutes. Stir turkey, and cook until no pink remains and turkey is crumbled, about 3 minutes. Transfer cooked turkey to a bowl, and repeat with 1 tablespoon oil and remaining ground turkey.

2. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic, chile powder, cumin, oregano and chipotle powder, and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Return turkey to pot; stir in bell pepper, tomato puree and beans, and bring to a boil. Stir in stock and vinegar; reduce heat to low, cover and simmer, 45 minutes. Add thyme, and season with
salt and pepper. Serve with your favorite chili toppings.
Serves: 6
Active time: 15 minutes
Total time: 1 hour

Former First Lady Michelle Obama took a brief break from her blockbuster book tour on Sunday night for a surprise appearance at the start of the 2019 Grammys.

Obama, 55, appeared onstage alongside Grammys host Alicia Keys and Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jennifer Lopez to discuss the important role music had played in their lives.

Introducing the segment, Keys said, “Music is what we all love, music is what it’s all about. Everybody is out here shining and I’m so proud to bring us together to honor this moment because music is what we cry to, it’s what we march to, it’s what we rock to, it’s what we make love to. It’s our shared global language.”

A source familiar with the planning tells PEOPLE Obama attended for Keys, a friend.

Keys had been to the Obama White House a couple of times, says the source.

“It’s a nice friendship that they have,” the source says. “Mrs. Obama just wanted to be supportive of Alicia.”

At the show on Sunday night, after Gaga, Lopez and Smith each spoke, Obama delivered a brief speech to audibly rapturous reaction.

“From the Motown records I wore out on the South Side to the ‘who run the world’ songs that fueled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell my story, and I know that’s true for everybody here,” Obama said.

Be sure to check out PEOPLE’s full Grammys coverage to get the latest news on music’s biggest night.

Look who took the #GRAMMYs stage! @ladygaga, @jadapsmith, @MichelleObama, and @JLo join our host, @aliciakeys pic.twitter.com/4WslWCYn2B

— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) February 11, 2019

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She continued: “Whether we like country or rap or rock, music helps us share ourselves, our dignity and sorrows, our hopes and joys. It allows us to hear one another, to invite each other in. Music shows us that all of it matters — every story within every voice, every note within every song. Is that right ladies?”

Keys then took a second to “soak in” the assembled group. She playfully noted, referring to the Beyoncé song, “Who run the world?”

On Twitter, Obama posted a behind-the-scenes photo of the five-some and gushed about Keys.

“A big part of friendship is showing up for your girls—that’s why I was thrilled to be there for the one and only @aliciakeys at the #GRAMMYs,” she wrote, adding, “ is one of the most genuine and thoughtful people I know—there’s no one better to help us all celebrate the unifying power of music!”

Be sure to check out PEOPLE’s full Grammys coverage to get the latest news on music’s biggest night.

Keys, 38, was announced as Grammys host last month.

“I’m soooo EXCITED,” she said at the time. “There’s so much in store and I CAN’T WAIT for y’all to see it ALL come to life.”

“I know what it feels like to be on that stage and I know what it feels like to be proud of the work that you’ve put in, and to be recognized for it. And I just feel grateful that I’m able to bring that light and that energy,” she said in the video. “This is a first. It’s a first. It’s amazing. And I think it’s perfect timing. Honestly, I’m really excited. I feel really good about it, because I feel like it’s the perfect opportunity to give the light back to lift people up, especially all the young women who are nominated. To me, it feels like sister vibes.”

RELATED VIDEO: The 2019 Grammys by the Numbers

Last week Keys appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden for some playful tips from the show’s most recent host — in the form of a parody of “Shallow,” the signature song from A Star Is Born.

Sample line from Corden to Keyes: “Try not to be scared / Act like you’ve been there.” And: “After four hours you’ll find yourself drinking cheap booze.”

Obama, meanwhile, has been touring the country to sold-out venues in support of her memoir Becoming, which has sold millions of copies since its fall release.

RELATED: Alicia Keys Parodies A Star Is Born‘s ‘Shallow’ with James Corden to Prep for Grammys

Becoming is a candid account of her life, marriage to former President Barack Obama and their time together in the White House.

In an at-home interview with PEOPLE, Mrs. Obama talked about the value of being so open — and about her and her husband seeking counseling for their relationship, revered by so many.

“Because we’re role models, it’s important for us to be honest and say, ‘If you’re in a marriage and there are times you want to leave, that’s normal,’ because I felt that way,” she said.

The 61st Annual Grammy Awards are broadcasting live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS.

Alicia Keys kicked off the 61st annual Grammy Awards with some help of some very special guests — including Michelle Obama!

After Camila Cabello opened the show, host Keys took the stage for a moving monologue.

“Do you feel that love in the building? This is love. This is life, this is living, this is light and all because of music. Music is so powerful. … I want everybody in here, might be feeling a little nervous, might be feeling a little you know a lot of energy, just let your shoulders drop, just know that I got you. I’m going to take care of you tonight. I got you tonight,” Keys said.

The host added: “Music is what it’s all about. Everybody is out here shining and I’m so proud to bring us together to honor this moment. Because music is what we cry to, it’s what we march to, it’s what we rock to, it’s what we make love to. It’s our shared global language, and when you really want to say something, you say it with a song. … And y’all didn’t think I was coming out here by myself did you? Please, can I bring some of my sisters out here tonight?”

Then, Keys welcomed four powerful women onstage: Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Obama and Jennifer Lopez. The women talked about the power of music — and the importance of inclusion.

First, Gaga spoke about her journey: “They said that I’m weird, that my look, my choices, my sound, that I wouldn’t work but music told me not to listen to them. Music took my ears, took my hands, my voice and my soul, and it led me to all of you and my ‘Little Monsters,’ who I love so much.”

Lopez talked about her meteoric rise, as well.

“Back in the Bronx, music gave me a reason to dance from hip-hop to freestyle, pop, soul and salsa. And it kept me moving from the block to the big stages and to even bigger screens,” Lopez said. “It reminds me where I come from, but it also reminds me of all the places that I can go. Music has always been the one place we can feel truly free.”

RELATED: Surprise! Michelle Obama Appears at the Grammys to Support Host Alicia Keys

A big part of friendship is showing up for your girls—that’s why I was thrilled to be there for the one and only @aliciakeys at the #GRAMMYs. She is one of the most genuine and thoughtful people I know—there’s no one better to help us all celebrate the unifying power of music! pic.twitter.com/8cMhTmsClA

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) February 11, 2019

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Pinkett-Smith went on to speak of the importance of diversity and acceptance: “We express our pain, power, and progress through music whether we’re creating it or just appreciating it. But here’s what I know: Every voice we hear needs to be honored and respected.”

Next, when it was Obama’s turn to talk, the audience gave a rowdy round of applause as she began.

Be sure to check out PEOPLE’s full Grammys coverage to get the latest news on music’s biggest night.

RELATED: Lady Gaga Wins Third Grammy of the Night, Gives Emotional Speech About Mental Health

“From the Motown Records I wore out on the South Side….,” the former First Lady said, allowing the crowd to calm down.

“Alright. We have a show to do. From the Motown records I wore out on the South Side, to the ‘Who Run the World’ songs that fueled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell my story. And I know that’s true for everybody here. Whether we like country, or rap or rock, music helps us share ourselves; our dignity and sorrows, our hopes and joys. It allows us to hear one another, to invite each other in.”

“Music shows us that all of it matters. Every story within every voice, every note within every song. Is that right ladies?”

After Obama’s remarks, Keys began the show.

“Tonight we celebrate the greatness in each other, all of us, through music,” Keys said. “Who runs the world? Thank you so much ladies for your light, your message, your love, your sisterhood. I love y’all so much. Give it up for these magnificent goddesses.”

The 61st Annual Grammy Awards are broadcasting live from Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on CBS.

Viewers expecting a straightforward affair were in for a surprising treat when they tuned in for the 2019 Grammy Awards, where high-profile cameos, shady speeches and jaw-dropping performances made for an unpredictable night.

Led by host Alicia Keys, the celebration delivered a handful of shocking moments:

Camila Cabello Is Joined by Her Sister & Father During Her Performance
Cabello started the show with a performance of her mega-hit “Havana.” She was joined by Young Thug, J Balvin, Ricky Martin, Arturo Sandoval and two very special surprise guests: her sister Sofia and dad Alejandro.

“Tonight’s performance was based on my grandma’s childhood in Havana growing up in a ‘solar habanero,’ basically a house in which every family live in a room — it was a poor community but she loved it because there was music everywhere, she was never happier,” Cabello wrote about her number on Twitter. “Before they even put up the wall and we started performing, I was tearing up thinking of my family, my team, and how beautiful a moment like this is.”

The star’s father and sister appeared in one of the “rooms” that made up the on-stage solar habanero.

omg did you see them ?! they were sooooo cute https://t.co/xHTTxuTVdb

— camila (@Camila_Cabello) February 11, 2019

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“Omg did you see them?! They were soooo cute,” the star gushed about her family when a fan asked about their appearance on Twitter.

Michelle Obama Leads a Group of Female Superstars
The former First Lady joined host Alicia Keys and Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jennifer Lopez on stage to talk about the important role music has played in their lives as the ceremony began.

“From the Motown records I wore out on the South Side to the ‘Who Run the World’ songs that fueled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell my story, and I know that’s true for everybody here,” Obama said.

“Whether we like country or rap or rock, music helps us share ourselves, our dignity and sorrows, our hopes and joys. It allows us to hear one another, to invite each other in. Music shows us that all of it matters — every story within every voice, every note within every song. Is that right ladies?” she continued.

A big part of friendship is showing up for your girls—that’s why I was thrilled to be there for the one and only @aliciakeys at the #GRAMMYs. She is one of the most genuine and thoughtful people I know—there’s no one better to help us all celebrate the unifying power of music! pic.twitter.com/8cMhTmsClA

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) February 11, 2019

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

A source familiar with planning the appearance told PEOPLE about Obama’s relationship with the Grammys host, saying “It’s a nice friendship that they have. Mrs. Obama just wanted to be supportive of Alicia.”

Cardi B and Estranged Husband Offset Show PDA on the Red Carpet
Two months after announcing she’d split with her husband following their surprise September 2017 wedding, Cardi made her reignited romance with the Migos rapper red carpet official.

The pair even touched tongues as they posed for pictures, as if all eyes weren’t already on the five-time nominee’s unforgettable vintage Mugler dress.

During Cardi’s performance, Offset was spotted completely engrossed in the show from his seat in the audience:

He later joined her on stage as she accepted best rap album for Invasion of Privacy.

Offset and Cardi welcomed daughter Kulture Kiari in July.

Shawn Mendes Brings Out Miley Cyrus During His Performance
Mendes enlisted a pro to share the stage with him as he made his Grammys performance debut.

He started singing his hit “In My Blood” on his own before Cyrus came out to help him finish off the song.

Fans suspected the duo might be teaming up after Cyrus shared a rehearsal photo with equipment marked with Mendes’ name on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

Gram Gram rehearsals! Performing this Sunday at the @recordingacademy !

A post shared by Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Feb 5, 2019 at 2:06pm PST

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On Friday, Cyrus and Mendes teamed up at the MusiCares tribute to Dolly Parton, singing her famous “Islands in the Stream.” The singers are also expected to release a single together on Cyrus’ upcoming album.

Kylie Jenner Walks the Carpet with Boyfriend Travis Scott
Despite telling GQ last year that she “won’t come” to her rapper boyfriend’s events in an effort to keep their relationship private, Jenner went all out to support her man over the 2019 Grammys weekend.

First, she accompanied him to Clive Davis and The Recording Academy’s Pre-Grammy Gala, where Scott performed.

Then, the parents to 1-year-old daughter Stormi made a rare joint red carpet appearance, getting flirty and even sharing a kiss before heading into the Grammys.

The Astroworld star earned three Grammy nominations for best rap album, best rap song and best rap performance, and hit the stage during the show.

Alicia Keys Dazzles With a Two-Piano Medley Performance
The evening’s host took a break from introducing other singers to show off her own pipes.

“I always wanted to play two pianos,” she said as she straddled a piano bench between the two instruments.

Keys then launched into a medley of wide-ranging hits, including Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly,” Juice Wrld’s “Lucid Dreams,” Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable,” Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody,” Drake’s “In My Feelings,” Lauryn Hill’s “Doo-Wop (That Thing)” and Ella Mai’s “Boo-d Up,” before singing her 2009 collaboration with JAY-Z, “Empire State of Mind.”

Be sure to check out PEOPLE’s full Grammy Awards coverage to get the latest news on music’s biggest night.

Drake Makes an Appearance to Accept Best Rap Song
After years of shunning awards shows, the Scorpion star made a surprise appearance to claim his gramophone for his song “God’s Plan.”

Drake, did, however, use his time at the microphone to encourage other artists not to use industry awards as the only measure of their success.

“I want you to know we play in an opinion-based sport, not a factual-based sport. This is not the NBA where at the end of the year, you’re holding a trophy because you made the right decisions or won the games,” he said. “This is a business where sometimes it’s up to a bunch of people who might not understand what a mixed-race kid from Canada has to say, or a fly Spanish girl from New York, or anybody else, or a brother from Houston, my brother Travis .

“You’ve already won if you have people who are singing your songs word-for-word, if you’re a hero in your hometown… If there’s people who have regular jobs, who are coming out in the rain and the snow, spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don’t need this right here. I promise you. You already won.”

Drake went on to say “But —” before being cut off by the broadcast. He was reportedly invited to continue his comments in the press room later on.

Cardi B Is Literally Speechless as She Becomes the First Woman to Win Best Rap Album
Cardi was visibly shocked when her name was announced as the night’s big rap winner, and could barely get words out when she finally made it to the microphone.

“Babe, I can’t breathe. Oh my goodness, woah child. I’m sorry,” she said with husband Offset beside her. “I’m sorry, I just woah — the nerves are so bad. Maybe I need to start smoking weed.”

“I wanna thank my daughter. Not just because she’s my daughter, it’s because when I found I was pregnant, my album was not complete … we was like we have to get this album done so we can shoot these videos while I was still not showing and it was very long nights,” she continued, referencing her pregnancy with daughter Kulture.

Ariana Grande Tweets Angry Messages After Late Boyfriend Mac Miller Loses His Category
Grande quite publicly did not attend Sunday’s ceremony, but she made her feelings known on Twitter after ex-boyfriend Mac Miller, who died in September 2018 from an accidental overdose, lost best rap album to Cardi B.

The songstress tweeted “f—” and “trash,” after the category was announced, but later clarified that she wasn’t upset with Cardi.

“Nothing to do w her. good for her. i promise. i’m sorry,” she wrote. “She’s not at all and that’s not what i meant and u know that.”

Grande also responded to a tweet about Miller’s parents, Karen Meyer and Mark McCormick, being invited to the Grammys only to watch him lose out.

“this. this is what i meant. karen was gonna have a green suit made,” she wrote, adding, of the Swimming rapper, “he slept in the studio for two months.”

Grande quickly deleted all of the tweets about Miller.

Kacey Musgraves Wins Album of the Year for Golden Hour
Musgraves appeared shocked to win the evening’s biggest award for her album Golden Hour.

The country singer defeated stiff competition in her category, including Post Malone, Janelle Monáe, Brandi Carlile, Cardi B, Drake, H.E.R. and artists from the Black Panther soundtrack.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Musgraves said as she accepted her award. “It was unbelievable to even be in a category with such gigantic albums, really brilliant works of art.”

The 2019 Grammys was full of jaw-dropping moments, among them, when former First Lady Michelle Obama appeared onstage alongside host Alicia Keys and Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jennifer Lopez to open up about the importance of music in each of their lives.

As Obama, 55, told the audience, “From the Motown records I wore out on the South Side to the ‘who run the world’ songs that fueled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell my story, and I know that’s true for everybody here,” she was positively aglow. But her pewter sequin pantsuit wasn’t the only reason for her gleam. The perpetually radiant former FLOTUS’s face looked lit-from-within — and her makeup artist Carl Ray is giving PEOPLE the exclusive how-to.

The duo go back a decade, when Ray received an email from the White House asking if he’d like to audition for the role of Obama’s makeup artist.

When creating a makeup look for Obama, “the stakes are always high,” admits Ray. However, now that Obama’s address isn’t 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, “we can have a little more fun with her looks and we certainly have been doing that!”

That doesn’t mean Obama will be rocking cut crease. Says Ray, “her aesthetic is still the same — she likes to look polished and pretty — but she has always had an appreciation for fashion and makeup, and now we can take her look to the next level and play with different types of glam.

Be sure to check out PEOPLE’s full Grammys coverage to get the latest news on music’s biggest night.

Obama and Ray have been experimenting with different looks while on her blockbuster book tour, and the Grammys provided another fun opportunity to play up her makeup.

For the surprise appearance, Ray took out his Obama makeup kit (yes, he has a makeup kit just for her) and began with her eyes. “I always start with them first, then brows, skin, cheeks, and lips,” he says.

“For this particular look, Ray blended a few shades from the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette, then he tapped Hourglass's Scattered Light Glitter Eye Shadow on the center of her lids “with my ring finger because it has the lightest touch,” and Becca's Highlighter in Prosecco Pop “in the inner corner of her eyes to open them up.”

Ray then applied Stila eyeliner before and after he put on Lilly Lashes in Miami, for an effect he described as “ultimate glam.”

RELATED VIDEO: The 2019 Grammys by the Numbers

After contouring Obama’s cheekbones, the pro created her glossy lip look using Kevyn Aucoin's Hyacinth lip pencil and Marc Jacobs Beauty's soft pink nude lip gloss Moonglow.

Ray says that Obama only sometimes weighs in on her look. “Other times, I have to remind her to look at herself when I finish – which is a nice compliment,” he says.

And Ray relishes every moment he gets to spend in her presence.

“It is hard to describe the exact feeling you get when being around her. She is a bright light and a beacon of hope whose energy contagious. I feel blessed and honored to work with her and the relationship we have built.”

The 61st Annual Grammy Awards were broadcasted live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS.

Just because you’re a former first lady doesn’t mean you’re a “real” celebrity — at least, not in your mom’s eyes.

That’s the lesson Michelle Obama learned this week, as evidenced by a playful text exchange with mom Marian Robinson, 81, that she shared to Instagram Wednesday.

Obama, 55, made a surprise appearance on the Grammys stage Sunday and gave her mother a heads up to tune in — or so she thought.

“I guess you were a hit at the Grammys,” the first text from Robinson read.

The Becoming author joked back that the text was “so typically you.”

RELATED: Jennifer Lopez Blocking Fans with Her Giant Hat, Red Carpet Run-ins & More — What You Didn’t See at the Grammys

“Did you meet any of the real stars or did you run right after you were done,” asked Robinson, who wrote that she only knew to watch because someone named Gracie had let her know.

Obama insisted she had, in fact, told her mom she’d be appearing.

“No you did not,” Robinson replied, joking, “I would have remembered that even though I don’t remember much.”

Obama took the slip-up in stride, sending three laughing emojis and wrote, “I thought I told you.”

She added: And I Am A real star…by the way…”

View this post on Instagram

When your mom doesn't think you're a "real" celebrity…Tonight in Phoenix, I shared this text thread from my mom from #Grammys night, and I just had to share it with all of you. #TextsFromMom

A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Feb 12, 2019 at 10:35pm PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

RELATED: Alicia Keys Kicks Off Grammys with Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith and J.Lo

The exchange drew laughs from stars like Vanessa Hudgens, Tyrese Gibson and Rachel Zoe, who all weighed in on Instagram.

“This. Is. Everything,” Hudgens wrote.

Robinson lived at the White House with her daughter during her son-in-law’s tenure as president.

She told CBS This Morning in November that her goal in living with the family was to help the couple’s young daughters, Sasha and Malia, maintain a sense of normalcy, which included everything from rides to school to “laundry lessons.”

RELATED: How to Get Michelle Obama’s Grammys Glow, Straight from Her Makeup Artist Carl Ray

Obama was on hand at Sunday’s awards show in support of host Alicia Keys, who is a longtime friend.

She joined Keys alongside Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jennifer Lopez to talk about the importance of music in their lives.

“From the Motown records I wore out on the South Side to the ‘who run the world’ songs that fueled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell the story,” she told the audience, “and I know that’s true for everybody here.”

Parents text the darndest things.

Like many of us, celebrities find themselves cracking up, teary-eyed or just completely confused thanks to texts from their moms and dads. Below, some of the best conversations with parents ever shared by famous offspring.

Michelle Obama

Even the former First Lady isn’t immune to “Mom” texts — at age 55, no less. Following her surprise appearance at the 2019 Grammy Awards, Obama shared screenshots of playful messages from her 81-year-old mother, Marian Robinson.

After calling her daughter out for not even telling her she’d be on the show (which Obama swore she did), Robinson got in this zinger: “Did you meet any of the real stars or did you run right after you were done”

View this post on Instagram

When your mom doesn't think you're a "real" celebrity…Tonight in Phoenix, I shared this text thread from my mom from #Grammys night, and I just had to share it with all of you. #TextsFromMom

A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on Feb 12, 2019 at 10:35pm PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

Obama, who was invited to participate by good friend and Grammys host Alicia Keys, took it all in stride — reminding her mom she is “A real star…by the way.”

Zendaya

When it comes to guilting her daughter into clearing her schedule for family time, Zendaya‘s mom does not take a subtle approach.

The Spider-Man: Homecoming star tweeted a screenshot of an article her mom had sent her via text. “Study Shows the More Time You Spend With Your Mom, The Longer She’ll Live,” the headline read.

Why is my mother like this??@clairemaree64 pic.twitter.com/UdM6WLhegG

— Zendaya (@Zendaya) July 18, 2017

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

“Why is my mother like this??” the actress captioned the conversation. The short answer, Zendaya, is because she’s a mom.

Mandy Moore

The This Is Us star’s parents weren’t afraid to share some harsh words about Rebecca Pearson’s decisions. Moore shared screenshots of her post-episode conversations with both her mom and dad on Instagram:

View this post on Instagram

Mom and Dad know how to keep it real. Thanks guys? #thisisus

A post shared by Mandy Moore (@mandymooremm) on Feb 7, 2017 at 10:10pm PST

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Apparently, Mimi’s dad has a little bit of trouble distinguishing between the actress and her role. “You are so mean,” he wrote. “After Jack was so sweet and romantic, you tell him about the tour…your timing is awful.”

Reese Witherspoon

Witherspoon shared a sweet message her mom sent her ahead of the 2015 Golden Globes, where she was up for best actress for Wild.

View this post on Instagram

Aww thanks Mom for all the words of encouragement. Congrats to all the #GoldenGlobe winners last night! What a fun celebration of movies this year….and thank you to all the amazing fans who have supported #WILDmovie.

A post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon) on Jan 12, 2015 at 10:42am PST

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The heart emoji-filled message proved that Witherspoon’s lovable nature is a genetic gift.

Olivia Munn

Munn expertly shut down engagement rumors to now-ex Aaron Rodgers by sharing the hysterical conversation in which she had to clarify the situation to her mom. “Hey why don’t you tell me first?” mama Munn complained.

View this post on Instagram

Answering yes or no to personal questions can be tricky because if you say "No" it means whenever you say "No comment" that kind of becomes your default "Yes". But since I'm doing press for the next few days, I didn't want to have to answer the same question over and over. So instead, I'm going to let my text conversation with my Asian mom help me out.#Colberto

A post shared by Olivia Munn (@oliviamunn) on Jan 12, 2016 at 1:09pm PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

In the Instagram post caption, Munn explained why she shared the convo (other than to give us all a good chuckle): “But since I’m doing press for the next few days, I didn’t want to have to answer the same question over and over. So instead, I’m going to let my text conversation with my Asian mom help me out.”

Miranda Cosgrove

We are all Cosgrove’s mom.

View this post on Instagram

Texts from my Mom #thestruggleisreal

A post shared by Miranda Cosgrove (@mirandacosgrove) on May 24, 2016 at 11:36pm PDT

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Ireland Baldwin

After she was spotted grabbing coffee with a friend, Baldwin’s famous father Alec decided to get to the bottom of things via text.

“This is what happens you get coffee with friends. You get coffee and then you pregnant and then it spirals out of control from there… #morningtextswithndad #whotakesphotosofpeopleat7am #ihateeveryone,” the model joked in the caption.

Ariana Grande

The singer posted a heartfelt message from her No. 1 fan, who was so proud of her daughter that she had been reduced to crying in a coffee shop.

View this post on Instagram

omg mom

A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Dec 9, 2013 at 3:34am PST

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

Grande presented the rather one-sided conversation with a simple “omg mom.”

Emma Roberts

“Shout out to my mom who doesn’t have email, Twitter, Instagram, still uses a flip phone, and signs all her messages,” the Scream Queens star wrote alongside evidence of her mom’s tech-challenged ways.

View this post on Instagram

Shout out to my mom who doesn't have email, Twitter, Instagram, still uses a flip phone, and signs all her messages #T9soFine #LoveYou #Queen @ggrace_nickels

A post shared by Emma Roberts (@emmaroberts) on Jun 30, 2016 at 6:49pm PDT

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

Roberts further discussed her mom’s flip phone usage and shared more texts on Late Night with Seth Meyers. “It’s like she’s writing me a letter,” the actress joked.

Kris Jenner

Technically this is a case of a parent sharing texts from her kids, but it’s worth a mention nonetheless. Jenner showed the world just how crazy it can get on a Kardashian konversation.

View this post on Instagram

Kendall's texts are cut off at the top and Kylie is on a plane… but this is how fun and silly my family's text chains are on a daily .. Sorry guys I had to #itjustgoesonandon

A post shared by Kris Jenner (@krisjenner) on May 23, 2015 at 5:24pm PDT

//www.instagram.com/embed.js

“This is how fun and silly my family’s text chains are on a daily,” the matriarch captioned the iMessage screen grab.

It’s been three years since she cut a rug in the White House but Barack and Michelle Obama have not forgotten about Virginia McLaurin, also known as “Grandma Virginia” or “D.C.’s favorite centenarian,” according to the local news.

McLaurin, who was born in South Carolina in 1909, turned 110 on Tuesday, TV station WJLA reports.

The former first lady wished her a happy celebration on Instagram, re-sharing an image of their meeting in 2016.

“Still dancing at 110 years old—happy birthday, Virginia!” Mrs. Obama wrote.

McLaurin first made headlines with a delight-filled trip to the Blue Room for Black History Month in February 2016 where she met the president and the first lady, giving them both big hugs.

“I want to be like you when I grow up,” Mrs. Obama told her, to which McLaurin replied, “You can.”

“I thought I would never live to get in the White House, and I tell you I am so happy,” she told the Obamas at the time. “A black president and a black wife. And I’m here to celebrate black history.”

Since then, McLaurin has continued to have busy birthdays. When she turned 107, she celebrated with the Harlem Globetrotters and joined them again the following year.

This year, according to WJLA, she plans to have a meal at her local TGI Friday’s with family and others in her church.

“They feel like maybe it’s too much for me,” McLaurin told the station. “They said we want to keep her as long as we can.” (“As far as I can see, I’m the oldest thing in the District,” she said with a laugh.)

McLaurin has lived in Washington, D.C., since 1941. According to WJLA, her birthday wish is to meet the D.C. mayor.

In December 2014, McLaurin recorded a video message to the president, saying, “I would love to meet … I didn’t think I’d ever live to see a colored president. I am so happy, I pray for you every day of my life.”

Five years later, her trip to the White House still surprises her.

“I met a black president and a black wife. That’s me,” she told WJLA with audible awe. “I was so scared because I was raised in the South. I didn’t know what to do.”

Celebrities have access to an unlimited arsenal of unbelievable footwear – just one glance inside an A-lister’s custom closet gives you an idea at just how many pairs the average star steps out in. But if there’s one particular style that stars return to again and again, you have to believe it’s pretty special. Either it’s incredibly versatile, wildly comfortable, super-flattering or – in the case of Jimmy Choo's Romy pump – a combination of all three. The evidence? Their incredibly loyal fan following, which stretches from London to Washington, D.C. to Hollywood.

First up is Kate Middleton, who wore a black pair of the brand's Romy heels for two events honoring the end of World War I this weekend. (Hers are bespoke and made in velvet, though you can get a similar look with the style in suede.)

She also sported the brand’s nude heels for two of her biggest events this summer: Prince Louis’ christening and Meghan Markle’s wedding to Prince Harry. As a mom to a newborn (read: very little sleep) who would need to be wrangling two little kids – in addition to all of her other royal duties – the perfect pair of pumps was key to making it through the day in one piece, particularly because Kate never compromises on heel height. The pair she relied on for both big days: Jimmy Choo's nude patent Romy heels.

CELEBRITY STYLE DÉJA VU: The Pieces Every Star Seems to Own

Michelle Obama is another high-profile person who requires her heels to hold up through hours of handshaking. She’s long been a Jimmy Choo loyalist, but she’s been turning to the Romy style (in black patent and silver metallic – this glitter look is similar) for very visible moments including her appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and her speech at the Democratic National Convention.

And it’s not just heads of state who stand tall in the brand’s classic pump style. Keira Knightley has worn her black suede pair almost exclusively during her press tour for Colette. Anna Kendrick stepped out in a navy suede pair for a Paris appearance. Lady Gaga wore her black patent pair all over Paris and Venice for her A Star Is Born promotion. And Kristen Bell is also a loyalist to the style – she’s worn her black satin pair at least four times over the past two years (this basic leather style is just as universally useful).

Because everyone needs a truly great beige or black pump in their wardrobe, it may be worth to invest the $595 in a pair you’ll wear again and again (or at the very least, mark it on Shop It to Me for when the style goes on sale). But if you don’t want to play it safe, they’ve also got tons of options including an ombré glitter pair for $725, a $2,850 crystal-covered ruby pair and tons more.

Buy It! Jimmy Choo “Romy” pump in patent, $595; jimmychoo.com or suede, $595; jimmychoo.com

Michelle Obama‘s Becoming has been selling astonishingly well since its November release and, reportedly with nearly 10 million copies now sold, appears to be one of the most popular memoirs in history — if not the most popular, period.

“We believe this could be the most successful memoir in history,” Thomas Rabe, head of one of Penguin Random House’s parent companies, said Tuesday according to the Wall Street Journal.

Penguin’s chief executive, Markus Dohle, echoed that, the Journal reports. “I’m not aware, in my personal experience with Penguin Random House, that we ever sold 10 million units of a memoir,” Dohle said.

He noted that comparable figures to other memoirs were not immediately available. (Global book sales are not comprehensively tracked.)

For comparison, according to the BBC, citing Nielsen, Becoming is the UK’s 11th bestselling memoir. According to the Washington Post, Mrs. Obama’s memoir sold two million copies in its first 15 days in stores and was a No. 1 seller in Germany, Greece, the UK and elsewhere.

The former first lady, 55, has been touring the country to sold-out venues in support of Becoming, a candid account of her life, marriage to former President Barack Obama, the journey to conceiving daughters Malia and Sasha and family’s time in the White House.

In an at-home interview with PEOPLE, Mrs. Obama talked about the value of being so open — and about her and her husband seeking counseling for their relationship, revered by so many.

“Because we’re role models, it’s important for us to be honest and say, ‘If you’re in a marriage and there are times you want to leave, that’s normal,’ because I felt that way,” she said.

President Obama’s memoir is expected to be released by Penguin later this year, according to the Journal.

Michelle Obama‘s former top aide was in contact with the prosecutor in Jussie Smollett’s case, weeks before a grand jury indicted the Empire actor on 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly making false reports on Feb. 20.

Tina Tchen, who worked as Obama’s chief of staff and now leads the Southern Poverty Law Center, texted with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx amid the investigation. The communication between Foxx and Tchen, who describes herself as a “family friend” of the Smolletts, raised questions after Foxx’s office dropped all felony charges against Smollett.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Tchen explained her involvement: “I know members of the Smollett family based on prior work together. Shortly after Mr. Smollett reported he was attacked, as a family friend, I contacted Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who I also know from prior work together.”

Tchen, who released the statement one day after Smollett’s charges were dropped, further shared, “My sole activity was to put the chief prosecutor in the case in touch with an alleged victim’s family who had concerns about how the investigation was being characterized in public.”

RELATED: Jussie Smollett Case: Petition Filed Asking Special Prosecutor to Investigate After Charges Dropped

Smollett, 36, had faced 16 counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly fabricating details of an assault that occurred around 2 a.m. local time on January 29 on a street in his Chicago neighborhood. The black and openly gay actor claimed the two mask-clad men who attacked him hurled racist and homophobic insults, doused him with a chemical, and slipped a rope around his neck, which Smollett still had on when later interviewed by police.

Throughout the case, Smollett maintained his innocence. He previously pleaded not guilty to allegations that he lied to police when he said he was attacked by two men in what authorities later had claimed was a staged incident to draw attention to himself.

In mid-February, Foxx said her decision to recuse herself from the case was due to her communication with Tchen and an unnamed Smollett family member.

Text and email messages obtained by CNN, NBC Chicago and USA Today show Tchen and Foxx began talking about Smollett’s case on Feb. 1 when Tchen contacted Foxx saying the actor’s family “have concerns about the investigation.”

In her response, Foxx said, “Spoke to the Superintendent Johnson,” referring to Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who was among those to publicly debunk Smollett’s police report. “I convinced him to reach out to FBI to ask that they take over the investigation,” Foxx added.

On that same day, the unnamed Smollett relative texted Foxx in a separate exchange to ask whether they could talk by phone, the records show. “Tina Tchen gave me your number,” the relative wrote.

“Spoke to the superintendent earlier, he made the ask. Trying to figure out logistics. I’ll keep you posted,” Foxx responded.

“Omg this would be a huge victory,” the relative replied to which Foxx said: “I make no guarantees, but I’m trying.”

Foxx and the relative communicated via text message until Feb. 13.

RELATED: There’s a Lot More Evidence’ Jussie Smollett Staged Bias Attack: Superintendent

When news of Smollett’s dropped charges was made public on March 26, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office told PEOPLE: “After reviewing all the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollett’s volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case.”

Foxx’s office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Meanwhile, Smollett’s lawyer, Patricia Brown Holmes, previously told CNN’s Don Lemon during an interview that “there was no political influence in this case,” adding, “No one political called that I know of. I don’t think anyone political reached out to anyone. I don’t think they would have allowed anyone political to reach out to them.”

Representatives for Smollett did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Both Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago police superintendent Eddie T. Johnson have publicly criticized the dropping of charges against Smollett, with Emanuel calling it “an unbelievable whitewash of justice.”

Longtime Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett is opening up about her life and time with the former first family, including the painful campaign moment when Michelle Obama broke down in tears over being portrayed in the media as an “angry black woman.”

According to Jarrett’s Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward, out now, this is a stereotype that she has also faced — long before she was the target of a racist tweet by Roseanne Barr.

“ work twice as hard, be twice as good, and be three times as lucky ,” writes Jarrett, 62, who followed President Barack Obama from the campaign trail to the White House.

In the book, the longtime advocate for gender and racial equality recounts her struggles as a black woman in America.

Jarrett was born in Iran — her parents moved there after her father, a doctor, couldn’t find a job practicing medicine in America’s racially segregated hospitals — but Jarrett grew up in Chicago and went on to practice law.

While raising her daughter, Laura, now 36 and a trained lawyer and CNN correspondent, the single mom became a successful business woman, chaired multiple boards and was deputy chief of staff for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

“Looking back on those years when I was a young working mom, I wish I had not defined success as achieving the mighty juggle with flawless perfection,” Jarrett writes. “I wish I had understood that hard work doesn’t always prevent failures, and that my failures do not define me. Rather my missteps often teach valuable lessons, and provide the resilience to bounce back stronger.”

RELATED: What to Know About Valerie Jarrett

It was in the Chicago mayor’s office in 1991, that Jarrett interviewed Mrs. Obama (then Michelle Robinson) for a job, which led to her longtime friendship with the couple and her journey to the upper echelon of American politics.

“And I will tell you, are the same in terms of their core values, their commitment to public service,” Jarrett recalled in a 2016 interview on The Real.

Since the end of President Obama’s term, Jarrett has remained heavily involved in their work. She is now a senior adviser to the Obama Foundation and a senior distinguished fellow at the University of Chicago Law School.

Here are highlights from her memoir, which conspicuously does not discuss Barr’s racist attack last year that led to the canceling of Barr’s ABC series. (Last July, asked about Barr, Jarrett quipped: “Roseanne who?”)

The Day 5-Year-Old Jarrett Hit the Hired Help

The former White House official writes that, by the time she was almost 5 years old, she’d begun “to internalize the mores of Iran’s caste system.”

Upset at Saroya, a servant in her parents’ house, Jarrett writes that her mother was “horrified” to walk “into the house one afternoon to see me giving Saroya a swift kick, as hard as I could.”

Her parents had never accepted these customs and found Jarrett’s behavior “unacceptable,” especially because they’d come to Iran to escape segregation themselves, according to her book.

That night, Jarrett’s mother told her father: “I think it’s time for us to leave Iran.”

The First Time Jarrett Was Called the N-Word

Jarrett was 10 years old when she was first called the incendiary racial slur by a friend she’d made at an all-girls sleep-away camp in Michigan, she writes.

“You know, I thought you were a n—– when I first met you,” Jarrett recalls the girl saying. “I’m really sorry.”

Jarrett’s face turned bright red. She imagined saying, “Oh, but I am!” and being beaten up like she had been by another group of girls, she writes. Instead, she mumbled a response and never told anyone what happened.

Years later, after Bar compared her to an “ape” on Twitter, Jarrett had a different reaction.

“First of all, I think we have to turn it into a teaching moment. I’m fine,” Jarrett said during a town hall on MSNBC called “Everyday Racism in America.”

“I’m worried about all the people out there who don’t have a circle of friends and followers coming to their defense,” Jarrett said.

RELATED: Michelle Obama Struggled to ‘Keep Up with the Pace’ as First Lady

President Obama ‘Doesn’t Sweat’

The “worst moment of the campaign,” Jarrett writes of Obama’s historic run for president in 2008, was when he arrived late for a television debate on an Illinois public television station, WTTW.

The cameras had already panned across the seat of candidates (with one empty chair) and the moderator, Phil Ponce, had announced a 60-second break when Obama finally walked in, according to Jarrett’s book. (“I could have killed him,” she writes.)

“If you were to ask Michelle or me what was the worst moment of the campaign, that would have been it,” Jarrett explains. “But the candidate himself was oblivious. He missed the mounting stress as the minutes counted down.

“He wasn’t in the room to watch his empty chair as the credits began to roll. When we fussed at him later, he shrugged and said if he had been late, he would have explained he had a good excuse: he was doing his job in Springfield for his constituents. And that was the difference between us: He simply doesn’t sweat. We do.”

The President Used to Tease Jarrett About Her Menopause

When Jarrett would experiences menopausal hot flashes while riding with the president, he would make sure to turn on the air conditioner and give her his handkerchief “without saying a word or even looking in my direction,” she writes.

Other times, he would tease her in “good-natured way that only a man who knows you well, like a brother, has permission to do.”

If anyone could tease Jarrett, it was Obama. Their friendship has been almost been almost 30 years in the making.

“The president has said she’s his best friend,” CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell, who profiled Jarrett for 60 Minutes two years ago, has said.

RELATED VIDEO: Michelle Obama’s Becoming Could Be the Most Popular Memoir Ever

The Moment Mrs. Obama Broke Down in Tears

In the early days of the Obamas’ first presidential campaign, Jarrett writes that the soon-to-be first lady was filled with anxiety over a comment she’d made on stage (“For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country”), which was taken out of context.

Though Mrs. Obama was an esteemed lawyer, Jarrett writes that she was not yet comfortable on the campaign trail and was quickly portrayed as an “angry black woman.”

Jarrett recalls that everything came to a head when Mrs. Obama and her team reviewed a taping of a speech she’d just given.

“When it was over, there was complete silence,” Jarrett writes. “The words in her speech weren’t angry, but her demeanor made them seem as if she was. She started to cry, while I held her hand; seeing her like that made me want to wrap her in a blanket and take her somewhere safe.”

The former aide continues: “Michelle turned to us and said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ and she was right. We had done her a great disservice. We all knew what she was trying to say and what a message of hope and optimism she wanted to deliver, and we had simply counted on the audience seeing that as well.”

In November, while on the final episode of WNYC Studios’ podcast 2 Dope Queens, the former first lady addressed the “angry black woman stereotype” and how she was raising her daughters, Malia and Sasha, to advocate for themselves.

“What my parents did was that they saw that flame in me, and they kept it lit,” Mrs. Obama said. “So, right now, I think I want to fan their flames … I want to get them used to maybe overstepping a little bit ’cause sometimes with women you don’t step up enough. You don’t use your voice enough because you’re told you’re mouthy or you’re bossy or be quiet or that’s not cute.”

Mrs. Obama said she was ready to see her bold vision for her daughters and young women everywhere put into words and action.

“I want to practice boldness, and then we can bring it back, you know?”

During a Sunday stop on the book tour for her hugely popular memoir, former First Lady Michelle Obama jokingly compared President Donald Trump‘s administration to the parenting style of a “divorced dad.”

CNN anchor Dana Bash called it “remarkably unwoke,” and some divorced fathers have taken umbrage at the remark.

Video from the London event, which was hosted by Stephen Colbert, shows Obama made the comment after Colbert said, “America is like a teenager.”

“We are a teenager, we talked about this, we’re like a teenage country,” Obama, 55, agreed.

“And we’re confused ’cause our body is changing,” joked Colbert, 54, prompting Obama’s reply:

“We’re changing all over the place. And we come from a broken family. We’re a teenager, where we’re a little unsettled and having good parents is tough. Sometimes you spend weekends with divorced dad and that feels like it’s fun but then you get sick — that’s what America’s going through. We’re kind of living with divorced dad right now.”

According to video from the event, published by The Independent, Colbert then laughed and did a Trump impersonation.

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The comparison has been met with criticism. CNN reporter Kate Bennett said it “was a really big misstep on her part” and the network aired a segment rounding up negative reactions from social media users who said they were divorced dads.

In a Tuesday blog post, writer Jordan Shapiro, a divorced father of two, said Obama’s “decision to perpetuate the divorced dad stigma is unfortunate. It not only undermines millions of unmarried fathers who are trying to do what’s best for their children, but also reinforces a way of conceptualizing family life that does more harm than good.”

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According to the Washington Post, Obama did not once name President Trump — who built his political brand in part on outrageous attacks on President Barack Obama, including peddling the conspiracy theory that he was not born in America.

At Sunday’s event, Mrs. Obama made other references to Trump’s divisive time in office.

“Let’s just stop and think about — for anybody who had problems with Barack Obama — what we were troubled by. There were never any indictments,” she said, according to The Guardian.

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“It’s time for us to roll up our sleeves and if we are not happy with the state of things then, in democracies, we have votes,” Mrs. Obama said. “We have to pay attention and we have to be engaged and we can’t take our rights and liberties for granted. Because if we don’t vote, somebody will.”

She said “we’re in a low, but we’ve been lower” and “any story has its highs and lows, but it continues.”

“We’ve had tougher times with more to fear,” she told Colbert. “We’ve lived through slavery and the Holocaust and segregation and we’ve always come out on the other end, better and stronger.”

When you’re the former first lady of the United States and the recent writer of a possibly record-breaking memoir, your Sunday nights tend to be more star-studded than most.

Take, as just one example, Michelle Obama.

The Becoming author shared a laugh with Adele and RuPaul on Sunday night while in London, according to an Instagram photo RuPaul shared (featuring a copy of Obama’s book).

RuPaul captioned it, simply, “Sunday night in London.” The Drag Race host, 58, has reportedly been in London filming a U.K. edition of the VH1 hit.

Referring to a popular meme, one Drag Race fan gushed on Reddit of their meeting: “the POWER that this has.”

That same night, Obama, 55, was “welcomed on stage … with a standing ovation and screams” during a stop on her international book tour, according to The Guardian.

The event was hosted by Stephen Colbert, who reportedly asked what such rapturous reception meant to her.

“I think it’s a testament to how much we all have in common around the world,” Obama said. “The fact that people are finding themselves in the story of this little girl, Michelle Robinson, on the South Side of Chicago … is not a testament to me and my story, but it’s a reminder that we’re okay, folks. We’re going to be okay.”
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Her memoir, published in November, is a candid look at her early life, marriage to former President Barack Obama and their family’s eight years in the White House.

It became an immediate bestseller last fall, accompanied by a frequently sold-out book tour.