Entertainment Weekly
Obama’s wish-list of celebrity endorsements leaks, but Lady Antebellum says no thanks
by Grady Smith
JAN 13 2012
With all the election talk about debates, rallies, caucuses, and surprise late-night candidates constantly permeating the news, it can be easy to forget that President Obama has an election – or rather, re-relection – campaign to run as well.
And where does Mr. Obama start? Being the hip president that he is, with the celebrities, of course! (Alright, to be fair, the list has a lot of political figures on it, too, but there sure are a lot of tabloid regulars.)
The Tennesseean has obtained a list of 194 public figures – potential presidential surrogates – that was reportedly distributed last month by the Obama campaign to a group of campaign donors in Washington as a “wish-list” of endorsers.
The collection, Dated Dec. 5, includes expected names like Oprah, Chelsea Clinton, and will.i.am, who, along with his bandmate Fergie, is one of the many musicians listed. But there are a few unexpected names there as well, such as country acts The Band Perry and Lady Antebellum, both of whom have already claimed that they will not be making any political endorsements.
“The members of Lady Antebellum did not submit their name for inclusion on the surrogate list for Obama’s campaign,” the band’s publicist Mary Hilliard Harrington said in a statement, adding, “The band has never commented on their political affiliations nor do they plan to in the future.” Probably a smart move considering all the ruckus an endorsement can cause – just ask Kelly Clarkson.
Only time will tell whether acts like Wilco, the Counting Crows, the Jonas Brothers (someone was trying to get a little cred with Sasha and Malia!), Jay-Z, Josh Groban, and Ricky Martin will actually take Obama up on this offer, so for now, just enjoy perusing this rare inside-look at the lineup of musicians that the Obama camp is hoping to court:
will.i.am
Marc Anthony
Arcade Fire
India Arie
B.O.B. Sara Bareilles
Bebe
Chris Cornell
Counting Crows
Robert Cray
David Anthony
Eric Robertson and the Boston Boys
Fergie
Jay-Z
Josh Groban
Bruce Hornsby
Jack Johnson
Jonas Brothers
Alicia Keys
Jewel
Lady Antebellum
Ledisi
John Legend
Adam Levine
Ricky Martin
Chrisette Michelle
Lea Michele Bette Midler
Janelle Monae
Penn Masala Esperanza Spalding Regina Spektor
Curtis Stigers
The Band Perry
The Roots
Train
Vampire Weekend
Wilco
