Politics. On Point.

Yesterday at the White House, media and students from around the country were treated to a workshop and forum on Motown Legends as part of the White House's celebration of Black History Month . In attendance:  Smokey Robinson, Motown founder Barry Gordy, and artist John Legend.  Mrs. Obama speaks to high school students during Motown student workshop. The event was not only an oral history lesson for the students, but for the media as well.  Where else could you learn that Smokey Robinson credits shows like American Idol for helping today's talented individuals live their dreams?  "When I was starting out, we didn't have that.  Thankfully, I had Berry Gordy", said Robinson.  "He was a man that I could trust." Gordy, who created Motown because he "wanted to be heard, wanted to make money, and wanted to get girls", created his empire with a $800 loan from family members that helped catapult the universally indelible Motown sound....

Oprah Winfrey and Steadman Graham at the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors.  Photo/CD Brown. The Kennedy Center Honors came and went this past Sunday, and we were lucky enough to get a peek (literally, just a peek) at this year's honorees, and a few others. The star-studded event, that each year, honors five individuals for their lifetime achievement in the performing arts was nothing short of amazing and included the likes of former recipient Ms. Diana Ross . We saw a bevy of public figures, so mixed and assorted, ranging from politics (Congressman Charlie Rangel , General Colin Powell and wife Alma, and Newt Gingrich ), to comedy ( Chris Rock ) to super heroes (Wonder Woman - aka Linda Carter ). We even caught up with powerhouse couple and star of The Real Housewives of DC, Jason and Stacie Turner . John Travolta wowed fans just outside the Kennedy Center entrance by taking time to sign autographs and taking pictures. ...

Our First Lady with performers from the Joy of Motion dance troup at today's White House rehearsal. Photos/CD Brown. The White House is celebrating Broadway this evening with a little help from a few local students from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and the Joy of Motion Dance Center , continuing the White House Music tradition of celebrating the arts and demonstrating the importance of arts education with its Performances At The White House series. "This is exactly what we envisioned happening when we started this music series, opening up this White House to just so many original forms of music. And we’re going to have Broadway right here in the East Wing tonight, and it is phenomenal", said an enthusiastic First Lady. Performers at the White House.  Photo/CD Brown. Earlier today, we got a sneak peek from what is forthcoming in tonight's salute to Broadway (to be aired on PBS October 20th at 9:00 p.m) that featured a segmen...

First Lady Michelle Obama with DESA principle Rory Pullens and Russia's First Lady Svetlana Medvedeva . First Lady Obama invited Russia's First Lady Svetlana Medvedeva to a performance at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts after Russia hosted President and Mrs. Obama in Moscow last summer. While there, the First Family was treated to a performance by the Moiseyev Dance Company . "That’s why I’m so pleased to have this opportunity to return the hospitality that my family received, and to showcase the extraordinary young people that are here at this school and in this city", said First Lady Obama. "It’s important for the world to see." Important it is.  Especially to the students and alumni of the famed establishment that has garnered several local talents such as keyboardist  Cherie Mitchel-Agurs , Tony Terry , actor Lamman Rucker , and vocalist Sylver Logan Sharp . "First of all I'm just proud", said Sharp .  "It means the wor...