1 month ago
14 ARTICLE AD
It was a meeting of a lifetime for The O’Jays lead singer Eddie Levert when he met former first lady Michelle Obama.
Obama made a rare appearance at the 3rd Annual Martha’s Vineyard Community and Purpose Series last Friday – and we’re told she made the legendary soul singer’s dreams come true.
Levert, 82, was presented with the legacy award and had one simple wish: “He wanted to meet the first black first lady,” an insider told Page Six.
Lucky for Levert, Obama was there to support her girlfriends, Dr. Sharon Malone, Michele Norris and Nicole Avant, who were being honored by their husbands, Eric Holder, Comcast exec Broderick Johnson, and Ted Sarandos, for their literary achievements.
Levert told stories about having to drink out of black water fountains and touring during segregation as he accepted his honor at the event, which was hosted by Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, and featured Pastor A.R. Bernard as a speaker.
The O’Jays, pictured here in 2019, were formed in 1958. Getty Images Levert and Obama met for the first time at the 3rd Annual Martha’s Vineyard Community and Purpose Series, hosted by Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee. REUTERSSpike then escorted Levert off stage where Obama was waiting to greet him and pay homage.
“Meeting her was his dream! He didn’t know he was meeting her, and it brought him to tears. It was so endearing to watch her give him his flowers,” an observer told Page Six.
We’re told they spent a few moments together – and Obama even took photos with the singer’s wife and daughter. A source later told Page Six that Levert was so moved by the meeting that he couldn’t stop talking about it the next day.
Bernard Chiu hosted an intimate luncheon for Levert and the authors at his HarborView Hotel where Levert quipped, “I love my wife, but Michelle Obama is my girl crush,” according to a source.
“He couldn’t stop talking about her,” they added. “It was really special.”
Michelle Obama and husband Barack Obama previously greeted locals on Martha’s Vineyard when he was president. REUTERS Former Attorney General Eric Holder was also there supporting his wife, Dr. Sharon Malone. Getty ImagesObama largely went unnoticed at the historic Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs, where the event was held and produced by James Hester and Marvet Britto. Locals, who were aware of her attendance, were grateful she chose the community event to attend.
“There are a lot of high-powered events and fundraisers on the island around this time, and this a cross generational free community event, so it was epic that she was there celebrating with the community,” a source said.
Meanwhile, politics was still top of mind. We’re told Holder, whose law firm vetted Vice President Kamala Harris’ VP pick Tom Walz, received a “wild applause” when he took the stage.
“It was like they were greeting Kamala through the surrogacy of him,” our source said, adding that, naturally, Holder declared Harris the future POTUS.
