Former First Lady Michelle Obama presented friend Lin-Manuel Miranda the Portrait of a Nation prize at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery on Sunday night (Nov. 17) in Washington, D.C.
The Hamilton creator was one of six honorees at the event, where he told reporters, “They said, ‘Who’s your dream presenter?’ And that’s my dream presenter, and my dream presenter said yes. I owe her, from performing the first song at the White House in 2009 to her coming to see Hamilton — not on Broadway, but off Broadway at the Public Theater, which I think is unprecedented for the first lady. Presidents and first ladies go see Broadway shows, but they don’t go downtown that much. So that early advocacy, I can’t ever repay her for that.”
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Back in May 2009, when Miranda was still an up-and-coming Broadway baby, he performed an early version of Hamilton at the White House and the actor/producer/songwriter/rapper has stayed friendly with the Obamas ever since. “So proud to present my friend Lin-Manuel Miranda with the Portrait of a Nation Prize at the National Portrait Gallery. I first met Lin more than a decade ago, when he came to the White House to perform the opening number from what he described as a ‘concept album.’ And, as we all know, his little concept, Hamilton, became a global phenomenon. But what I love most is that he believes it’s his duty to lift up those around him, especially the next generation.,” Obama wrote in an Instagram post.
The portrait by famed photographer Marc Seliger depicts the three-time Tony winner in his full Hamilton gear.
Miranda had a blast at the event, based on some pictures he posted with Obama and the members of Earth, Wind & Fire, chef Jose Andres, among others.
Other 2019 honorees of the award presented by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery included Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, former Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi, Nobel Prize-winning chemical engineer Frances H. Arnold, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and EW&F.
Check out the pics below.
— #BitOfANight #MoreTomorrow https://t.co/ifjjutqC9G
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 18, 2019
About last night… (a @smithsoniannpg gala picture thread) pic.twitter.com/VTs1sj9rZU
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 18, 2019
Earth, Wind & Fire & Miranda pic.twitter.com/Ozg50JZF0p
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 18, 2019
A big thanks to Mark Seliger, who made me stand on the ledge of his roof to take this picture (terrifying but worth it) and my friend @paulgtazewell, grateful to hang here forever in your threads pic.twitter.com/MpAvyjbIqB
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 18, 2019
The @chefjoseandres, gracias maestro pic.twitter.com/gcKvrIypA4
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 18, 2019
Nobel Laureate chem engineer & co-honoree @francesarnold, thanks for listening to my 8th grade struggles with the difference between molarity & molality… pic.twitter.com/LjpzxtQhDy
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 18, 2019
Last one: When you kill it so hard on the carpet you knock tf out in the car home pic.twitter.com/f9nYDm7pPk
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 18, 2019
The recipients are @francesarnold, @JeffBezos, @IndraNooyi, @EarthWindFire, @Lin_Manuel, and Anna Wintour. You can see all of their portraits through Aug. 30, 2020 in @smithsoniannpg’s “Recent Acquisitions” exhibition. https://t.co/tiHaf0RoSO pic.twitter.com/0aiSMAr47U
— Smithsonian (@smithsonian) November 17, 2019