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Millions Unite In D.C. (Including Us!) To See Barack Obama Make History

Posted 1/20/09 4:26 pm EST by in Barack-Obama, inauguration, Jay-Z


InaugurationWASHINGTON, D.C. — It was just incredible: Millions of people gathered in one spot, waiting on one man. Travelers from across the globe stood for miles wanting to be a piece of Barack Obama history. Walking to the National Mall around 9 a.m. was relatively comfortable. At that point, thousands upon thousands were already in place.

People were up as early as 4 a.m., waiting for the D.C. subway system to open, so they could get to their destinations.

The route to the National Mall down 18th Street was part parade, part civil-rights march. People stood on the sidelines holding up signs that read "From Slavery to History," "Martin Is Smiling Down on Us" and "Prayer Changes Everything" — just an amazing mix of triumph, hope and pride. Read More...

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When Jay-Z Met Barack Obama ...

Posted 1/20/09 3:16 pm EST by in I Met Barack Obama, Jay-Z


By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway J. Calloway

Jay-ZJay-Z is a self-made man, and he recognizes that President Barack Obama is one too.

Back in the day, Hov was told he couldn't get a recording contract, so he started his own record company to sign himself. Similarly, Obama was told he needed more seasoning before trying his hand at the presidency.

But during a sit-down with MTV News before Jay's concert in Washington, D.C., on Monday night, Jay said he realized Obama's mettle regarding the matter during a conversation they had.

"I think the most important thing [Obama] said to me — 'cause everyone's wondering — it seemed like the dream ticket for him to run for vice president until he got some experience under his belt and then go for president," Jay said.


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Barack Obama's Inauguration Unites Times Square -- And Bjork

Posted 1/20/09 3:08 pm EST by in Barack-Obama, inauguration


Times SquareBy Rya Backer and Nicole Guanlao

We don't know if you heard, but we kind of got a new president today. And like all exciting things, we decided to take our joy out into the streets. So, at around 11:30, we (Nicole, executive assistant, and Rya, production assistant) took to our front yard in Times Square to check out the scene. While it wasn't nearly as crowded as on Election Night — it was about 3.4 degrees outside — the streets were still fairly filled, and only grew as the proceedings inched closer to Obama’s oath of office.

The audio didn't kick in until right before Chief Justice John Roberts took the podium, but the closed-captioning on all five (maybe six?) JumboTrons left everybody rapt. The men and women who work in the Times Square Sephora, the patrons inside the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and — naturally — those sipping lattes inside a Starbucks all had their attention turned to a screen, cheering whenever they felt like it (read: all the time).

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Sundance Film Festival Spontaneously Stops For Obama's Inauguration

Posted 1/20/09 2:33 pm EST by in inauguration, Sundance


FROM MOVIES BLOG: While it wasn’t like the National Mall, Main Street here in Park City was still filled with people watching giant screens tuned to the inauguration ceremony. The Sundance Film Festival unofficially paused this morning for about an hour, when President Barack Obama took his oath and spoke to America for the first time as our President.

Continue reading all about the Sundance Film Festival at moviesblog.mtv.com...

Backstage At The Youth Inaugural Ball Rehearsals

Posted 1/20/09 2:21 pm EST by in Barack-Obama, inauguration, youth inaugural ball


Youth BallBy Garth Bardsley

Backstage at the rehearsals for tonight's official Youth Inaugural Ball, it's definitely controlled chaos. Kid Rock is on stage rehearsing his set, Fall Out Boy came swinging through bundled up in winter coats and scarves and Sway is standing at the MTV home base rehearsing his script for tonight's live show, "Be the Change."

Everyone is rushing to get as much done as possible, because right outside the ballroom door stands a bevy of suited Secret Service, getting ready to kick us out in order to do their security sweep. No sight of Kanye West yet, or the night's two guest reporters, Rosario Dawson and Usher. There's lots to do before President Obama shows up tonight to dance with first lady Michelle in front thousands of young volunteers who were invited by Obama himself to attend this ball.


So, right now, everyone's enjoying Kid's jam and counting the minutes until Obama arrives.

The room is starting to look like a place for thousands of young people to party, but at the moment it's full of cranes and bike racks. There are MTV people everywhere as well as members of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Whenever a band stops rehearsing, a sound man starts hitting the drums, getting the audio ready for the performances tonight.

As stressed as we all are, everyone here still stopped and searched around the complex for a working TV so that we could watch President Obama take the oath. It was ironic that a bunch of people who work in television took forever to find a TV, but eventually we did, and then union guys, producers and Sway all stood in silence as Obama made his speech. Even the most jaded were moved.

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Demi Lovato Pulls Out A 'Matrix' Move During Inaugural Show

Posted 1/20/09 1:30 pm EST by in Demi Lovato, inauguration


Demi LovatoBy Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Christina Garibaldi

Sure, there were many memorable moments during Monday night's "Kids' Inaugural: We Are the Future" concert.

There was Miley Cyrus' costume change. The Jonas Brothers performed some delightful tunes and made the audience swoon. There was Sasha and Malia Obama, there with their mom Michelle, dancing in the audience and onstage with the Jonas Brothers as they played "Burnin' Up" during the show's closing. Read More...

Michelle Obama's Outfit: What Was She Wearing At The Inauguration?

Posted 1/20/09 1:30 pm EST by in inauguration, Obama


While most people were talking about Barack Obama's historic inauguration, every fashionista was asking just what the first lady, Michelle Obama, was wearing at the inauguration.

According to New York magazine's blog, Michelle chose a yellow dress with silver overlay, some embellishment on the neckline and matching jacket. The designer is Isabel Toledo. The dress, a throwback to the retro fashion that made women clamor to look like Jackie Kennedy, was paired with Glacier pumps by Jimmy Choo and matching yellow scarf.


Michelle Obama

Toledo told the New York Times that the coat and dress were made of Swiss wool lace, backed with netting for warmth and lined in French silk. "I wanted to pick a very optimistic color, that had sunshine," she said. "I wanted her to feel charmed, and in that way would charm everybody."

The look was simple, sophisticated and appropriate for such a momentous occasion. With her hair down and just a pair of earrings to go with the outfit, Michelle's look did not overpower this important day for her husband, who wore a simple black suit and a red tie.
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We're Live-Blogging Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration!

Posted 1/20/09 11:13 am EST by in Barack-Obama, inauguration


By Erica Anderson, Gil Kaufman and Sarah Maslin Nir

Inauguration Ceremony Admission TicketWashington, D.C., has seen many inaugurations, but Barack Obama's is by far the biggest to date. The city is expecting 1 to 2 million people for the swearing-in ceremony for the 44th president (head here for the day's schedule), and we've got reporters on the ground, jockeying for position. (You can watch the inauguration live streaming on MTV.com, and of course Barack and Michelle Obama will be at the Youth Inaugural Ball and other events throughout the evening.) Here's what our team is seeing and hearing (wireless reception permitting, of course!) ...

Gil 9:44 a.m. There's not a single car on the streets of Washington, D.C., but the avenues are teeming with people, all flowing in the same direction, all walking with a brisk purpose in their step. Yes, it's frigid and they're trying to stay warm, but they're also in a race to secure a spot for The Moment. The Secret Service has cordoned off an area more than 20 blocks in either direction, with clusters of Marines in humvees manning every corner.

Gil 9:48 a.m. As you approach the National Mall, the energy rises, with hawkers peddling everything from Obama buttons, coins, T-shirts, scarves, plaques and stickers to a guy selling tissues for a dollar — as in a dollar for a single tissue.

Sarah 9:55 a.m. My amazing friend Jenny works for a senator and has just put her staffer ticket into my hand! We are stuffed with layers of clothing and heading into the fray! Read More...

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Nick Cannon Wants To Be Barack Obama's 'Official White House DJ'

Posted 1/20/09 2:42 am EST by in Barack-Obama, inauguration


Nick CannonWASHINGTON, D.C. — As if Nick Cannon isn't busy enough (he's working on his first comedy album, by the way), the multi-hyphenate told us tonight at the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball that he's lobbying for a cabinet position in the new Obama administration: official White House DJ.

Cannon — who manned the 1's and 2's for an old-school set as honorees such as LL Cool J, Young Jeezy, Bow Wow, MC Lyte and T.I. took their seats in the Harmon Center for the Arts — said he would love to provide the official soundtrack to the new administration.

"I heard the White House needed a DJ and everything, so I'm the minister of music," he said before taking the stage. What does he have in mind? Some Kanye, a bit of Motown.
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'Being The Change' Means A New Home For One New Orleans Family

Posted 1/19/09 10:34 pm EST by in Barack-Obama, inauguration, new-orleans


Robin & Denise AlbersBy Akshay Bhansali

NEW ORLEANS — Robin Albers of Chalmette, Louisiana, is a strong woman. She's 33 years old, and her resilience, conviction and belief in humanity will leave you in awe.

In August 2005, Robin did what any responsible parent living in the New Orleans area would have done: She packed her family into a car and tried to evacuate the city.

"I knew this would be the mother of all storms. It was our time to go," she told MTV News. But a health complication with her mother would eventually have her return home just as the storm approached.

Robin & Denise Albers

Wading in foot after foot of Hurricane Katrina's wake, Robin waited on rooftops. She would forgo her safety, telling police to save others first. She commanded a flatboat with her then-preteen daughter, Denise, her mother and the family dogs (both hers and her mother's, which gave birth to a fresh litter during the storm).

After the waters receded, Robin's home was set for demolition, and she has since moved six times in three years. She began to collect and purchase things for her future new home — all stored in a U-Haul with the possession that meant the most: her family picture album. She was devastated when the U-Haul was later stolen.
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