Michelle Obama is celebrating her birthday! The former and beloved First Lady is turning 61 and appears to be valuing her privacy now more than ever.
Over the past weeks, Michelle has steered clear of the spotlight, opting out of attending notorious events like President Jimmy Carter's funeral, where her husband Barack Obama was in attendance.
A statement shared by her office revealed that Michelle had a scheduling issue that didn't allow her to attend the funeral. It was also reported that she was in Hawaii, where her family has a home.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Michelle would be skipping out on another notorious event. According to reports, she won't be attending Donald Trump's inauguration, an event she was present in 2017 and doesn't remember fondly.
"To sit on that stage and watch the opposite of what we represented on display, there was no diversity, there was no color on that stage," she said in a 2023 episode of her podcast. "There was no reflection of the broader sense of America. Many people took pictures of me and they're like, you weren't in a good mood. No, I was not."
As she kicks off the new year, Michelle seems to be valuing the time away from the spotlight and enjoying some respite from speaking at events like the DNC and various rallies for Kamala Harris held throughout 2024.
Obama celebrates his wife's 61st birthday
Despite Michelle's desire for privacy and peace, her husband made the time for a sweet statement and photo to celebrate Michelle's special day.
He shared a photo of the two sitting across from each other at the dinner table, with both holding onto each other's hands.
"Happy birthday to the love of my life, Michelle Obama. You fill every room with warmth, wisdom, humor, and grace – and you look good doing it. I’m so lucky to be able to take on life’s adventures with you. Love you!"