Michelle Obama: Christmas Talent Show Is Family Tradition—Barack Sings, Bo Performs and More!

First lady covers Ladies' Home Journal and dishes about holidays in the White House

By Rebecca Macatee Nov 25, 2013 8:12 PMTags
Michelle Obama, Ladie's Home Journal, CoverMeredith Corp.

Christmas with the Obamas sounds like a lot of fun!

In an interview with Ladies' Homes Journal's December-January issue (which hits stands Tuesday, Nov. 26) , Michelle Obama opens up about her family's holiday traditions—including an all-inclusive talent show!

"Our extended family was so large, people couldn't really afford to buy gifts for everyone. So a couple of my aunts would go out and purchase small gifts," the first lady recalls. "They would put them in a basket and in order to get a gift you had to perform. You could tell a joke, read a poem, do a backflip—anything counted. It's a tradition that we've carried on today."

PHOTO: Sunny Obama, the family's newest addition, will take part in her first ever talent show this year!

"I've hula-hooped, done a dog trick with Bo and read poems," she says. "The kids [Sasha and Malia] will sing or put on plays. The president [Barack Obama] and some of the other dads will get together and do a song."

Speaking of songs, Mrs. Obama says she has a "phenomenal playlist" for the holidays, "that includes, of course, A Charlie Brown Christmas, as well as James Taylor, Mariah Carey, Boys II Men and Nat King Cole." (Let's hope she just forgot to mention 'N Sync's Home for the Holidays, because that's one album filled with Christmas classics!)

The Obamas also make sure to give back every holiday season, which includes upholding the White House tradition of supporting Toys for Tots. "We collect hundreds and hundreds of toys," Mrs. Obama says. "It's something the staff here gets inspired by."

And that's what Christmas is all about!