Drake, Zara Larsson, Raye and more top Barack Obama’s 2026 summer playlist
Former President Barack Obama has released his annual summer playlist, a tradition he began in 2015. The curated selection offers a diverse range of genres, blending tracks from contemporary artists with music from legendary acts.
The list highlights several modern performers including Drake, Zara Larsson, Raye, Doechii, and SZA. It also features Noah Kahan, whose inclusion is notable as he has shared his ambition of making the list on social media for several years.
Obama noted that the compilation begins with the song Song of Good Hope by Glen Hansard. He referenced the tragic passing of the musician, who died in a motorcycle accident at age 56 earlier in the week.
Beyond current hits, the playlist includes classic selections from artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, The Beatles, and Johnny Cash. The former president indicated that he values the input of his followers and invited them to share new music recommendations in the comments.
Musicians featured on the list have reacted to the news. Noah Kahan posted that he can finally rest, while Anderson .Paak expressed his support, and Sheryl Crow mentioned that she felt honored to be included with a track from her second record.