Barack Obama releases summer playlist, honors Glen Hansard

Former President Barack Obama released his annual summer playlist on Thursday, July 30, 2026, opening the collection with a tribute to the late Irish musician Glen Hansard. The playlist, a tradition Obama began during his presidency, features more than 170 songs spanning rock, hip-hop, R&B, folk, and classic hits.

Obama introduced the list on social media, writing that it begins with Hansard's "Song of Good Hope," a track he and his wife, Michelle, loved. He noted the musician's recent passing, extending condolences to Hansard's family. Sources indicate Hansard died earlier in the week, on either Tuesday, July 28, or Wednesday, July 29, following a motorcycle accident. He was 56 years old and was best known for co-writing and starring in the 2007 film "Once," for which he won an Academy Award.

The expansive playlist highlights both contemporary artists and enduring classics. Newer selections include tracks from The Strokes, Doechii and SZA, Noah Kahan, Vince Staples, Tyla, and Zara Larsson. It also features well-known songs from artists such as David Bowie, The Beatles, Neil Young, Nina Simone, Johnny Cash, Marvin Gaye, A Tribe Called Quest, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Other notable...