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Barack Obama Shares His Favorite Songs of 2023

"Let me know if there are any artists or songs I should check out," the former POTUS wrote.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Barack Obama is taking the aux. With just three days left of 2023, the former president of the United States revealed which tunes he was grooving to the most over the past year, featuring pop music, country, R&B and more.

The annual list comes on the heels of Obama’s yearly book and movie favorites, which the ex-POTUS shared earlier this week. In 2023, he had exactly 28 tracks on repeat, with highlights including “TQG” by Karol G and Shakira, “I Remember Everything” by Zach Bryan feat. Kacey Musgraves, “Sprinter” by Dave and Central Cee and “America Has a Problem” by Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar.


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The A Promised Land author also included Megan Thee Stallion’s “Cobra,” Tyla’s “Water,” Mitski’s “My Love Mine All Mine” and Victoria Monét’s “On My Mama.” “Here are some of my favorite songs from this year,” he wrote on Instagram Friday (Dec. 29). “Let me know if there are any artists or songs I should check out.”

Mr. Obama’s music taste has long been known to be diverse, as documented by his song lists over the past few years. In 2022, he shouted out music from artists such as Lizzo, Rosalía, Ari Lennox, Ethel Cain, Steve Lacy and Omar Apollo. A few — Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Zach Bryan — were featured on both his 2022 and 2023 playlists.

The 44th prez also typically shares his favorite songs of the summer every year, with his seasonal jams of 2023 including Boygenius, Ice Spice, Luke Bryan, Nicki Minaj and Leonard Cohen.

See Obama’s full 2023 favorite songs list below:

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.

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Drake performs onstage during Wireless Festival at Finsbury Park on July 11, 2025 in London, England.
Joseph Okpako/WireImage

Drake performs onstage during Wireless Festival at Finsbury Park on July 11, 2025 in London, England.

Rb Hip Hop

Drake Celebrates R&B with PARTYNEXTDOOR, Ms. Lauryn Hill & More at Wireless Festival Night 1

Night one of Drake's R&B-themed performance at Wireless Festival included melodies, deep cuts and legends.

With Iceman season fast approaching, Drake is primed and ready to kick off another album worthy of anticipation and hype, especially after the release of his new single “What Did I Miss?” But, on Friday night (July 11), fans at the U.K. Wireless Festival didn’t get the mischievous, revenge-plotting Drake looking to avenge his losses. Instead, they received a Drake who was keen on celebrating his R&B heroes, his OVO comrade PARTYNEXTDOOR, and day-one fans who have always appreciated the melodic side of Heartbreak Drake.

“This is the first time in my life that I’ve done three different shows on three different days,” Drake told the crowd during his performance. “You came to a very special night. It’s night one. It’s a celebration of all things R&B. All things melodies. All classics.”

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