Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda was honored by Michelle Obama at The Smithsonian Museum’s American Portrait Gala on Sunday (November 17, 2019).
The former First Lady presented the star with the Portrait of a Nation prize at the event in Washington D.C. and captured the moment his picture was unveiled in a snap she posted on Instagram.
“So proud to present my friend Lin-Manuel Miranda with the Portrait of a Nation Prize at the National Portrait Gallery,” Michelle captioned the image. “I first met Lin more than a decade ago, when he came to the White House to perform the opening number from what he described as a “concept album.” And, as we all know, his little concept, Hamilton, became a global phenomenon.
Praising the star’s commitment to education and charity, she added: “But what I love most is that he believes it’s his duty to lift up those around him, especially the next generation. It’s why he’s created a Hamilton curriculum for schools, made sure kids from all over can see his shows, and raised millions of dollars for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.”
Concluding her tribute, she added: “He’s someone who has, in melody and rhyme and connection, painted as honest a portrait of our country as I’ve ever seen. Love this guy.”
Discussing what the image meant to him, Lin-Manuel told The Hollywood Reporter: “A snapshot does not tell you who we are. It’s a moment. And what’s amazing about the National Portrait Gallery is that it’s moments upon moments of people who tell our story.”
Vogue editor Anna Wintour, Hillary Clinton, Earth Wind & Fire, fashion designer Prabal Gurung, and business chiefs were also honored at the event, with other presenters including James Corden and Gayle King.
