Yesterday, I received an e-mail from Beyonce with the subject line: "I don't usually e-mail you."
Righhhhhhht. I knew what was coming next. She wanted a favor. "Jillian, can you watch Blue Ivy (trademark) this weekend?" Or, "Can you buy some beer before you come over?"
Then, I opened the e-mail. "Can you donate $9 to Barack Obama before midnight? You'll be entered into a contest to hang out with me, Jay-Z and Barack next week..."
I immediately panicked. Was Barack displacing me as Beyonce's new BFF? Which other celebrities is the president palling around with? A non-profit professional needs her posse, and I couldn't have my crew busy with his re-election campaign in the midst of apple-picking season. My hard cider and pumpkin beer won't drink itself.
So I began to investigate...the top 12 celebrities who love Obama.
1 and 2. Beyonce and Jay-Z
Next week, Beyonce and Jay-Z will host a fundraiser for President Obama at a New York City nightclub 40/40. Tickets are $40,000 a piece. The first couple also danced to Beyonce's rendition of Etta James's "At Last," during Obama's presidential inauguration.
3. Morgan Freeman
The actor donated $1 million to an Obama super PAC, expressing support for the administration's record on health care, financial reform, and decision to cease military operations in Iraq.
4. George Clooney
The long-time human rights activist, lothario, and superstar has hosted fundraising events for the president. He also narrated President Obama's bio at the Democratic National Convention.
The only crack in their relationship? Michelle Obama thinks he's cute...
5. Eva Longoria
The former Desperate Housewives star stumped for the President at the DNC. Longoria spoke passionately about her childhood and her support for education. She said, "In my family, there was one cardinal priority: education."
6. Scarlett Johansson
ScarJo has long been an Obama fan. She appeared in a 2008 YouTube video urging voters to elect Obama, singing, "Yes, we can." This year, she appeared at the DNC, although she decided to exhort the audience to vote, regardless of the candidate.
7. Nicki Minaj
It was the political betrayal of the century. Could the silver-lipped, multi-accented, Trinidadian-born rap star Nicki Minaj really have endorsed Mitt Romney?
Nope. The rap star confirmed that she was kidding. But alas, she is not registered to vote.
8. Natalie Portman
The actress, Harvard alum, and animal rights activist Natalie Portman campaigned for Barack Obama. She's a big fan of his women's rights platform.
Watch out, Mitt ... Those Harvard reunions are about to get tense.
9. Bruce Springsteen
Although Chris Christie, the darling of the Republican Party, has attended more than 100 Springsteen concerts, Bruce is just not that into him. Chris Christie spoke at the RNC the week before Springsteen played his new single following Obama's convention speech.
10. Shakira
The diminutive Colombia pop star shares a close bond with President Obama. She endorsed his candidacy in 2008, appeared at a land rights event with him in Colombia, and served on the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
11. Kim Kardashian
President Obama and Kim Kardashian share a special "konnection." Kardashian attended the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in April. In response to Obama's endorsement of same-sex marriage, Kardashian tweeted, blogged, and press-released her agreement, lending the president key support as consultants debated the implications for the general election.
12. Alec Baldwin
Why was Alec Baldwin so reluctant to stop his Words with Friends game on an American Airlines flight? I'm not saying he was playing against Barack Obama, but the 30 Rock star was among the donors to the president's re-election campaign.
