Barack Obama pays tribute to Glen Hansard with summer 2026 playlist
Barack Obama included Glen Hansard’s ‘Song Of Good Hope’ in his summer 2026 playlist and paid tribute to the Irish musician after his reported death. Obama said he and Michelle Obama loved the song and offered condolences to Hansard’s family, adding to tributes from across music and film.
Hansard, 56, reportedly died in a motorcycle crash in Lucan, west of Dublin, on 29 July, with police seeking witnesses. His playlist appearance also placed newer songs by The Strokes, Noah Kahan, Mumford & Sons and others alongside classics by David Bowie, The Police, Neil Young, Johnny Cash and Chaka Khan. Hansard was known for The Frames, The Swell Season and his Oscar-winning work on the film Once.
- Obama honoured Glen Hansard on his summer playlist.
- Hansard reportedly died aged 56 in a motorcycle crash.
- The playlist combines new releases with established classics.
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Glen Hansard is an Irish singer, songwriter and actor best known for his work with the band The Frames and the folk duo The Swell Season. He also starred in the 2007 film Once, whose song Falling Slowly won an Academy Award.
Barack Obama, the former US president, has regularly shared public music playlists since leaving office. These selections often mix recent releases with older songs and can draw attention to artists from different musical traditions.
Hansard’s music has long been associated with Dublin’s live music scene and with emotionally direct acoustic songwriting. His work in Once also brought him a wider international audience through film as well as music.