Lady GagaAs another year comes to a close, Barack Obama has continued his annual tradition of revealing his favourite books, films, and music of the year.
While books included 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin and “obviously I’m biased,” Michelle Obama’s The Look, and his films list included Sinners, The Secret Agent, and more, Obama’s followers always skip ahead to his musical choices.
Obama’s Favourite Music of 2025 playlist includes tracks by Olivia Dean (Nice To Each Other), Lady Gaga (Abracadabra), Gunna (Just Say Dat), Bruce Springsteen (Faithless), Chappell Roan (The Giver), Alex Warren (Ordinary), New Zealand’s The Beths, and more.
And, on an interesting note, it seems Obama hasn’t picked a side on the Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud, choosing tracks by both of them to feature on the playlist. The songs are Drake’s Nokia and Luther by Kendrick Lamar and SZA.
Like every other year, there are also some surprise indie curveballs, including Float by Jay Som featuring Jimmy Eat World’s Jim Adkins and Laufey’s Silver Linings.
You can see the list of Barack Obama’s favourite books, films, and music of 2025 below.
Since 2015, Obama has shared his playlists on social media and requested recommendations.
In a 2023 interview with PEOPLE, Obama responded to followers’ doubts about his favourite songs playlist. He remarked: “People believe the books and the movies, but the playlists, they somehow think... and this is somehow coming from young people like you.
“Somehow, y’all think you invented rock and roll. You invented hip hop. And so, the fact that my lists are, you know, pretty incredible, people seem to think, ‘Well, he must have had some 20-year-old intern who was figuring out this latest cut.’ No, man, it’s on my iPad right now.”
As 2025 comes to a close, I'm continuing a tradition that I started during my time in the White House: sharing my annual lists of favorite books, movies, and music. I hope you find something new to enjoy—and please send any recommendations for me to check out! pic.twitter.com/T9LFt5fnKG
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 18, 2025
