When the White House let Nick Cannon, husband to Mariah Carey and new host of NBC's "America's Got Talent," promote the reality competition show on the North Lawn recently, critics took notice. Now some are charging the Obamas with letting pop culture lessen the presidential residence. But Social Secretary Desiree Rogers is shooting down such claims. "The President wants the White House to be a stage," Rogers told the New York Daily News. "We want Americans feeling they're part of the House."

The White House hosted a night of jazz with Wynton Marsalis along with other musicians last week, and on July 21, country will be the featured entertainment. "[The Obamas] like all kinds of music," said Rogers, who shared that Latin and classical will also be apart of the mix. And just how did Earth, Wind & Fire end up jamming at 1600 Pennslyvania Avenue earlier this year? Rogers says she was informed the black-tie state dinner guests never danced. "So we got Earth, Wind  & Fire," revealed Rogers. "And by the end, they were doing a conga line."—ZH