Italian-Born Mrs. Sarkozy: America's Got Talent (Unlike a Certain Country Where She's First Lady)

"You don't need to be a Van Gogh to paint a picture, or a Maya Angelou to write a poem," Mrs. Obama said. "You don't need a Grammy or an Oscar or an Emmy to make your work on the cultural life of your community or your country a valuable one. And to people who might not speak a single word of the same language, who might not have a single shared experience, might still be drawn together when their hearts are lifted by the notes of a song, or their souls are stirred by a vision on a canvas.''

At the performing arts school, the spouses were treated to a show featuring students, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, country music songster Tricia Yearwood and singer Sara Bareilles, who, Mrs. Obama said, is on her iPod.

"She has gotten me through many a day with "Gravity" and "Love Song." I love her," Mrs. Obama said of Bareilles.

Mrs. Obama also related something the French first lady told her while they were touring the school -- a compliment to the American people at the expense of the French.

Mrs. Obama said, "As my good friend, Carla Sarkozy, said, you know, in America, you know, here you have people who can sing, and they can dance, and they can act. Now, she said in France it's not often that you get all of those wrapped in one. But she said there's something unique about America's talents where it's just so natural to see all of that talent on display. So you all should be so very proud."

Mrs. Obama's events were pooled, meaning access was limited and print reporters got clued in from an on-the-scene report from Nia-Malika Henderson of Politico. From Henderson's pool report: