Michelle Obama changed her book tour dates to attend George H.W. Bush's funeral

The 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, passed away on November 30, 2018, marking the end of an era. His death was announced by his son and fellow Republican, former President George W. Bush, who remembered his father as "a man of the highest character." 94 years of age at the time of his passing, Bush's demise came just days after former First Lady Michelle Obama released her memoir Becoming. Even as her book broke best seller records across the country, the Obama matriarch put her moment in the spotlight on hold to pay her respects to the Bush family.

Michelle, who was set to embark on the European leg of her book tour right on the heels of her highly publicized and successful North American one, broke the momentum to join the nation in paying homage to the former President. Her respectful gesture did not come as much of a surprise to those who were aware of the unlikely yet heartwarming friendship between the mother-of-two and George W. Bush (Junior).

Just days after the world woke up to the news of Bush Sr.'s death, Michelle took to Twitter to announce that she would be rescheduling her book tours across Berlin and Paris to 2019. It’s important to me to join the Bush family in celebrating President George H.W. Bush’s exemplary life. This will, unfortunately, preclude my visits to Paris and Berlin. I’ve been deeply touched by the enthusiasm for my memoir, and I’m working to reschedule my trip for next year, she wrote. Although fans who were looking forward to meeting Michelle were disappointed by her announcement, they were very supportive of the former First Lady and understood the sentiments behind her decision.

On her part, Michelle immediately reached out to those who'd bought tickets to the events and to her followers, requesting them to empathize with her desire to attend the former President's funeral. In the following tweet the 55-year-old wrote, I hope readers and ticket holders will understand my decision regarding my desire to attend President Bush’s funeral, and join me in paying tribute to him and his tremendous contributions to our world.

Michelle also posted a tribute to President George H.W. Bush on Instagram, sharing an emotional picture of the two of them with the caption: As a public servant, father, and grandfather, President George H.W. Bush was an extraordinary example for us all. His spirit of service and decency will be missed by many, including our family. I hope his memory will be a guiding light for our country and those around the world.

Michelle's best-selling memoir Becoming offers readers a deep insight into her childhood on the south side of Chicago, painting a candid picture of the trials and tribulations she faced while growing up. The book also provides an inside look at her incredible journey to becoming the first African-American First Lady of the United States of America. Since its release, the memoir has been hailed as an undeniable inspiration for girls and women all over the world with her grace, charm, and wit shining through the pages.