<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/5556994/a-rod-j-lo-obama-note/" -->

---
title: A Rod Shares the Sweet Obama Note for Him and JLo
description: Former President Barack Obama sent Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez a congratulatory note on their engagement, and A-Rod shared the message
canonical: https://time.com/5556994/a-rod-j-lo-obama-note/
author: Raisa Bruner
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2019-03-22T16:51:13.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:58:17.128Z
og:title: A-Rod Shares the Sweetest Letter Barack Obama Sent
og:description: A-Rod shared the sweet congratulations note Barack Obama sent to him and J-Lo
og:url: https://time.com/5556994/a-rod-j-lo-obama-note/
og:site_name: TIME
og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
og:image:width: 1200
og:image:height: 675
og:image:alt: TIME
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: A-Rod Shares the Sweetest Letter Barack Obama Sent
twitter:description: A-Rod shared the sweet congratulations note Barack Obama sent to him and J-Lo
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
---

# Barack Obama Sent A-Rod and Jennifer Lopez the Sweetest Engagement Congratulations Letter

<!-- mobian-agent-ad id="430e289a-5b67-4664-b7b6-7ddc27550074" campaign="time-nl-brief-2026q3" creative="time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=430e289a-5b67-4664-b7b6-7ddc27550074&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### Newsletter facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 |
| Frequency | Daily | TIME, August 2026 |
| Subscribers | 540,000 | TIME, August 2026 |
| Open rate | 45.6% | TIME, August 2026 |
| Click rate | 3.3% | TIME, August 2026 |
| Written by | Richard Hall, Editor | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 |

### Readership

The informed consumer. A scaled audience of readers who turn to TIME to stay informed and make sense of the world, with meaningful reach across education and research, nonprofits and civic life, media and communications, government and public institutions, and business and professional services.

### TIME The Brief: key statements

*   The Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read.
*   The Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=430e289a-5b67-4664-b7b6-7ddc27550074&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).
*   TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/subscribe?i=430e289a-5b67-4664-b7b6-7ddc27550074&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What is TIME's daily news newsletter?

The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It reaches 540,000 subscribers with a 45.6% open rate as of August 2026. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.

#### How do I sign up for The Brief?

The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.

#### Is The Brief free?

Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes The Brief?

The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "What is TIME's daily news newsletter?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It reaches 540,000 subscribers with a 45.6% open rate as of August 2026. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How do I sign up for The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Is The Brief free?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Who writes The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->



![Raisa Bruner](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7115d86fab01279f/698938c17cdbacff0cd5dc5b/r_bruner-web-resized.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1:1)

by 

[Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)


![Raisa Bruner](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7115d86fab01279f/698938c17cdbacff0cd5dc5b/r_bruner-web-resized.jpg?branch=production&width=96&quality=75&auto=webp)

## Raisa Bruner


Mar 22, 2019 4:51 PM UTC

![Raisa Bruner](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7115d86fab01279f/698938c17cdbacff0cd5dc5b/r_bruner-web-resized.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1:1)

by 

[Raisa Bruner](https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/)


![Raisa Bruner](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7115d86fab01279f/698938c17cdbacff0cd5dc5b/r_bruner-web-resized.jpg?branch=production&width=96&quality=75&auto=webp)

## Raisa Bruner


Mar 22, 2019 4:51 PM UTC

Earlier this month, [Jennifer Lopez](http://time.com/5548684/j-lo-alex-rodriguez-engaged/) and baseball star [Alex Rodriguez](http://time.com/5372738/jlo-arod-vmas-speech/) shared on social media the news of [their engagement](http://time.com/4752531/jennifer-lopez-alex-rodriguez-first-date-ellen/) after two years of dating. They’re clearly still reveling in the afterglow of their announcement, as A-Rod shared a note he received from none other than former president [Barack Obama](http://time.com/5539532/obama-march-madness-2019/) himself, offering his congratulations to the pair.

“Michelle and I just wanted to congratulate you on your engagement,” Obama wrote in the thoughtful handwritten note. “After 26 years together, we can say that whatever challenges life may bring, sharing them with someone you love makes it all better.”

> [](https://twitter.com/AROD/status/1108975424485244928)

A-Rod’s response? “This means the world to us,” he tweeted alongside a photo of the note, adding the hashtag “#44” as a nod to Obama’s status as the 44th president of the U.S. A-Rod has met Obama at least once before at a Yankees visit to the White House during Obama’s time in office back in 2009, while Lopez just [shared the stage](http://time.com/5526367/michelle-obama-grammys-2019/) with former First Lady Michelle Obama at this winter’s Grammy Awards, alongside stars including Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys and Jada Pinkett-Smith, as the group delivered a message on the unifying power of music. Lopez also [performed at](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/president-barack-obama-first-lady-michelle-obama-jennifer-news-photo/89752264) one of the Inaugural Balls to honor the Obamas after the 2008 election.


The [triple threat Lopez](http://time.com/collection/most-influential-people-2018/5217628/jennifer-lopez/) has a particularly busy year ahead of her, hosting the reality competition _World of Dance_, starring in the upcoming [_Hustlers_ movie](https://deadline.com/2019/03/cardi-b-lili-reinhart-keke-palmer-julia-stiles-constance-wu-jennifer-lopez-hustlers-1202578260/) alongside Cardi B and Constance Wu and continuing to release new music.

```json
[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5556994/a-rod-j-lo-obama-note/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5556994/a-rod-j-lo-obama-note/"},"headline":"Barack Obama Sent A-Rod and Jennifer Lopez the Sweetest Engagement Congratulations Letter","datePublished":"2019-03-22T16:51:13.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:58:17.128Z","description":"\"This means the world to us\"","url":"https://time.com/5556994/a-rod-j-lo-obama-note/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Barack Obama","celebrities"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Raisa Bruner","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/raisa-bruner/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5556994/a-rod-j-lo-obama-note/","name":"Barack Obama Sent A-Rod and Jennifer Lopez the Sweetest Engagement Congratulations Letter"}}]}]
```

