Michelle Obama says Barack joked she's 'next up' after her mother's death at 86: 'I'm not really ready'

WASHINGTON, DC: Michelle Obama opened up about how she and her family have been coping with the death of her mother, Marian Robinson, who died at the age of 86 in May 2024.

The former first lady talked about her experience during an episode of her 'Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast', co-hosted with her brother, Craig Robinson.

Barack Obama reminds Michelle she’s ‘next up’ after her mother's death

Michelle Obama shared a conversation she had with her husband, Barack Obama, while reflecting on the loss of their mother.

“I guess if anything, with mom’s loss, I think that — thank God you’re my big brother and I have a husband who’s older,” Michelle told Craig Robinson.

“Barack was saying, you know, ‘Well, you’re next up.’ I was like, ‘I’m not really ready to be next up.’ I told him, ‘You’re next up and Craig is next up.’ I delegate that power to you,” Michelle added, according to Page Six. 

Marian Robinson and Craig Robinson reveal their mother had warned them for decades she might 'drop dead'

Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson recalled how their mother had been preparing them for her eventual death.

“The listeners should know that mom’s been threatening to drop dead for 20 years,” said Craig, who previously coached at Oregon State University.

“She has been preparing us for this. So, she left very direct instructions on what she wanted and how she wanted things to be. We had to take that into account,” he added.

The siblings, who also lost their father, Fraser C Robinson III, in 1991, acknowledged how deeply their parents’ absence impacted them.

“It’s a major shift in your life. I don’t care how old you get. Mom and dad are mom and dad,” said Michelle.

Michelle Obama says her mother continued to guide her even while being cared for

Michelle Obama reflected on how her mother continued to guide her even while she was caring for her.

“Even when I was taking care of Mom, I still gotta listen to her. I can sort of boss her around but in the end, she’s my mother,” she said.

“There’s a comfort level in that, knowing that no matter how wise or experienced I am in the world, mom always knew more,” Michelle added.

She also revisited past revelations about her marriage to Barack Obama.

Previously, she noted how his lack of punctuality had bothered her over the years. She also opened up about dating him before he was financially stable.

“I left my corporate firm when I met Barack,” Michelle said. “I had somebody who was like, ‘I got your back. The risks you think you’re taking, they aren’t that crazy, and I’m here to help you,’” she said.