Beyoncé pens open letter praising Michelle Obama

Amid the political controversy over Hilary Rosen's comments on Ann Romney's status as a stay-at-home mom, Michelle Obama thanked Beyoncé on Friday for an open letter in which the music superstar praised the first lady's mothering skills and declared her "the ULTIMATE example of a truly strong African American woman."

"@Beyonce Thank you for the beautiful letter and for being a role model who kids everywhere can look up to. —mo," Michelle Obama said on @MichelleObama, a Twitter feed run by her husband's re-election campaign. (The "mo" indicates the tweet did not come from an aide but from the first lady herself.)

Beyoncé, in a handwritten note dated Wednesday on her official website, said of Mrs. Obama, "She is a caring mother, she's a loving wife, while at the same time, she is the FIRST LADY!!!!"

She added, "I am proud to have my daughter grow up in a world where she has people like you, to look up to."

Michelle Obama's Twitter comments came after Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen's contention that Ann Romney has "never worked a day in her life." Mitt Romney's presidential campaign used Rosen's remarks to accuse Democrats of insulting stay-at-home mothers. Rosen later apologized.

Beyoncé's website includes a photograph of Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama walking together and the message "Bey Inspired." Other "Bey Inspired" figures include the musician Sade and the painter Jean-Michel Basquiat.

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