Jay-Z, Tom Hanks, Chris Rock party for Obama's 50th (Reuters)

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) – When you are the leader of the free world, you can invite whomever you want to an event and they will show up.

When that event is your 50th birthday, well, that makes you even more popular.

So who did President Barack Obama invite to his 50th birthday bash? Politico provides the answer.

There were, of course, the political types like Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Chair of the Federal Communications Commission Julius Genachowski and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

But then there were the celebs -- a mixture of musicians, comedians, athletes and actors.

Jay-Z came, as did Chris Rock, Tom Hanks, Charles Barkley and basketball player Grant Hill.

And what party would be complete without live music?

R&B songstress Ledisi performed in the East Room -- as did legendary pianist Herbie Hancock -- while Stevie Wonder sang a melody .

That leaves just one question -- why didn't Jay-Z and Kanye West, a native of Obama's own Chicago, perform something from their new album?

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Panel denies Hanks claim in Ketchum home dispute (AP)

KETCHUM, Idaho – An arbitration panel has denied a bid by actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, for financial compensation in a long-running dispute with the company hired to build the couple's multimillion dollar Sun Valley home.

The decision issued Saturday by the American Arbitration Association ruled against the couple's claim that their $10 million home in the central Idaho resort town was built with defects.

Hanks and Wilson sought $3 million in damages from Storey Construction. They claim the home was built with flaws, including a leaky roof that nearly collapsed after the house was finished in 2002.

Hanks and Wilson say they are disappointed in the decision.

The Idaho Mountain Express reports the panel also denied a counterclaim alleging Hanks and Wilson filed the grievance out of malice.

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Information from: Idaho Mountain Express, http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_en_ce/storytext/us_people_hanks_money_pit/41616679/SIG=10qqf5gmi/*http://www.mtexpress.com

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