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Ellen DeGeneres Distracts, Serenades Michelle Obama During Impromptu Costco Book Signing

The former first lady also opens up about life in the White House, her first kiss and daughter Malia's armed detail for prom

Michelle Obama is taking over "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Thursday, joining the talk show host for an hour-long interview in which Obama recounts trying to break out of the White House to celebrate the legalization of same-sex marriage and daughter Malia's heavily guarded prom send-off. She also surprises Costco shoppers with an impromptu book signing. 

In a preview of Obama's appearance on DeGeneres' talk show, the former first lady shared how she and daughter Malia attempted to escape the White House the night the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2015, so they could celebrate in the street with the thousands of revelers who had gathered outside.

She noted the ruling came down on the same day that she and President Barack Obama attended the funeral for the victims of the Charleston church shooting in South Carolina.

[NATL] Michelle Obama Style Guide

"We are trying to get out the White House and realized that it's not that easy to get out of the White House when you're in it," Obama said, adding "but we were determined."

After 15 minutes of being chased around 1600 Pennsylvania, trying to evade Secret Service agents and stopped by locked doors, the pair finally got to have their mother-daughter moment in front of the White House, which was lit up in the LGBT colors in honor of the occasion.

"My feeling was – we are moving forward," Obama said. "Change is happening." 

In more lighthearted moments of the interview, DeGeneres gave a romantic reading of an excerpt from Obama's new memoir, "Becoming,"  in which Obama describes arranging her first kiss with her eighth-grade crush. 

The host also took Obama to Costco for an impromptu book signing, surprising unexpected shoppers. DeGeneres serenaded the crowd while throwing digs at Obama for mentioning Oprah Winfrey's name more times than hers in the book.

Touching on her daughter's prom, Obama recounted how she and the former president jumped through hoops to allow daughter Malia's prom date to pick her up at the White House.

"I tried to make security know, 'he's coming, don't hassle him,'" Mrs. Obama said. "I told Malia, 'make sure his car is clean' — if you know what I mean — because dogs sniff the car. I don't want him to be embarrassed."

As the couple watched Malia and her date drive away from the White House, Obama said the president joked it was worth being re-elected just to see Malia escorted to prom with three cars full of armed men. 

"Barack was like, 'This makes running for a second term all worthwhile. My daughter is being followed by men with guns to prom,'" she said. "He's like, 'I'm good.'" 

DeGeneres put Obama in the "hot seat" to answer some tough questions. The former first lady reveals her celebrity crush, what she talks to her dogs about and does an uncanny impression of her husband.

And as someone who has had the privilege of attending three inaugurations, DeGeneres asked Obama if she could tell which president had the largest crowd size. 

"I could tell," Obama quipped, while nodding her head 'yes' without directly naming which president. 

The interview is set to air during Thursday's episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on NBC. 

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