Senator Obama enjoyed unprecedented support among celebrities and musicians, and they’re among the people elated at his landslide election last night. The words “historic” and “hope” are being mentioned as celebrities celebrate his win and look forward to a future with President Obama.

Brad Pitt was at the victory celebration in Grant Park in Chicago last night, as was Oprah Winfrey. Courteney Cox and David Arquette held an election night party at their place in Beverly Hills. Guests included Jennifer Aniston, Sacha Baron Cogen, and Isla Fisher.

Diddy, overstating his role in the election, said he felt like he cast the winning vote despite the large margin by which Obama won.

Pete Wentz spoke on a personal level, saying that he has particular gratitude for Vice Presidential elect Joe Biden. Wentz’s parent met while campaigning for Biden and the senator even attended their wedding.

Diddy on Obama’s win and his ego-centric place in history

“I felt like my vote was the vote that put him into office. It was down to one vote, and that was going to be my vote. And that may not be true, but that’s how much power it felt like I had,” the hip-hop mogul said.

After spending much of the campaign using his star wattage to get other people to the polls, Diddy, like other celebrity political boosters, led Tuesday by example. He arrived at his polling site — a school in midtown Manhattan — in the morning and waited in line as a bevy of media prepared to capture the moment.

Diddy said he believed he was potentially making history by voting for the first black president, and also felt the weight of the past in the voting booth.

“I’m not trying to be dramatic, but I just felt like, Martin Luther King, and I felt the whole civil rights movement, I felt all that energy, and I felt my kids,” he said. “It was all there at one time. It was a joyous moment.”

[From AP via News.Yahoo.com]

Pete Wentz on owing a lot to Joe Biden

“I don’t usually go out of my way to indoctrinate people or tell people, ‘You should do this because of me, or you shouldn’t do this because of me,’ but I think it’s important for people to get out there,” said the 29-year-old rocker. His pregnant wife, singer Ashlee Simpson, wasn’t with him, but Wentz said she would be out later to vote.
For Wentz, the vote for Biden for vice president was more than important — it was personal.

“I would not be standing here actually in reality at all because my parents met working for Biden,” he said. “They met on the campaign, so they have this particular affection for Joe. He came to their wedding. If it weren’t for Joe Biden, I would not exist as a human being.”

[From AP via News.Yahoo.com]

George Clooney on Obama’s win and moving forward

“I congratulate President-elect Obama on his historic victory, and now it’s time to begin unifying the country so we can take on the extraordinary challenges that this generation faces,” read a statement released by George Clooney, who was reluctant to campaign for the Illinois senator because he didn’t want to hurt Obama’s chances—but who wasted no time in speaking up after the fact.

[From E! Online]

Russell Simmons: America dodged a bullet

The vision of the hip-hop generation and its young people is in full and glorious effect tonight. While many older Americans, who marched and struggled so hard so Senator Obama could run for president of the United States never dared to believe in his candidacy’s real potential, young people, particularly the hip-hop community, had faith and their imagination became our reality….

I don’t think I’m overstating it when I say that today, I feel like America has dodged a bullet. Let’s support this beautiful leader to do the work necessary to promote and execute on the change agenda we all voted for. Let’s each do our part to insure that this is a transformative time in America, where our country can be a leader in creating a positive and lasting change in the world.

[E-mailed statement from Russell Simmons]

Usher: incredible news

“Isn’t this incredible news?” Usher told Access Hollywood. “Man, this is incredible. It’s so incredible to see that this historical thing has happened, man. Before it was a thought of what happens if he doesn’t win. The public service that went into this and the encouragement that came out of it, it’s just incredible to see it happen.”

[From E! Online]

Ethan Hawke: so excited

“I’m so excited right now,” Ethan Hawke told us at Comedy Central’s blast at The Park. “I got up at 7:20 this morning, and I voted for Barack. I haven’t had this much optimism in a long time. Tonight is historic!”…

[From NY Daily News via Huffington Post]

Celebrity support for Obama went well beyond standard t-shirt and button-wearing. Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and Natalie Portman made personal calls to voters from Obama campaign locations while Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, Beyonce, Diddy and Mary J. Blige held get out the vote rallies in Miami and Philadelphia.

A new star-studded video is expected from Will.i.am later today. Titled “A New Day,” it will feature cameos from celebrity supporters in celebration Obama’s groundbreaking win. Will.i.am’s earlier videos in support of Obama, “Yes We Can,” and “We are the Ones,” included celebrities like Ryan Phillippe and Scarlet Johansson and became Internet sensations.

Here are photos of celebrities voting, including Ben Affleck (credit: Bauergriffin), Pauly Shore, and Josh Brolin. (credit: Fame.) There are also photos of a Democratic Celebration for Obama’s win in Century City, CA featuring Olivia Wilde, George Takei, and Brad Altman. (credit: WENN)