TODAY   |  February 23, 2013

First lady grooves on ‘Late Night’

With Washington locked in a bitter battle over the sequester, the first lady lightened things up, making an appearance on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” to bust a move and speak candidly about date nights with the president. NBC’s Kristen Welker reports.

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>>> first it was her new bang. now first lady michelle obama is showcasing another lighter side of herself as she promotes her "let's move" campaign on. jimmy fallon she showed off some of her mom dance moves . classics likes sprinkler, raising the roof, and, yes, the shopping cart . kristen welker has that story.

>> reporter: first lady michelle obama showcasing her lighter side on "late night."

>> you don't have much time for tv. i mean, how do you have time for personal stuff? like how about dates?

>> we try to do date nights. it's tough, you know, barak has a 20-car motorcade. it's got men with guns, ambulance -- the ambulance is always there. i mean, how romantic can you be?

>> you got an ambulance pulling up.

>> you know, he's like -- we're going to go a romantic dinner. i'm like, is the ambulance coming?

>> reporter: in her first sit down interview with jimmy fallon , the first lady marked the third anniversary of let's move, her campaign to promote healthy children. she even talked a little politics.

>> dream team, michelle and hillary, 16. [ applause ]

>> you know, i have my eye actually on another job. and i hear that when jay leno retires --

>> reporter: this caps a busy week for the first lady who released a new portrait and a psa with big bird .

>> there's so many different activities you can do.

>> reporter: she also appeared on " rachael ray ," confessing what was behind her decision to get a new do.

>> this is my mid-life crisis. the bangs.

>> reporter: it's been said president obama has come into his own in his second term, pushing controversial legislation like gun control and going after republicans with a new confidence. can the same be said of the first lady? past first ladies from laura bush to hillary clinton and nancy reagan assumed more prominent roles on the world stage.

>> some first ladies do tend to take on more global roles in a second term. [ laughter ]

>> reporter: for now, she certainly seems to have found her groove. for "today," kristen welker, nbc news, the white house .