The Colombian-born singer received death threats ahead of the "Peace without Borders" concert and criticism from Miami's Cuban exile community that the performance will legitimize the island's communist regime.

Obama's Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, had met the Colombian singer before he left for the island.

"My understanding is that he's a terrific musician. He puts on a very good concert," Obama told the station as part of a five-channel media blitz on Sunday to sell his struggling efforts to reform US health care.

"I certainly don't think it hurts US-Cuban relations, these kinds of cultural exchanges."

Juanes has promised an "historic" show on Havana's vast Revolution Square, the scene of countless declarations by Cuba's communist leaders and home to a iconic mural of Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara.

"We are excited to connect with the audience in Cuba -- saying that we are here, that they are not alone, and that we hope over time things can change and the Cuban family can be one," the 37-year-old Grammy winner said Saturday.

"What better language than music... for that wake-up call," said Juanes, who now lives in Miami.

The show is the second event under the "Paz sin Fronteras" banner, after a 2008 Juanes show promoting peace on the border between Colombia and Venezuela.

The concert, headlined by Juanes -- most famous for his hit songs "A Dios le Pido" and "La Camisa Negra" -- will also feature some of Latin America's brightest music stars, including Olga Tanon, Danny Rivera, Silvio Rodriguez and the Orishas.

Although the concert has been politically charged, Obama warned there was it was no substitute for politics.

"I wouldn't overstate the degree that it helps," Obama said.

"What I'd really like to see is Cuba starting to show that it wants to move away from some of the anti-democratic practices of the past."

Since coming to office Obama has lifted some restrictions on Cuban-Americans traveling and sending money to the island, but there has so-far been no major breakthrough in icy ties between the Cold War enemies.

Instead, both sides seem to be taking an incremental approach to improving relations.

This week the representatives from the two sides met to discuss the resumption of postal services between the two countries.