The 2024 Democratic National Convention will be a historic event, as Vice President Kamala Harris will be the first black woman and first Asian American to lead a major party. Fans also hope that global icons Beyoncé and Taylor Swift could have special appearances. The conference begins in Chicago on Monday, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the vice presidential candidate, will speak on Wednesday. Harris will close the event with her acceptance speech on Thursday evening.
Prominent speakers include President Joe Bidenformer president Barack Obamaand Bill and Hillary Clinton. For fans of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, however, the most pressing question is whether their favorite artists will take the stage to support Harris.
While there’s no confirmation yet, here’s what we know about each artist’s political past and recent actions to gauge the likelihood of their involvement.
Beyonce for Harris
It’s worth noting that Governor Walz is a self-proclaimed member of the Beyhive and has already endorsed Harris for president by Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles. Last summer, Harris attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance concert outside Washington, thanks to tickets the superstar gifted her.
In addition to those connections, Beyoncé’s team gave Harris permission to use her 2016 song “Freedom,” which features Kendrick Lamar, on the campaign trail. Harris first used the song during her visit to campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, right after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed her. Harris’ use of “Freedom” is far from Beyoncé’s first foray into supporting presidential candidates through her music. In 2009, she sang for former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama during their first dance at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. In 2013, she famously sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Obama’s second inauguration. And in 2016, she and her husband Jay-Z headlined a rally for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in Cleveland, Ohio.
As fans know, Beyoncé released her breakthrough album, Cowboy Carter, on March 29. Although she is known for keeping a low profile, there are currently no public events that would prevent her from attending the DNC.
What about Taylor Swift?
Taylor Swift has also been open about her political views. A month before the 2020 election, she posted a photo on Instagram of “Biden 2020” cookies she baked and urged her followers to vote blue. She expressed her support for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, saying she would “yell at the TV” during the vice presidential debate. The “Tortured Poets” singer has a few more performances in London and nine across the United States before Election Day, including several in swing states like Florida and Indiana. Although she has yet to endorse a candidate this election cycle, some fans speculate that she hinted at her support for Harris during an Eras Tour concert in Hamburg, Germany. Swift performed a mashup of “The Last Great American Dynasty” and “Run” while wearing a blue dress, while wristbands in the crowd glowed red, white and blue.
As for the timing of her tour and the DNC, Swift is scheduled to perform in London on Tuesday night, which would end on Tuesday evening Central Time. That will give her plenty of time to travel to Chicago on a private jet and attend events on Wednesday and Thursday. Neither Beyoncé nor Taylor Swift have performed at previous Democratic or Republican conventions, but it won’t be long before we find out if this year will be any different.
Prominent speakers include President Joe Bidenformer president Barack Obamaand Bill and Hillary Clinton. For fans of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, however, the most pressing question is whether their favorite artists will take the stage to support Harris.
While there’s no confirmation yet, here’s what we know about each artist’s political past and recent actions to gauge the likelihood of their involvement.
Beyonce for Harris
It’s worth noting that Governor Walz is a self-proclaimed member of the Beyhive and has already endorsed Harris for president by Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles. Last summer, Harris attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance concert outside Washington, thanks to tickets the superstar gifted her.
In addition to those connections, Beyoncé’s team gave Harris permission to use her 2016 song “Freedom,” which features Kendrick Lamar, on the campaign trail. Harris first used the song during her visit to campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, right after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed her. Harris’ use of “Freedom” is far from Beyoncé’s first foray into supporting presidential candidates through her music. In 2009, she sang for former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama during their first dance at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. In 2013, she famously sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Obama’s second inauguration. And in 2016, she and her husband Jay-Z headlined a rally for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in Cleveland, Ohio.
As fans know, Beyoncé released her breakthrough album, Cowboy Carter, on March 29. Although she is known for keeping a low profile, there are currently no public events that would prevent her from attending the DNC.
What about Taylor Swift?
Taylor Swift has also been open about her political views. A month before the 2020 election, she posted a photo on Instagram of “Biden 2020” cookies she baked and urged her followers to vote blue. She expressed her support for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, saying she would “yell at the TV” during the vice presidential debate. The “Tortured Poets” singer has a few more performances in London and nine across the United States before Election Day, including several in swing states like Florida and Indiana. Although she has yet to endorse a candidate this election cycle, some fans speculate that she hinted at her support for Harris during an Eras Tour concert in Hamburg, Germany. Swift performed a mashup of “The Last Great American Dynasty” and “Run” while wearing a blue dress, while wristbands in the crowd glowed red, white and blue.
As for the timing of her tour and the DNC, Swift is scheduled to perform in London on Tuesday night, which would end on Tuesday evening Central Time. That will give her plenty of time to travel to Chicago on a private jet and attend events on Wednesday and Thursday. Neither Beyoncé nor Taylor Swift have performed at previous Democratic or Republican conventions, but it won’t be long before we find out if this year will be any different.
