The rumors are flying over which huge music star might show up for Vice President Harris’s coronation Thursday night as the Democratic presidential nominee.
Will it be Beyoncé, the Grammy-winning icon whose “Freedom” is the unofficial theme song of the Harris campaign?
Or maybe Taylor Swift, whose European tour just ended and who Democrats have long seen as a huge potential endorsement this cycle?
The rumors alone speak to a growing truth: Harris’s monthlong campaign is generating huge enthusiasm within the party — and growing celebrity support that could boost her further this fall in the battle against former President Trump.
“I think the hope is now that this flip to Harris-Walz is exciting in and of itself, all these celebrity endorsements are going to kind of build up even more hype for this ticket. They’re helping to bridge an excitement gap between young and Black voters,” said Tabitha Bonilla, a political scientist and professor at Northwestern University.
This week’s Democratic National Convention already saw Grammy-award winning artist and producer Lil Jon ginning up delegates on Tuesday with his hit “Turn Down for What.” He then transitioned into “Get Low,” changing the lyrics to say, “From the window, to the Walz” in reference to Harris’s vice presidential pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
“The seamless blend of not only popular culture but hip hop specifically created an atmosphere filled with hope and optimism,” said Imani M. Cheers, an associate professor of digital storytelling at George Washington University. “The 2024 Democratic Convention, spearheaded by a Black woman, Minyon Moore, has already proven to be not only intentionally inclusive but is targeting younger and more diverse demographics. The bet is this energy will continue to the polls in November and will help Kamala Harris become the 47th President of the United States.”
Bonilla, who was on the floor of the United Center during Tuesday’s roll call, said the environment felt like a party, especially when Lil Jon came out. As a millennial, Bonilla said the rapper’s songs were at almost every college party she attended, and to see him at the arena created a sense of nostalgia as well as excitement.
Meanwhile, Patti LaBelle and the rapper Common, who is from Chicago, headlined performances. Director Spike Lee was seen standing with the New York Democrats as actor Wendell Pierce repped his home state with the Louisiana delegates before delivering a message to Black men.
Those celebrity appearances follow rappers Megan The Stallion and Quavo campaigning with Harris in Georgia last month.
“It’s shifting how we typically think about politics,” said Bonilla. “One of the issues that Democrats have had with young voters and with Black voters is this feeling of the leadership not paying attention. They’re taking them for granted. They’re not holding up their promises. I think the hope is that it’s going to bridge this idea and make voters more comfortable, more excited and more willing to show up.”
Trump has also won the support of multiple celebrities.
During the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last month, the former president had big names including Amber Rose and Hulk Hogan come out in support of him.
Artists including Lil Wayne, Sexyy Red and Snoop Dogg have also praised the ex-commander in chief.
The battle for celebrity support is a far cry from just a few years back, when many who tried to make political statements were ridiculed.
In 2018, Fox News’s Laura Ingraham infamously told basketball superstar Lebron James to “shut up and dribble” after he shared his thoughts on Trump. In 2016, Beyoncé faced backlash for referencing the Black Panthers during a Super Bowl halftime performance. Also in 2016, Colin Kaepernick was essentially blacklisted from the NFL after he knelt in support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
But much of that changed between 2016 and 2020, said Bonilla. Swift became one of the most prominent celebrities who had previously remained neutral to come off the sidelines with political endorsements.
Beyoncé, meanwhile, has been political for a large portion of her solo career, at times performing with the word “Feminist” splashed across the stage behind her. Her hit “Run the World (Girls)” is an anthem to female empowerment, and her song “Freedom” speaks of literally breaking chains.
That’s the one Harris has chosen as her theme song.
“It is such a powerful song choice, not just because it’s Beyoncé, but also because of the moment when that song came out,” said Bonilla. “That was 2016 — relatively early in Black Lives Matter.”
But almost more interesting, she added, is how Republicans have leaned on “freedom” as a concept, and now Democrats are seeking to undercut their claim to the idea.
“They’re talking about freedom from government — they don’t want government regulation, except in some things like abortion. This is a mantra that has typically been more talked about among conservatives. And so what’s really fascinating is Harris coming back and saying, ‘Freedom is ours, too,’” Bonilla said.
Actor Tony Goldwyn, who served as entertainment host on the first night of the Democratic convention, told Variety in an interview that he hopes Beyoncé and Swift publicly come out in support of Harris, “because from what I read and can see, Kamala’s values align with theirs.”
“They’re incredibly powerful women, and I think it could be significant. I don’t know if many people vote based on how their music icons vote, but just as in sports, momentum is everything. If you can add to that momentum, it’s only to the good,” Goldwyn said.
John Legend was set to hit the convention stage on Wednesday, and pop star P!nk is scheduled to appear Thursday.
Though there has been no official indication that Beyoncé will appear Thursday, the Texas delegation played her 2024 hit “Texas Hold ‘Em” during roll call; the superstar was born and raised in the state.
If she does show up and officially throw her support behind Harris, Bonilla said, it would be the ultimate endorsement.
“Who else could break the internet?” Bonilla asked.