2024 Democratic National Convention Recap

The Lack of Beyoncé or Taylor Swift

Any Beyoncé or Taylor Swift fans tuning into the 2024 Democratic National Convention based on rumors of a huge surprise performance were left disappointed when things ended in a pretty standard way.

Vice President Kamala Harris’s Nomination

The fourth and final night of the DNC in Chicago saw Vice President Kamala Harris accept her party’s formal nomination for president of the United States. Balloons and confetti fell from the ceiling of the United Center as Harris, running mate Tim Walz, and their families took the stage — but there was no concert to follow.

Rumors Surrounding Big Star Appearances

Rumors swirled throughout the day that a big star would appear, with both Beyoncé and Taylor Swift eyed as possible attendees. Both have large, dedicated fan bases who could inject serious enthusiasm into the Harris campaign. Things peaked when TMZ published a story claiming a Beyoncé performance was a done deal, but just as Harris was preparing to take the stage, the Grammy winner’s spokesperson shut that down.

Dismissing the Rumors

“Beyoncé was never scheduled to be there,” her rep told The Hollywood Reporter. “The report of a performance is untrue.” (TMZ’s story was still live without correction as of time of this post.)

Support from Beyoncé and Donald Trump’s Campaign

Although she did not appear at the DNC, Beyoncé has shown her support to the Harris campaign by granting permission to use her song “Freedom.” Harris’ opponent Donald Trump’s campaign, on the other hand, was reportedly forced to take down a video using the same track, after being threatened with a cease-and-desist order from the Grammy winner’s team.

Star-Studded Week at the DNC

Despite the lack of big-name headliner — aside from Harris, of course — it was a star-studded week at the DNC.

Celebrity Lineup and Remarks

Former Scandal costars Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn, each hosted a night of the DNC, as did The View cohost Ana Navarro and actress-writer Mindy Kaling, who during her remarks encouraged Ben Affleck to “hang in there!” amid his divorce from Jennifer Lopez. Desperate Housewives alum Eva Longoria also appeared, as did Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson, who did a bit about Project 2025, a proposed blueprint for Trump to shape policy if elected, being something that “could kill a small animal and democracy at the same time.

Surprise Speakers and Musical Acts

Even Oprah Winfrey popped up as a surprise speaker on Wednesday, mocking Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, for making a disparaging comment about the nation being run by “childless cat ladies.”

“We are not so different from our neighbors,” Winfrey said Wednesday. “When a house is on fire, we don’t ask about the homeowner’s race or religion. We don’t wonder who their partner is or how they voted. No. We just try to do the best we can to save them. And if the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady? We try to get that cat out, too.”

The convention has also been filled with top-notch musical acts, including Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle, Pink, John Legend, Maren Morris, Mickey Guyton, The Chicks, Common, Jason Isbell, and Trump’s former Celebrity Apprentice star Lil Jon, who joined the state roll call vote with a rendition of “Turn Down for What.”

Conclusion

The 2024 Democratic National Convention may not have featured the rumored performances of Beyoncé or Taylor Swift, but it was still a star-studded event filled with impactful speakers, engaging performances, and support for the Harris campaign.

FAQs

Q: Did Beyoncé or Taylor Swift perform at the DNC?

A: No, despite rumors, neither Beyoncé nor Taylor Swift performed at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

Q: Who were some of the notable speakers at the DNC?

A: Vice President Kamala Harris, former Scandal stars Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn, Oprah Winfrey, and musical acts like Stevie Wonder and Pink were among the notable speakers and performers at the DNC.

Credit: ew.com