Beyoncé 'Rings the Alarm' With Bold Political Statement
Beyoncé just made a political statement ahead of the 2024 presidential election and fans have been waiting for this moment for far too long.
On Friday, Oct. 25, the 43-year-old appeared in her hometown of Houston, Texas, alongside Democratic nominee and current vice president, Kamala Harris.
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Before Beyoncé appeared onstage, actress Jessica Alba kicked off Friday's rally by listing off some of the reasons she is backing Harris in the Nov. 5 election. “I stand before you today because the stakes in this election could not be higher," Alba said. "Our rights, our freedoms and democracy are on the line.”
Willie Nelson took the stage a short while later to perform two of his songs: "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and "On the Road Again."
The focus next turned to reproductive rights, with a group of medical professionals taking the stage after Alba. Personal stories shared by voters in person at the rally and through pre-recorded video ads followed.
Beyoncé was introduced by her mother, Tina Knowles. She walked out onto the stage joined by her fellow former Destiny's Child singer, Kelly Rowland, who delivered remarks ahead of the "Single Ladies" hitmaker.
Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images
Once she stepped up to the microphone, Beyoncé said she was attending the rally not as a celebrity or as a politician, but "as a mother." She described Harris as "a woman who’s been pushing for what this country really needs right now.”
"Your freedom is your god-given right, your human right," she said. “We all have a role to play to make this a reality. We're all part of something much bigger. We must vote. We need you. It’s time to sing a new song, a song that began 248 years ago."
“So let’s do this,” Beyoncé said before urging people to vote for Harris, who emerged in that moment from behind the stage. Harris gave both Rowland and Beyoncé big hugs before stepping up to the microphone to deliver remarks of her own.
Beyoncé's appearance wasn't a total shock, as many fans believed the "Texas Hold 'Em" singer would join Harris on the road ever since the 60-year-old candidate adopted Beyoncé's "Freedom" as her campaign rally song.
Queen Bey, as she's known by her followers, was also previously rumored to attend the DNC (as was Taylor Swift) to offer a surprise performance along with her endorsement of the names on the Democratic ticket. But obviously, that never happened.
Instead, this year’s DNC was packed with celebrity appearances as actors, musicians, media personalities and more flocked to the United Center in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 21, to demonstrate their support for Harris, who announced her presidential run mid-summer after President Joe Biden ended his bid for re-election.
Lil Jon, Oprah Winfrey, John Legend, The Chicks, Pink, Maren Morris and Stevie Wonder were just a few of the celebrities who helped drum up excitement at this year’s convention as they all encouraged voters to cast their ballots in the 2024 presidential election on Nov. 5.
Next: Mariska Hargitay Sends a Bold Political Message With Endorsement Ahead of Election Day