Global superstar Beyoncé will join Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign rally in their shared hometown of Houston on Friday, CBS News reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, marking the singer’s first appearance on the 2024 campaign trail just days before the November 5 election.
The Houston event, where Harris will appear alongside Texas Democratic Senate candidate Colin Allred, will also feature country music legend Willie Nelson and Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles. The appearance comes after speculation about Beyoncé’s potential involvement in the campaign, including rumors of a planned appearance at August’s Democratic National Convention that did not materialize.
Beyoncé’s political engagement extends back multiple election cycles, including performances for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign alongside husband Jay-Z, and endorsements of Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, Joe Biden in 2020, and Beto O’Rourke’s 2018 Texas Senate bid. Harris, who regularly features Beyoncé’s song “Freedom” at campaign events, has already secured endorsements from numerous entertainment figures including Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, Cher, and Lizzo.
The impact of celebrity endorsements remains debatable. A Harvard Kennedy School study author, Ashley Spillane, suggests celebrities are “among the most well-positioned members of society” to address voter apathy by providing information, building trust, and increasing motivation. However, recent polling indicates mixed results: a Quinnipiac University survey found Taylor Swift’s Harris endorsement made 9% of respondents “more enthusiastic” about the campaign while making 13% “less enthusiastic.”
Former President Donald Trump has also garnered celebrity support, including endorsements from Elon Musk, Danica Patrick, Jon Voight, Paula Deen, Brett Favre, Kelsey Grammar, Kid Rock, and Kanye West.
