August 18th 2024.
In 2008, when Barack Obama was officially nominated for the US presidency at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, there was quite a star-studded crowd in attendance. Jennifer Lopez was in town, and even power couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner showed up together. To top it off, Kanye West gave a performance at an Obama campaign party. Fast forward to the present day and things have certainly changed in Hollywood, but one thing that remains constant is the A-list support for the Democratic party's presidential ticket.
Since the Obama years, we haven't seen this level of celebrity excitement and involvement in politics. It's truly a merging of pop culture and the political world as the race for the presidency heats up with the Democratic convention taking place this week in Chicago.
Renowned singer John Legend, who performed at both the 2008 and 2020 conventions, is set to headline a show on Tuesday for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. On Wednesday afternoon, Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus will be hosting a panel with the country's eight female Democratic governors. And later that same night, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts will be performing at a benefit concert organized by the Creative Coalition, a Hollywood advocacy nonprofit.
Some of the notable actors expected to attend include Tim Daly, Uzo Aduba, Anthony Anderson, Iain Armitage, Yvette Nicole Brown, David Cross, Jon Cryer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Danai Gurira, Richard Kind, Busy Philipps, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. While high-profile speakers are still being finalized, sources say that a number of actors will be speaking on the main stage of the convention. There is also speculation that two particular stars, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, may make an appearance.
Despite no official announcement, fans of both Beyoncé and Swift are hopeful that the two women, who have both endorsed the Biden-Harris ticket, will show up in Chicago. Representatives for the singers have not responded to requests for comment, and spokespeople for the DNC and the Harris campaign have remained tight-lipped about any potential appearances.
Beyoncé has a history of performing for Democratic politicians, including singing at Obama's inauguration in 2013 and headlining a pre-election concert for Hillary Clinton in 2016. And with another potential first female president on the ticket, it's not out of the question that she may grace the stage once again. As for Swift, who has yet to make an endorsement this election cycle, she is currently in the midst of a five-night run of shows in London, but could potentially make it to Chicago for the final two nights of the convention.
Even without their presence, the Swifties (Swift's loyal fan base) will make sure their voices are heard at the convention. As part of the convention's "DemPalooza" events and trainings, attendees will have the opportunity to make friendship bracelets, inspired by Swift's lyrics. There is also a group called "Swifties for Kamala," made up of Swift fans who have mobilized online to support Harris. While the Harris campaign has reached out to this group, they are not officially affiliated with Swift.
The convention has also recognized the power of social media influencers and has accredited over 200 content creators to cover the event. This is a strategic move to reach a younger audience and shows how the definition of celebrity is evolving. While the high-profile attendees will definitely make a splash, the crowd on the convention floor will likely break a record for social media followers.
So, as the convention kicks off, we can expect to see a mix of Hollywood stars and online influencers coming together to support the Democratic party and their ticket. It's a unique blend of politics and pop culture that truly represents the times we are living in. Stay tuned for all the latest updates and breaking news from the convention by following us on WhatsApp. No need to worry about comments or algorithms, your privacy will be respected.
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