Houston, Oct. 26, 2024 — Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, the Grammy-winning artist and Texas native, took the stage at Vice President Kamala Harris’ rally on Friday, delivering a powerful endorsement for Harris’ presidential campaign at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.
Joined by her Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé called for unity and urged attendees to “sing a new song” for America, addressing the need for reproductive rights and highlighting the stakes of the 2024 election.
“H-town! We are so happy to be standing here on this stage as proud Texan women, supporting and celebrating the one and only Vice President Kamala Harris,” Beyoncé began, energizing the crowd.
“A woman who’s been pushing for what this country really needs right now: unity.” Beyoncé’s speech resonated with the rally’s theme of reproductive freedom and connected with many Texans present.
Referencing her family and roots, Beyoncé spoke of her role as a mother concerned for the future of her children and all children in America.
“We are at the precipice of an incredible shift, the brink of history,” she continued.
“I’m not here as a celebrity. I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother, a mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in—a world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we’re not divided.”
Beyoncé concluded with a rallying cry: “We must vote, and we need you. It’s time for America to sing a new song. Our voices sing a chorus of unity. They sing a song of dignity and opportunity. Are y’all ready to add your voice to the new American song? Because I am. So let’s do this!”
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Her call for unity echoed the campaign’s central message, as Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, has pledged to advance reproductive rights and unite the nation.
Beyoncé’s participation has been a widely anticipated addition to Harris’ campaign.
Though Beyoncé did not perform at this rally, her 2016 song “Freedom” has become a signature part of Harris’ campaign appearances since it was chosen as the campaign’s anthem.
Harris first used the song publicly in July during an appearance at her Delaware campaign headquarters, marking a symbolic partnership with the singer.
Shortly after, Donald Trump’s campaign attempted to use the same track in an ad shared on social media, prompting Beyoncé’s team to issue a cease-and-desist order, which resulted in the ad’s swift removal.
Also attending the rally, Rowland expressed her own support for Harris, emphasizing the struggles endured by generations past.
“We cannot go backwards, guys,” Rowland told the crowd.
“Too many people have died for us to have our freedom. I know in my soul that all of those past moments have led us to a time like this. We’ve got to show up and do our part.”
Throughout Harris’ campaign, a series of notable musicians have publicly supported her, particularly in the campaign’s final weeks before the election.
On Tuesday, Eminem appeared at a rally in Detroit alongside former President Barack Obama, delivering an endorsement of Harris and stressing the importance of “safeguarding America’s future.”
On Thursday, Bruce Springsteen took to the stage at a Harris rally in Atlanta, where he encouraged the crowd to vote for her and criticized Trump.
Springsteen is set to appear at another Harris rally in Philadelphia on Monday.
Friday’s rally in Houston also featured a performance by country music icon Willie Nelson, who sang his 1978 hit “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” and later performed “On the Road Again” to an enthusiastic audience.
Nelson, a Texas native, underscored his support for Harris, asking the crowd, “Are we ready to say Madame President?”
Nelson’s performance was emblematic of Harris’ approach to bridging Texas’ cultural roots with her progressive campaign message.
Additional speakers included Texas Senate candidate Colin Allred, actress Jessica Alba, and Dr. Todd Ivy, a Houston-based obstetrician-gynecologist, who highlighted the impacts of Texas’ restrictive abortion laws.
Dr. Ivy emphasized the urgent need to protect reproductive rights and shared stories of patients affected by the overturning of Roe v. Wade, a topic Harris has consistently addressed during her campaign.
The rally marked a high point in Harris’ series of campaign events aimed at mobilizing voters in key states.
According to recent polls from the New York Times and Siena College, Harris and Trump are neck and neck, with each polling at 48 percent in the popular vote.
With the election just days away, Harris’ campaign is doubling down on voter outreach across seven key swing states in her “When We Vote We Win” series.
Polls show both campaigns within small margins, a situation Harris hopes to sway with high-profile endorsements and targeted outreach.
In her speech, Harris urged the crowd to stand up for their rights and mobilize against the erosion of reproductive freedoms.
“We know freedom is not to be given. It is not to be bestowed. It is ours by right, and we are prepared to fight for it,” Harris said.
“We must be loud. We must organize. We must mobilize. We must energize.”
Harris condemned the impact of recent abortion restrictions in Texas, pointing to an increase in infant mortality and maternal death rates in the state since the laws were implemented.
For Harris, endorsements from artists like Beyoncé symbolize her broader mission to appeal to diverse voter demographics, particularly young voters and communities of color.
Harris’ campaign has focused heavily on outreach, particularly in states where reproductive rights are on the ballot.
Emphasizing themes of unity and freedom, Harris’ speeches often address the challenges faced by marginalized communities and promote inclusivity, with Beyoncé’s rallying cries underscoring the need for collective action.
Friday’s event drew thousands of supporters, including the “K-Hive”—Harris’ online community of loyal backers—and members of Beyoncé’s fanbase, known as the “Beyhive.”
Their union underscored Harris’ efforts to engage younger, more progressive voters.
Many attendees expressed appreciation for Beyoncé’s advocacy and her decision to use her platform for political purposes.
