On the eve of Election Day, various campaign events across the nation saw an impressive roster of celebrities supporting Kamala Harris in her presidential campaign. Among those making appearances were iconic figures such as Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, and Jon Bon Jovi, all rallying for her election bid.
The state of Pennsylvania emerged as a major focal point for star-studded campaign events. In Pittsburgh, Harris’ rally featured performances by Cedric the Entertainer, Katy Perry, and Andra Day. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the day’s events culminated in yet another lively gathering, featuring DJ Cassidy, Fat Joe, and Ricky Martin. A standout moment included Gaga singing her heartfelt rendition of “God Bless America,” while Winfrey invited first-time voters onto the stage.
However, Republican contender Donald Trump was not impressed by Harris’ celebrity endorsements. At his own rally in Pittsburgh, which coincided with Harris’ event, he took jabs at her star-studded appeal, particularly targeting Beyoncé’s recent appearance at a Harris rally in Houston.
“Beyoncé came in, and everyone expected a few songs. But there were no songs. There was no joy,” Trump remarked, earning boos from the crowd at the mention of the pop icon.
It’s worth noting that although Beyoncé did not perform at the event, she delivered an enthusiastic and passionate speech alongside her Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland, which was warmly received by the audience.
In a prior collaboration, Beyoncé had lent her 2016 track “Freedom” from her acclaimed album “Lemonade” to the Harris campaign as an anthem, further emphasizing her support.
Trump suggested that Harris could have benefited from learning lessons from Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign by having Beyoncé speak after her, claiming, “That way, people would stick around.” This was a reference to Beyoncé’s performance for Clinton during her campaign in Cleveland years ago.
“They booed like crazy, but you won’t hear about that in the press,” Trump added, criticizing the media portrayal of the event. He asserted that his campaign did not rely on celebrity appearances to draw crowds, stating, “We don’t need a star because we have policy. We have great policy.”
In an interesting twist, Trump acknowledged having celebrities at his rally, highlighting former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo among his guests, and also introducing Megyn Kelly and the son of baseball legend Roberto Clemente.
Harris’s campaign organized performances and speeches in all seven battleground states, merging these into a comprehensive Democratic get-out-the-vote livestream. Notable artists included Christina Aguilera and the electronic duo Sofi Tukker in Las Vegas, as well as country duo Sugarland, featuring Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Additionally, Jon Bon Jovi performed a poignant acoustic version of his famed anthem “Livin’ on a Prayer” in Detroit.
