On Thursday, during the pivotal moment of the Democratic National Convention, Kamala Harris introduced herself to the nation she aspires to lead. Despite excitement surrounding possible surprise guests, the only appearance from Beyoncé was through her music playing in the background.

The convention culminated in a classic television moment: the candidate, her running mate, and their families were celebrated by enthusiastic supporters, with colorful balloons cascading from above.

As the evening unfolded, there was a palpable sense of anticipation—not just for Harris, but also fueled by rumors suggesting that pop icons like Taylor Swift or Beyoncé might make an appearance. The latter’s song “Freedom” has been embraced by the vice president as a campaign anthem.

“If she’s not there, they better have a backup plan,” commented NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie.

The Search for a Superstar

An NBC reporter roamed the convention floor, asking delegates their thoughts on a potential Beyoncé sighting. Kelly O’Donnell from NBC, stationed near the stage, noted that a curtain obstructed her view of the backstage activities just moments before Harris was to speak.

Online chatter about a surprise guest intensified, prompting Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee from 2012, to post on X: “Contrary to false news posts, I am not the surprise guest at the DNC tonight. My guess is that it will be Beyoncé or Taylor Swift. So disappointing, I know!”

Earlier that day, Emmy Ruiz, the White House director of political strategy and outreach, added a bee emoji to her X account, possibly signaling to the “Bey-hive.” She quickly followed up with a message stating, “Sorry guys, my 6-year-old took my phone.”

While it may have been all in good fun, the situation raised concerns. Would viewers tune in to see the superstar only to be let down if she didn’t show? Conversely, if she did appear, might her presence overshadow the Democratic presidential candidate on such a crucial night?

Ultimately, just half an hour before Harris took the stage—while her anthem “Freedom” played—The Hollywood Reporter released a statement from a representative for Beyoncé, clarifying, “Beyoncé was never scheduled to be there. The report of a performance is untrue.”

A Fusion of Entertainment and Politics

The convention blended entertainment with political addresses, featuring performances by artists like Stevie Wonder, Pink, John Legend, the Chicks, Lil Jon, and Jason Isbell.

After a week where major Democratic speakers took the stage late at night, Harris spoke shortly after 10:30 PM for 37 minutes. This stood in stark contrast to her opponent, Donald Trump, who delivered a lengthy 92-minute speech that concluded past midnight Eastern time.

Pundits later praised the strength of Harris’ speech, especially regarding foreign policy.

“People have been calling her a joyful warrior,” remarked CNN’s Audie Cornish. “Tonight, we saw more warrior.”

Fox News’ Brit Hume noted that Harris delivered a speech that President Biden might have given before suspending his re-election campaign but emphasized that she delivered it with more intensity. “It was very strong,” he stated.

“Tonight, you heard from a woman inspired by her mother to dream big and her father to be fearless,” said Donna Brazile, an ABC News analyst and former chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Robert Costa from CBS News echoed Harris’ sentiment about entering a new chapter in American history. “But we’re also looking ahead to what could be a tumultuous time for the nation, as both parties grapple with the evolving definition of being an American,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Trump continued to comment on his Truth Social platform during Harris’ speech, stating, “A lot of talk about childhood; we’ve got to address the border, inflation, and crime!”

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David Bauder covers media for the AP. You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dbauder.