Beyoncé and Kamala Harris meet at Houston rally: Live updates

HOUSTON – The wait is almost over.

Yes, there are still 11 days until the election. We're talking about Beyoncé, who will perform at Kamala Harris' rally in Houston today. And yes, we used the singer's name before the presidential candidate because that's what we're here for. Everything about Beyoncé.

It's no secret that Harris and Beyoncé admire each other. Beyoncé's 2016 hit “Freedom” was featured in Harris' first campaign video ad. And last summer, Harris was one of the Beyhive at Beyoncé's Renaissance concert just outside Washington. The cards were a gift from the singer.

We're here today for BeyWatch – with our political team in Houston, joined by USA TODAY Network Beyoncé reporter Caché McClay.

Several hours before the show, people lined up outside Shell Energy Stadium, best known as the city's soccer stadium. Um, we mean rally. Bad Bunny and Drake's hit song “MÍA” echoed through the stadium – loud enough to be heard outside the building.

When will Beyoncé perform? Will she try to move everyone a little “left” and officially support Harris? And did she vote early or will we see her in the Los Angeles elections next month? Are there any other artists joining Willie Nelson? Will Jay-Z appear? Follow us today as we answer all your questions – and accompany you to the Houston Rally.

Two hours before the rally began, the DJ at Shell Stadium began playing a Beyoncé medley as rally participants lined up. “I would never, never, never, never, never, never, never let you go,” the crowd chanted as the DJ played Beyoncé’s “Before I Let Go.” The stands are about 75 percent full. Between a U.S. flag and a Texas flag is a large electronic sign that alternates between the slogans “Trust Women” and “Reproductive Freedom.”

Rebecca Morin

Before Beyoncé even took the stage, Harris gained another fan.

In a video posted to his Instagram account, Leonardo DiCaprio said: “Climate change is killing the earth and ruining our economy. “We need a bold step forward to save our economy, our planet and ourselves.” That’s why I’m voting for Kamala Harris.”

Was Beyoncé ever considered an opening act? The second draw?

For 18-year-old Abbie Ha, this election will be her first. And she said she would vote for Kamala Harris. Ha, a first-year student at Rice University, said she grew up in a Dallas suburb — a community that is more conservative and doesn't often have “a lot of policies that advocate for it.” “Ha, who first heard about the rally on her college campus, said she only knew Beyoncé was expected to perform after she had already reserved her ticket. “It was definitely like an added bonus,” Ha said.

Rebecca Morin

It's not that Harris fans aren't Beyoncé fans. It's just that many of them signed up for tickets to the Harris rally before Queen Bey was announced as a performer. There was no sign of the singer as the stadium filled and enthusiasm for Harris grew.

Houston resident Joel Avendano, 40, first heard about the rally earlier this week via social media and lives near Shell Energy Stadium. For him, participation was a given. While Avendano said he's heard the rumors that Beyoncé would perform, he's skeptical that could happen after it was reported that she was — and wasn't — scheduled to perform at the Democratic National Convention over the summer. In any case, he doesn't care. “I’m here because of Kamala,” he said.

Rebecca Morin

Although Beyoncé hasn't officially endorsed Harris, her appearance at her rally makes it seem obvious.

She will join many celebrities who have already supported Harris including: Taylor Swift, Oprah, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jennifer Lopez, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Jessica Parker, Billie Eilish, Jennifer Aniston and more.

A recent poll shows that celebrity endorsements don't appear to have much influence on politics and could even hurt a candidate, according to a Suffolk University/USA TODAY nationwide survey of registered voters.

Charelle Fluker, 25, says she had already signed up for Harris' rally before she knew Beyoncé would be there. She came hoping to celebrate the first black woman to become president, and an appearance by Beyoncé is a plus.

Cache McClay

Supporting political candidates and engaging voters has a long history for Beyoncé. She performed with Destiny's Child at the Concert Celebrating America's Youth, the day before George W. Bush's inauguration in 2001. 98 Degrees also performed at the event.

We love these retro photos of the singer – all low-slung jeans and going-out shirts, remember those?

The concert was attended by many teenagers and at one point it was reported that Beyoncé led the audience in a chant: “Everyone in the House says 'Bush.'”

The best part of the event was Kelly Rowland's visit to the White House, said TODAY Show host Jenna Bush Hagar in 2022, when Rowland visited the TODAY Show set.

Rowland had given the then-teenage Hagar a pager.

“Girl, I loved it!” Hagar said on the show. “I thought we could have texted. It wasn’t even a text…a beep?”

Gender war The historic gap between men and women defines Harris vs. Trump

When the Beyhive meets the K-Hive, we expect a lot of fun.

We're betting on “Freedom,” her 2016 hit that was featured in Harris' first campaign ad — and doesn't she have to play “Texas Hold'em?” And it seems like “Smoke Hour” and “Smoke Hour II” with Willie Nelson need to be on their setlist. We also know that she obviously likes to surprise us. We are ready.

Will this be a mini concert? We're not expecting the Renaissance tour, but we're hoping for a few songs!

Beyoncé isn't the only artist performing for Harris.

At a rally in Georgia on Thursday, Bruce Springsteen sang three solo acoustic songs, spoke enthusiastically about Kamala Harris and Tim Walz (and critically about Donald Trump), then urged the audience to vote.

Springsteen performed a spare and haunting version of his classic “The Promised Land” before addressing the audience.

Springsteen and former President Barack Obama will rally for Harris in Philadelphia on Monday, October 28th.

Springsteen first supported Harris in a social media video on October 3rd.

Chris Jordan

We don't know yet. The organizers of the rally are keeping quiet about the schedule. We know Harris is scheduled to take the stage at 8:30 p.m. CT, and it's unclear whether Beyoncé and others will perform before or after. Typically, the headliner – in this case Harris, although this may be the only time Beyoncé isn't the headliner – comes last. But do organizers want people to speak after the concert and before Harris speaks? It could be a late night for those on the East Coast.

Supporters who signed up for text messages about the event were told the doors to the rally would open at 3:00 p.m. CT.

Tickets for those who have purchased them are available through SeatGeek and the venue: Shell Energy Stadium, home of the Houston Dynamo FC and the Houston Dash, of the National Women's Soccer League. Interesting fact: It was the first soccer stadium built in a major city center. It was opened in 2012.

USA TODAY will stream the “Texas Hold 'Em” singer's performance live on his YouTube channel.

We know that Beyoncé is a Houston girl – born and raised in the area. Destiny's Child was founded here, originally as Girl's Tyme.

But the singer hasn't lived in Texas for a long time. In the final stretch before the election, both presidential candidates are attracting a lot of star power. On the day of the Houston rally with Beyoncé, Harris will record an interview with American therapist Brené Brown, whose audience is predominantly female. And Donald Trump is expected to appear in the popular bro-cast series “The Joe Rogan Experience.”

Harris will be in Texas to support Democratic Senate candidate Colin Allred, who is trying to unseat Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. Harris will also be there to talk about abortion rights and the lack of reproductive freedom in Texas, which has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country.

While Beyoncé's 2016 hit “Freedom” was featured in Harris' first campaign video, she has not yet endorsed the Democratic presidential candidate. Beyoncé's mother Tina Knowles supported Harris in July.

Beyoncé has previously supported former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden in their presidential bids.

The famous pop star performed the national anthem at Obama's inauguration for his second term as president in 2013. Along with other artists, Beyoncé also performed at a campaign concert and rally for Clinton in 2016, when the Democrat was running against Trump.

— Sudiksha Kochi

If you've read this far, you know it's Beyoncé. But also expect to see Willie Nelson, still going strong at 91.

No. But wouldn't that be fun?

Taylor Swift will perform 347 miles east of New Orleans on her penultimate city date of the US Eras Tour.

The last time we saw them together was at Beyoncé's film premiere in London. This happened after Beyoncé attended Swift's film premiere in Los Angeles.

But both were at the Grammys earlier this year. Did they hang out? They are known to be super supportive of each other. And Swift endorsed Harris shortly after the only presidential debate of the year. Swift wrote on Instagram: “I'm voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes that I believe need a warrior to represent them. I think she is a steadfast, gifted leader and I believe we can achieve much more if we are guided by calm and not chaos in this country.”

Beyoncé and Kamala Harris meet at Houston rally: Live updates

ByVanessa

By Vanessa

Related Post

Freddie Freeman portrays Kirk Gibson during the Dodgers' Game 1 win of the World Series

Will Team India recreate the Sachin Tendulkar-Virender Sehwag magic to mount a historic comeback in Pune? | Cricket News

Harris burns at rally with Beyoncé for abortion ban in Texas – DW – October 26, 2024

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You missed

Freddie Freeman portrays Kirk Gibson during the Dodgers' Game 1 win of the World Series

Will Team India recreate the Sachin Tendulkar-Virender Sehwag magic to mount a historic comeback in Pune? | Cricket News

Harris burns at rally with Beyoncé for abortion ban in Texas – DW – October 26, 2024

Winning numbers from 10/25/24; Jackpot at $229 million