John Legend is set to headline one of the week’s biggest events so far — a bash by Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois — but despite speculation, there’s no sign yet of Beyoncé or Taylor Swift in Chicago.
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John Legend is expected to perform at the Salt Shed, a converted Morton Salt factory on the Chicago River and one of the city’s premier concert venues.
The venues are booked, the stars are ready and the talent mostly secured. But a big hole in the schedule of after-parties at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on the final night has prompted a burning question: Could Beyoncé or Taylor Swift show up?
Neither has indicated that they might, and their representatives have remained mum. But that hasn’t stopped eager Democrats from speculating and praying. After all, Beyoncé performed at an event for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016, and allowed Vice President Kamala Harris to use her song “Freedom” as a campaign anthem. Ms. Swift endorsed President Biden in 2020.
“Democracy is at stake,” reads an online petition from the liberal group MoveOn.org, appealing to both singers to appear together.
Democratic conventions have long prided themselves on their star-studded guest rosters, which routinely outshine the Republican conventions. The Milwaukee gathering that anointed former President Donald J. Trump in July included the country star Jason Aldean, the right-wing rapper Kid Rock and the wrestling icon Hulk Hogan. Lee Greenwood performed his “God Bless the U.S.A.” for the former president, who has adopted it as a song of his movement.
But the Democratic entertainment lineup next week is sure to be deeper and more diverse.
“We have encouraged our members to use the super power of the entertainment industry to bring attention to issues that are important to the nation’s social welfare,” said Robin Bronk, chief executive of the Creative Coalition, the nonprofit advocacy arm of Hollywood. “If artists can make a difference, that’s our whole platform.”
Creative Coalition is sponsoring what it hopes will be a contender for biggest and best party of the week, a multi-act concert co-hosted by the actress Octavia Spencer on Wednesday, the second-to-last night of the convention.
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Source: nytimes.com
