AFP/Getty Images via iHeartRadio
Vice President Kamala Harris and Beyonce.
CNN
—
Vice President Kamala Harris made a splashy entrance on Monday night, singing Beyoncé’s “Freedom” during her first official visit to campaign headquarters.
A source close to Harris told CNN that her team had received permission from Beyonce’s representatives to use the song during the presidential campaign.
Beyoncé, who is known for maintaining strict licensing guidelines when it comes to her music, quickly approved Harris’ campaign’s request for permission to use “Freedom” on Monday, just hours before she was due to take the stage to sing the song, the source added.
Beyoncé has not publicly endorsed Harris since President Joe Biden announced he would not seek a second term, but giving her permission to use “Freedom” as a campaign song shows she has the superstar’s backing.
Neither Harris’ campaign nor Beyonce’s representatives responded to CNN’s requests for comment.
Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles, endorsed Harris on Sunday, shortly after Biden’s announcement.
“New, youthful, sharp, energy!!!” Knowles Post to Instagram He posted a photo of himself alongside Harris, writing, “Putting aside personal ego, power and fame is the definition of a great leader. Thank you, President Biden, for your service and leadership. Vice President Kamala Harris, please run for President. Let’s get started.”
Beyoncé has a history of endorsing Democratic candidates. In 2013, Inauguration In 2016, during the presidency of Barack Obama, Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z He headlined Clinton’s pre-election concert. She performed in Cleveland, Ohio, with backup dancers dressed in blue pantsuits in honour of the woman who could have become the first female president.
“I want my daughter to grow up seeing a woman leading a country and knowing that the possibilities are limitless,” Beyoncé said at the time. “And that’s why I’m standing with her.”
In 2020, Beyoncé endorsed the Biden-Harris candidate. Post to Instagram To encourage followers to vote.
“Freedom,” featuring Kendrick Lamar, debuted on Beyoncé’s 2016 album, Lemonade. The Grammy-nominated song became the theme song for many of the protests following the death of George Floyd in 2020.
On Monday night, Harris spoke at her campaign headquarters, set to the lyrics: “Freedom, freedom / Where are you? / ‘Cause I need freedom too / I’ll break the chains on my own / I won’t let my freedom rot in hell / Hey! I’ll keep on running / ‘Cause winners don’t give up on themselves.”
