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John Legend and Stevie Wonder to Kid Rock
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John Legend and Stevie Wonder to Kid Rock

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This summer, several musicians have been performing in arenas in Milwaukee and Chicago, not only to perform, but also to show their support for the president at the Republican and Democratic national conventions.

Lee Greenwood sang “God Bless The USA” when former President Donald Trump walked onto the RNC stage last month, and Kid Rock also introduced the Republican presidential nominee. Stevie Wonder, John Legend, The Chicks and Pink are among the musicians who have played live at the DNC in Chicago.

This week, Mickey Guyton kicked off the DNC’s first musical performance on Monday, then Lil Jon made a surprise appearance during the DNC’s roll call on Tuesday to briefly perform “Turn Down for What” and a political remix of “Get Low.” On Wednesday, Wonder gave a stirring speech before stepping behind the piano for a rendition of “Higher Ground.”

As the convention drew to a close on Thursday, The Chicks performed the national anthem together as a trio, before Pink took the stage in a subdued performance, singing an acoustic version of “What About Us” before Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’s speech.

Both conventions, which serve to select the presidential candidates of their respective political parties, featured different musical tones through their playlists and live performances. Here’s a roundup of everyone who took the stage at the DNC and RNC.

The DNC roll call was a celebration: List of songs, from ‘California Love’ to ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’

All DNC 2024 Artists: Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Lil Jon, Common

These are the artists who performed at the DNC:

  • Jason Isbell: “A Little More Than Free”
  • Patti LaBelle: “You Are My Friend”
  • Common and Jonathan McReynolds: “Fortunate” and “God is Good”
  • Lil Jon: “Turn Down for What” and “Get Low”
  • Mickey Guyton: “All American”
  • Stevie Wonder: “Higher Ground”
  • Maren Morris: “Better than we found it”
  • John Legend and Sheila E.: “Let’s Get Crazy”
  • The Chicks: The National Anthem
  • Pink: “What about us”

James Taylor was scheduled to take the stage on Tuesday, but his performance was canceled due to timing issues.

“As the night progressed, it became clear that there would be no time for our cello and voice ‘You’ve Got a Friend.’ Perhaps the organizers couldn’t have anticipated the wild response from the United Center floor,” Taylor wrote, in part, in an Instagram post. “Either way, sorry to disappoint.”

Notable people at the DNC: Lil Jon, Tony Goldwyn, Mindy Kaling and more

DNC Performers: Pink, Daughter Willow

On the fourth and final night of the DNC, Pink ditched the bright colors and theatrics of her Summer Carnival Tour and shared the stage with her 13-year-old daughter Willow and a group of backup singers in matching black outfits.

The quintet performed a moving version of her 2017 single “What About Us,” accompanied only by guitar.

The superstar released her ninth studio album, “Trustfall,” last year and has been traveling the world for over a year on her Summer Carnival Tour. She recently wrapped up the European leg of the tour and kicked off her North American “homecoming” shows earlier this month.

A mother-daughter evening: Pink joined by daughter Willow in moving acoustic performance

DNC Performers: The Chicks

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The Chicks sing the ‘national anthem’ at the DNC

The Chicks took the stage at the Democratic National Convention to sing their version of the national anthem.

As the fourth day dawned, Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer took the stage to sing the national anthem, two hours before Harris delivered her final speech to officially accept the Democratic presidential nomination.

While Maines and Strayer were dressed in all black, Maguire wore a taupe blazer dress with gold stars.

The Grammy-winning country singers, who drew the ire of the industry and country music fans after criticizing President George W. Bush and his administration’s 2003 invasion of Iraq, also performed at the 2020 virtual DNC.

DNC Performers: John Legend and Sheila E.

John Legend and Sheila E. headlined an energetic opening contest for Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’s running mate, who formally accepted the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nomination on Wednesday.

The performance was a tribute to one of the most iconic singers from Walz’s home state of Minnesota: Prince. Legend, dressed in a sparkly white jacket, sang “Let’s Go Crazy” from 1984’s “Purple Rain” and played an upright piano while Sheila E., dressed in a white wrap dress, accompanied him on drums.

Sheila, a frequent collaborator of Prince, later stepped back to sing a duet with Legend.

In an interview with “CBS Mornings” that aired the morning of the performance, Legend spoke with Tony Dokoupil about his support for Harris and Walz.

“You can see from the policy statements that Vice President Harris made last week on the economy, she’s not doing this for me. She’s doing this for ordinary Americans,” he said. “And that’s where she needs to keep her eye on and her ear to, the concerns of ordinary Americans.”

The beats continue: Trump keeps dancing as artists fume over his use of their songs

DNC Artists: Maren Morris

Maren Morris, who started out in country music but has since distanced herself from the “toxic parts” of the industry, performed her 2020 song “Better Than We Found It” on Wednesday. Upon its release, Morris called it a “protest song,” with an accompanying music video that addressed the Black Lives Matter movement and immigration.

“I am honored to be performing for the first time at the Democratic National Convention. It is a moment when we can come together as a country and hear rational plans for the future of women’s and LGBTQ rights,” she said in a statement to The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. “We can be inspired by people’s stories and find a safe path forward for our children.”

Morris recently told USA TODAY that she “will absolutely support Kamala in any way possible.”

“I campaigned for Biden and met Kamala, and she’s a badass. I feel empowered to vote. Living in Tennessee, it feels more impactful to say that,” she said.

‘Nothing scares me anymore’: Maren Morris on public feuds, divorce, new music

DNC Performers: Stevie Wonder

On Wednesday, Stevie Wonder delivered a speech from the stage to the DNC audience, urging peace and kindness.

“As we stand between the pain of history and the promise of tomorrow, we must choose courage over complacency. It is time to stand up and vote!” he said.

“We must choose to rise above the ugly words, the hateful anger, and the division that those words and anger create. We must continue until we are truly a united people of these United States. And then we will reach our higher level.”

“Are you ready, because you know we need Kamala Harris. Yes, we do,” he continued. “And we need a great man that we have as our future vice president.”

He then moved to the keyboard to play his 1973 hit “Higher Ground” with a full band and dancers, all dressed in white.

DNC Performers: Lil Jon

During Tuesday’s DNC voting, Lil Jon represented the Georgia delegates who cast their votes for Harris with a surprise performance of “Turn Down for What” and “Get Low.”

The rapper, dressed in a teal satin vest and slacks, made his way through the crowd, occasionally giving high-fives to the audience. When he reached Georgia’s section, he encouraged everyone to chant, “We’re not going back.”

“VP Harris, Governor Walz,” he shouted as the medley transitioned into “Get Low.”

DNC Performers: Patti LaBelle

The DNC’s in memoriam on Tuesday played to the tune of “You Are My Friend” by “Godmother of Soul” Patti LaBelle. The R&B singer wore an ivory dress with black lace and effortlessly hit all the song’s high notes.

“God bless America and Kamala Harris,” LaBelle said as she closed the song.

DNC Performers: Common and Jonathan McReynolds

One of Chicago’s own, actor and Grammy, Emmy and Oscar winner Common rapped with gospel singer Jonathan McReynolds on Tuesday.

“I thank God for this moment in time where Kamala Harris will change the world for the better with love, hope and grace. We are fortunate,” Common said as he launched into his new song “Fortunate.”

DNC Performers: Jason Isbell

Alabama-born singer-songwriter Jason Isbell wore a navy suit over a white shirt and sang “Something More Than Free” from his 2015 album of the same name.

Before taking the stage, Isbell explained in an interview with the New York Times that his song choice was inspired by the thought of “the whole of the party.”

“I remember back home in Alabama, people had trailers of cars on blocks, and obviously people who weren’t doing so well financially, and they had signs in their yards for (George W. Bush). And I remember thinking, a lot of these people don’t even realize that they’re acting against their own best interests,” he said.

“And if we could convince Americans what their own best interests were, we wouldn’t have to ask them to be anything other than selfish. It’s like, please vote selfish, because you’re going to vote Democrat anyway, unless you’re in the top 1 percent of earners. And so I really picked this issue with those people in mind.”

DNC Performers: Mickey Guyton

Grammy-nominated country singer Mickey Guyton was the first performer at the DNC. She took the stage with the song “All American” from her debut studio album, “Remember Her Name.”

In 2020, Guyton made history with “Black Like Me” as the first black female solo artist to be nominated in a country category at the Grammys.

“It’s so inspiring to see someone who is not only exceptionally smart but who looks like me running for the highest office in our country,” Guyton told CNN of her DNC appearance. Harris “represents so much to so many people and I just think it’s incredible. I never thought in my lifetime that I would see a woman become president and now it seems achievable.”

‘There is a heavy burden on your shoulders’: Mickey Guyton Reflects on His Life as a Black Country Artist

RNC Performers: Kid Rock

On the third day, Kid Rock introduced Trump on stage with a version of “American Bad Ass” with lyrics about the former president.

“He’s become a friend of mine over the last 10 years and he’s great, everybody loves him,” Trump said during his speech at the convention.

RNC Performers: Lee Greenwood

Lee Greenwood made several musical appearances at the RNC. On the first and fourth days, the country singer-songwriter introduced Trump and had him onstage performing “God Bless The USA.”

“You will not take this man down. He has the courage, he has the strength, and he will be the next president of the United States,” Greenwood said.

RNC Artists: Chris Janson

Country singer Chris Janson, who also performed at the 2016 RNC, performed “All American Guy” on the first night.