Stevie Wonder took the stage at the 2024 Democratic National Convention Wednesday night (August 21), where he played his inimitable hit “Higher Ground,” from 1973’s Innervisions. Prior to performing, Wonder gave a keynote address at the event, which runs through this evening at Chicago’s United Center. Wonder formally endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, and urged the crowd to “choose courage over complacency.” He also rallied them to “Get up! And go vote!” Find Wonder’s full speech and performance below.
“This year I pray very hard for peace to come to our world’s nations,” Wonder said in his speech. “But, also, to each one of our hearts, even though our hearts have been beaten and broken. Beyond prayer, I know the importance of action, and now is the time to understand where we are, and what it will take to win.”
He added: “We must keep on keepin’ on, until we truly are a united people of these United States. And then we will reach a higher ground,” he said, teasing his forthcoming performance, which was accented by dancers and a live band, with Wonder on keys.
Wonder last appeared at a Democratic National Convention in 2008, to boost support for then-candidate Barack Obama.
Later in the evening, John Legend and Sheila E. appeared for a live rendition of Prince & The Revolution’s “Let’s Go Crazy”—an homage to Walz and Prince’s shared home state of Minnesota.
The 2024 Democratic National Convention has featured numerous musical guests, including Maren Morris, Mickey Guyton, James Taylor, Common, Patti LaBelle, Lil Jon, Jason Isbell, and others.
Beyoncé, while not physically at the convention, has lent her 2016 Lemonade hit “Freedom” to Harris for use in her campaign ads and at the Democratic National Convention (but not to former President Donald J. Trump). More recently, Neil Young reportedly granted Walz permission to use “Rockin’ in the Free World,” which played last night following Walz’s speech. In 2020, Young sued Trump’s re-election campaign for using the same song.
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