Vice President Kamala Harris made a striking entrance during her initial official visit to her campaign headquarters on Monday evening, stepping out to Beyoncé’s empowering song ‘Freedom’.
A source familiar with Harris shared with CNN that her team received approval from Beyoncé’s representatives to utilize the song throughout her presidential campaign.
Known for her stringent clearance policies regarding her music, Beyoncé granted swift approval to Harris’ campaign when they requested permission to use ‘Freedom’ on Monday, mere hours before Harris walked out to the song, the source added.
Although Beyoncé has not officially endorsed Harris since President Joe Biden announced he would not pursue a second term, granting permission to use “Freedom” as a campaign song suggests that Harris has the superstar’s support.
Neither the Harris campaign nor a representative for Beyoncé responded to CNN’s inquiries for comment.
Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, endorsed Harris on Sunday, shortly after Biden’s announcement.
“New, Youthful, Sharp , , energy !!!!” Knowles posted on her Instagram with a photo of herself alongside Harris. “Putting personal Ego , power and fame aside . That is the definition of a great leader, . Thank you, President Biden for your service and your leadership . Go Vice President Kamala Harris for President. Let’s Go”
Beyoncé has a history of endorsing Democratic candidates. In 2013, she sang the National Anthem at President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
In 2016, Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z headlined a pre-election concert for Clinton in Cleveland, Ohio, with her backup dancers dressed in blue pantsuits to honour the woman who could have been the first female president.
“I want my daughter to grow up seeing a woman lead our country and knowing that her possibilities are limitless,” Beyoncé said at the time. “And that’s why I am with her.”
In 2020, Beyoncé endorsed the Biden-Harris ticket, using her Instagram to encourage her followers to vote.
‘Freedom’, featuring Kendrick Lamar, debuted on Beyoncé’s 2016 album “Lemonade.” The Grammy-nominated song became an anthem in many demonstrations following the 2020 death of George Floyd.
On Monday night at her campaign headquarters, Harris walked out to the following lyrics, “Freedom, Freedom / Where are you? / ‘Cause I need freedom, too / I break chains all by myself / Won’t let my freedom rot in hell / Hey! I’ma keep running / ‘Cause a winner don’t quit on themselves.”
