Beyoncé has reportedly allowed U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to use her song “Freedom” for her presidential campaign. The politician walked out to the 2016 anthem during her first official visit to campaign headquarters on Monday evening.
Sources close to Harris informed CNN that Beyoncé cleared the use of “Freedom” just hours before the event. Known for her strict control over her music, Beyoncé swiftly granted approval for the song to be featured throughout Harris’ entire presidential campaign.
Following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race on Sunday and his endorsement of Harris as his successor, Harris has secured enough delegate support to clinch the Democratic nomination in August. She is set to face Republican Donald Trump in the upcoming November election.
While Beyoncé has not formally endorsed Harris yet, her permission to use “Freedom” suggests a level of support. Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother, publicly backed Harris on Instagram on Sunday, emphasizing Harris’s leadership qualities.
“New, Youthful, Sharp, energy !!!!” Knowles wrote alongside a photo of herself with 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 previously shown support for Democratic candidates, including performing at Barack Obama’s 2013 inauguration and participating in a pre-election concert for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
“Freedom,” featuring Kendrick Lamar, is from Beyoncé’s 2016 album “Lemonade.” The song’s lyrics, which include powerful statements like “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,” resonated during Harris’ appearance.
The use of “Freedom” underscores the cultural and political synergy between Beyoncé’s music and Harris’s campaign message of empowerment and perseverance.
