There are a lot of celebrity rumors and sightings swirling around the Democratic National Convention on Thursday as Kamala Harris prepares to take the stage in a historical occasion in Chicago.
With the likes of Taylor Swift and Beyoncé at the top of the surprise list, at least one high-profile candidate (or former candidate, depending on your POV) has taken himself out of the race. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said he is not the “surprise guest” who has been rumored to appear this evening.
Just over an hour ago, Romney posted on X: “Contrary to fake news posts, I am not the surprise guest at the DNC tonight. My guess is that it will be Beyoncé or Taylor Swift. So disappointing, I know!”
On a night where The Chicks and Pink have already been confirmed to play, one unexpected guest was Golden State Warriors star and recent Team USA gold medal winner Steph Curry. The NBA player appeared via video to boost longtime fan and Oakland, CA native Haris’ bid tonight, as he has done in the past.
(L-R) Taylor Swift, Beyoncé
Getty Images
Still, all day long, rumors have spread on social media that there will be a special guest, with much focus on Swift and Beyoncé. Others floated have include Trump’s sworn foe, ex-Congresswoman Liz Cheney, and even ex-POTUS George W. Bush.
Earlier this week, Deadline exclusively reported that despite the break in the Eras Tour schedule, Swift wasn’t going to show up in the Windy City. “Everybody loves Taylor, but having her here would overshadow everything,” a DNC insider told us of an appearance by Swift on Harris’ big night. “Think about it, no one would remember a word the Vice President said in her acceptance speech. All the headlines would be about Swift.”
Still, the rumors and hopes wouldn’t go away. Today, one post online claimed to show a photo of Swift’s private plane having landed in Chicago, until it was pointed out that crew workers were wearing cold-weather clothes — odd for a warm August day.
On nearly everyone’s lips and filling inboxes, the Beyoncé rumors were rampant on the closing day of the convention.
As the theme song of the barely monthlong Harris campaign, Beyoncé’s “Freedom” has been heard everywhere at the DNC this week. At one point tonight, the convention DJ played some tunes off the superstar’s recent Cowboy Carter album.
Going into overdrive Thursday when a 30-minute opening in the lineup appeared earlier today, the Queen Bey rumors were mainly triggered by the rehearsal of the convention’s house band playing some of her music. But the band has played an array of music for entrances and exits without that artist playing at the convention.
The half hour in the schedule was “padding” to make sure the long-running convention hits its primetime East Coast marks for Harris and the viewing public, sources tell us.
Romney’s senior adviser for his 2012 campaign, Stuart Stevens, also chimed in on the secret guest rumors. “This whole ‘surprise guest’ thing is not bringing back the best of memories,” Stevens wrote.
The longtime political operative was referring to the surprise guest at the 2012 Republican National Convention: Clint Eastwood. The butt of many a joke that night and since, the Dirty Harry star’s routine with an empty chair overshadowed a speech that came after it: Romney’s acceptance address.
