Beyoncé to appear alongside Harris at Houston rally

Beyoncé will appear alongside Vice President Kamala Harris at a rally Friday in Houston, a person familiar with the planning tells CNN, the first joint appearance with the music icon whose anthem has been the soundtrack of the Harris campaign.

Beyoncé will appear alongside Vice President Kamala Harris at a rally Friday in Houston, a person familiar with the planning tells CNN, the first joint appearance with the music icon whose anthem has been the soundtrack of the Harris campaign. The appearance, in which Beyoncé will appear with Willie Nelson, is designed to be one of the biggest closing acts of the campaign. Since the moment Harris ascended to the top of the Democratic ticket, the vice president’s team has been working behind the scenes to negotiate a joint appearance before Election Day. Beyoncé’s team did not respond to CNN’s request for comment. Beyoncé all but gave her endorsement to Harris months ago, giving her permission to use her song “Freedom” as her official campaign anthem, CNN first reported in July. Beyoncé, who is known for maintaining strict clearance guidelines around her music, gave quick approval to the Harris campaign to use the anthem, which has been the backdrop for Harris ads and when she was onstage at the Democratic National Convention. Harris first walked out to “Freedom” at her first official stop at her campaign headquarters, two days after she launched her presidential campaign. At one point, rumors of Beyoncé appearing at the Democratic convention threatened to overtake Harris’ acceptance speech. Campaign officials have insisted it was never the plan to have Beyoncé join Harris in Chicago, even as they sent conflicting signals in the moment. Fans may be wondering whether Taylor Swift — who endorsed Harris in September — will join Harris on a campaign stop in this final stretch to the election.