A raft of celebrities and singers will be taking to the Chicago stage but the Demcorats are wary of potentially alienating voters.

The 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC), taking place from August 19 to August 22 in Chicago, is set to feature a mix of political leaders and celebrities.

Musicians and actors are expected to attend, although the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris is aiming to limit celebrity appearances to avoid perceptions of elitism.

Celebrity attendees

John Legend: He is set to headline a concert for Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, making it one of the week’s major events.
Octavia Spencer: Expected to attend, though her specific role is not detailed.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: Scheduled to perform at the DNC.
Drive-By Truckers: Another musical act expected to perform.
SistaStrings: Listed among the performers.

Roy Wood Jr.: Known for his work on “The Daily Show,” he is expected to be part of the events.
Jimmy Eat World: The band is among the musical performers.
Lil Jon: Expected to perform at the convention.
Chad Michaels, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, and Jackie Cox: These drag performers are expected to participate, likely in entertainment roles.
Uma Thurman, Danai Gurira, Iain Armitage, and Uzo Aduba: These actors are expected to be present, although their specific contributions are not detailed.

Campaign strategy

The Harris campaign’s decision to limit celebrity appearances stems from a desire to connect more authentically with voters. Senior spokeswoman Adrienne Elrod emphasized the importance of leveraging celebrity influence without overwhelming the political message with a “Hollywood liberal elite” image.

“We are living in the most personalized media environment ever, so it’s crucial we are leveraging the unparalleled excitement around this historic ticket by doing everything we can to break through to the voters who will decide this election,” the Harris campaign’s senior spokeswoman Adrienne Elrod told TMZ.

This strategy aims to engage swing voters and moving away from Harris’ West Coast background.