While everyone waits to learn when, when, and how Beyoncé or Taylor Swift will comment on the historic effort to elect Kamala Harris as president, information is beginning to surface regarding the celebrity group that has committed to attending the Democratic National Convention in Chicago the next week.
Democrats from all 50 states and U.S. territories will formally gather at the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) from August 19–22 to support Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz in their presidential campaign. The Democratic National Committee, the Chicago host committee, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois are collaborating to roll out nightly programming, which will be headquartered at Chicago’s United Center, and other party activities that will take place at McCormick Place Convention Center. The DNC reports that 50,000 people are anticipated in Chicago, which includes 15,000 media representatives and 5,000 delegates and alternates.
At supplementary events centered around official DNC activities, those guests will have no shortage of alternatives for how and where to mix, mingle, and moan about the state of U.S. politics. There are over 100 events scheduled for next week in Chicago, as per an online event directory maintained by a third party. The confirmed headliners for these events include RuPaul’s Drag Race stars, Lil Jon, DJ D-Nice, Octavia Spencer, Joan Jett, John Legend, and many more.
For weeks, there has been much speculating about which celebrities will be traveling to the Midwest. This is especially true after the Republican National Convention in July, which attracted stars like Kid Rock, Dana White, Lee Greenwood, Hulk Hogan, Amber Rose, and reality TV sensation Savannah Chrisley. All eyes will be on the United Center stage to watch how planners bring Hollywood’s elite to the big screen, especially in this election year where voters have said time and again that the issues that matter most are the cost of living, inflation, and the economy.
Throughout the whole convention, which takes place from August 19–22, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show crew, led by Jon Stewart, will post updates from inside the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture. The week will begin on Monday with Stewart’s live broadcast, with the “all-star news team” and show is roster of hosts covering the remaining days. The closing night broadcast is scheduled to conclude when the DNC closes at approximately 11:45 p.m. local time, as per the ticketing website. It is anticipated to be the most glamorous night of the convention.
Details for a number of events being hosted by the nonprofit, nonpartisan group that advocates for social justice and public policy on behalf of the entertainment and arts industry have also been verified by the Creative Coalition, under the direction of Robin Bronk. The organization, led by CEO Bronk and President Tim Daly, announced that it had scheduled a delegation that includes Anthony Anderson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Busy Philipps, Jon Cryer, David Cross, Yolonda Ross, Iain Armitage, Chris Witaske, and Danai Gurira in addition to Uma Thurman, Uzo Aduba, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Yvette Nicole Brown.
As per Thurman’s representative, her job responsibilities have prevented her from attending in person. Ralph’s representative has confirmed that she will travel on Thursday to attend the convention’s closing night, even though she will also be working on Abbott Elementary the following week, the show that won her an Emmy. According to her staff, Brown, who frequently devotes her time and activity to political and various industry issues, would be in Chicago “and booked solid for multiple events.” Aduba, Ferguson, Philipps, Anderson, Gurira, Cryer, and more players have also been confirmed. According to information obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Connie Britton is probably going to travel, and there are rumors that Don Cheadle would be in Chicago as well.
The Whitehall Hotel will hold a VIP welcome dinner for Creative Coalition on Tuesday, August 20. The organization and Full Sail University are hosting an Empower Policy Luncheon at Palmer House Hotel the following morning. It is billed as a leadership luncheon, with “C-suite and policy trailblazers from Fortune 500, entertainment, Silicon Valley, and policy” as anticipated attendees. The Creative Coalition and Articulus Entertainment are sponsoring a reception at the hotel the next morning called The Case for Kindness, which is a “salute to groundbreakers, trailblazers” and leaders from diverse industries and special interest groups.
A benefit gala performance scheduled for Wednesday, August 21, at Chicago’s Ramova Theatre on Halsted Street will culminate the Creative Coalition’s eventful week. The concert will be co-hosted by Oscar winner Octavia Spencer and presented in collaboration with Reproductive Freedom for All, End Citizens United, and Gabrielle Giffords’ gun safety organization. The New York Times described the event as a “contender for biggest and best party of the week.” Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Drive-By Truckers, and SistaStrings will be featured prominently on the marquee. According to the New York Times, Gurira, Armitage, Aduba, Giffords, and her husband, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, will be present. In past editions of the gala performance, performers such the Red Hot Chili Peppers,
In the Windy City, music is predicted to be a major attraction. Legend, who headlined a gig at Salt Shed for wealthy Illinois governor JB Pritzker on Tuesday, August 20, will perform at the Lincoln Memorial following President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s inauguration in January 2021. The Equality PAC is hosting an LGBTQ talent party in Chicago’s renowned Boys Town the previous evening. RuPaul’s Drag Race performers Chad Michaels, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, and Jackie Cox will be among the guests. Additionally on Monday, rapper Lil Jon will be the main attraction at a Southern Soul party hosted by Georgia’s State Democratic Party at PRYSM nightclub, and DJ D-Nice will spin records at a celebration hosted by members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.
On Thursday night, Salt Shed will also hold a special Pod Save America event. Former Obama aides Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor are the hosts of the political podcast. Any new information about the DNC will be added to this story.
