Superstar singer Beyonce made her first public political appearance of this election cycle at a rally for Kamala Harris in Houston on Friday night, but she did not sing. Instead, she addressed the crowd, emphasizing her role as a mother rather than a celebrity or politician.

Beyonce, a Houston native, received roaring applause from the approximately 30,000 attendees at Vice President Harris' abortion rights-themed rally. She was joined on stage by fellow former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland. Beyonce spoke to the crowd for several minutes, stating, "I'm not here as a celebrity. I'm not here as a politician. I'm here as a mother. Your freedom is your God-given right, your human right."

After her speech, Beyonce introduced Harris, who entered to the tune of "Freedom" from Beyonce's 2016 album "Lemonade." The two shared a long embrace before Beyonce left the stage. Recent national opinion polls indicate that Harris' summertime lead over Republican opponent Donald Trump has significantly diminished, with her now within the margin of error in key battleground states.

However, Harris has gained a notable advantage over Trump among women voters, a demographic that aligns closely with Beyonce's audience. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in late August, Harris led Trump by 49% to 36% among women, a 13-point margin. This rally in Beyonce's hometown marks a series of politically charged appearances and artistic works.

In 2008, Beyonce's husband Jay-Z held a rally for Barack Obama, while Beyonce herself performed the national anthem and the Etta James classic "At Last" at Obama's 2009 inauguration. She also supported Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016 and endorsed Joe Biden and Harris in 2020 via Instagram. With 314 million followers on Instagram, Beyonce provides Harris with access to a crucial segment of the US population, particularly Black and younger voters, in the closely contested race against Trump.

Other Hollywood celebrities, including actors Julia Roberts and Jane Fonda, as well as musicians Bruce Springsteen, Usher, and Lizzo, are also campaigning for Harris. On the other side, Trump has received endorsements from Ultimate Fighting stars, wrestler Hulk Hogan, and musicians Ted Nugent and Kid Rock.

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