Stevie Wonder made a memorable appearance at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, delivering a passionate speech and performance in support of Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Addressing the crowd at the United Center in Chicago, Wonder expressed his affection, stating, “I love you. Every song that I’ve sung, every song that I’ve written is because of my love for you right here.” He emphasized the importance of unity and healing, saying, “This year, I prayed very hard for peace to come to our world’s nations, but also to each one of our hearts, even though our hearts have been beaten and broken beyond prayer.” Wonder encouraged attendees to recognize the current challenges and stressed, “Now is the time to understand where we are and what it will take to win. Win the broken hearts, win the disenchanted, win the angry spirits — now is the time.”
The music legend inspired the audience to “choose courage over complacency” and to strive for true unity among the people of the United States before he performed his classic song, “Higher Ground.” He energized the audience by asking, “Are y’all ready to reach a higher ground?” and began to sing while being accompanied by dancers in white outfits.
Harris, a longtime admirer of Wonder, previously shared that her favorite album is his collection, “Songs in the Key of Life.” She has expressed her admiration for him on numerous occasions, including wishing him a happy birthday in 2020, referring to him as a “living legend and longtime hero of mine.”
Earlier this month, Wonder acknowledged Harris during Duke Fakir’s funeral service, expressing her name to the congregation, highlighting his support for her.