Stevie Wonder took the stage at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, delivering an emotional speech and performance in support of Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Addressing the audience at the United Center in Chicago, Wonder expressed his love for the crowd, 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 need for peace in the world and within individuals, 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 urged the crowd to recognize the importance of addressing the brokenness in society, calling for efforts to “win the broken hearts, win the disenchanted, win the angry spirits — now is the time.”
Wonder encouraged attendees to “choose courage over complacency” and to continue striving for unity among the American people before transitioning into his musical performance. He prompted the audience, “Are y’all ready to reach a higher ground?” before performing his classic track “Higher Ground.” Accompanied by dancers in white, he sang, “People keep on learning/Soldiers keep on warring/World keep on turning/’Cause it won’t be too long.”
Vice President Harris has long admired Wonder, previously sharing that his album “Songs in the Key of Life” is her favorite. In 2020, she celebrated his birthday, calling him a “living legend and longtime hero of mine.”
Earlier this month, Wonder paid tribute to Harris during Duke Fakir’s funeral service, singing “The Lord’s Prayer” and addressing the crowd with her name, stating, “Kamala Harris. There, I said it.”