2024-08-20 13:50:02
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriters James Taylor and Jason Isbell, as well as Grammy-nominated country music trailblazer Mickey Guyton will be performing at the Democratic National Convention Monday night at Chicago’s United Center, according to DNC organizers. Update: James Taylor’s performance was skipped in Monday convention lineup for time.
Monday night’s lineup also includes remarks from President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The convention runs from Monday through Thursday, as delegates from the Democratic Party officially select the party’s nominees for president and vice president.
Here’s what to know about Monday night’s musical performers:
Who is James Taylor?
Taylor was set to be the final DNC performer Monday night, according to organizers. In 2012, Taylor performed at the DNC in Charlotte, North Carolina. However, he did not perform Monday night. DNC organizers said “Because of the raucous applause interrupting speaker after speaker, we ultimately skipped elements of our program to ensure we could get to President Biden as quickly as possible so that he could speak directly to the American people.”
Taylor was spotted warming up at the United Center Monday. There, Susan Page, Washington Bureau chief of USA TODAY, shared a video on X of Taylor playing his signature rendition of Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend.”
Taylor’s greatest hits include “Fire and Rain,” “Your Smiling Face” and “How Sweet It Is.”
After the release of his album “American Standard” in 2020, he became the first act to have a Top 10 album in each of the last six decades and it won him a sixth Grammy.
Taylor’s also a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, as well as the recipient of both the Kennedy Center Honors and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Taylor’s activism dates decades. His first political fundraiser was a concert in 1972 for George McGovern, Richard Nixon’s opponent.
In 2023, he performed at a Biden fundraising event titled, “You’ve Got A Friend In Joe.”
“I’m a lifelong Democrat,” he told Boston Public Radio. “And I pay a lot of taxes, and I want a government that I paid for.”
While Taylor has been apprehensive about sharing his political views and didn’t want to politicize his art, according to BPR, Taylor believes in his responsibility as a citizen regarding the upcoming 2024 election.
Who is Jason Isbell?
In a navy tux with a black bowtie, Isbell — a singer-songwriter and actor — performed “Something More Than Free” that was highlighted by his stellar guitar playing. He took the DNC stage just before 7:50 p.m. Monday.
Isbell is a six-time Grammy Award winner, and his longtime band is the 400 Unit. He was previously a member of the band Drive-By Truckers.
Last year, Isbell released his eighth solo effort, “Weathervanes.” It was his first time self-producing a 400 Unit album since getting sober, USA TODAY reported. Isbell has been open about his sobriety journey of over a decade.
The artist’s accolades include writing “Maybe it’s Time” for “A Star is Born” and acting in “Killers of the Flowers Moon.”
An HBO documentary released in 2023, called “Running With Our Eyes Closed,” gave viewers a front-row seat to the strained studio sessions of the artist’s album “Reunions,” which dropped in 2020.
The film focused on tense, unvarnished moments in the studio and at home as Isbell and his wife, Amanda Shires — an acclaimed singer, songwriter and fiddle player — navigated marriage, parenthood and creative co-working, according to a USA TODAY report. Isbell filed for divorce earlier this year.
Who is Mickey Guyton?
“I’m so honored to be performing TONIGHT on the @DemConvention. Y’all tune in! Any guesses as to what I’ll be singing?? 💙” Guyton tweeted on X Monday.
After signing to Capitol Records Nashville, Guyton’s first appearance was an all-star concert at the White House captured by PBS, according to the artist’s website.
Guyton is a four-time Grammy Award nominee, and was the first Black female solo artist to earn a Grammy nomination in a country category. In 2021, she performed her song “Black Like Me” during the awards ceremony.
Also in 2021, she became the first Black woman to host the Academy of Country Music Awards. She was nominated for an ACM Award in 2016 and has performed at the event several times.
In 2022, Guyton performed the national anthem at Super Bowl LVI.
Her new album, “House on Fire,” drops at the end of next month.
While Guyton has been fighting to carve out a successful career in country music for herself, she wants to use her platform to be a “voice for the voiceless,” especially other Black artists, USA TODAY reported.
Around 7:20 p.m., Guyton hit the stage in a stunning white gown adorned with silver accents. She gave an impassioned performance of her 2021 unifying anthem titled “All American.”
