Stevie Wonder graced the Democratic National Convention stage on Wednesday to deliver both a heartfelt speech and performance in support of Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota governor Tim Walz.
Speaking to the thousands gathered at the United Center in Chicago, Wonder declared: “I love you. Every song that I’ve sing, every song that I’ve written is because of my love for you right here.”
He continued, “But 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: “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 icon called on the crowd to “choose courage over complacency” and to “keep on keeping on until we truly are a united people of these United States,” before segueing into his performance for the night.
“Are y’all ready to reach a higher ground?” he said before launching into his iconic 1973 track “Higher Ground.” Backed by dancers dressed in white, Wonder sang: “People keep on learning/Soldiers keep on warring/World keep on turning/’Cause it won’t be too long.”
Harris has been a longtime fan of Wonder, sharing in 2019 that her favorite album is the legend’s Songs in the Key of Life. The Democratic nominee also shared a birthday post for Wonder in 2020 and called him a “living legend and longtime hero of mine.”
Earlier this month, Wonder shouted out Harris during Duke Fakir’s funeral service. After singing “The Lord’s Prayer” and sharing an “Amen” with the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church crowd, Wonder simply said “Kamala Harris” and repeated: “Kamala Harris. There, I said it.”
