First Night at the DNC: Performers and Those Who Got Bumped

The NPR Network will be reporting live from Chicago throughout the week bringing you the latest on the Democratic National Convention.

Celebrities and musicians often headline political conventions, and the Democratic National Convention is no exception. Though James Taylor’s performance was cut for time, two musicians took the stage on the event’s opening night, delivering performances that underscored the night’s themes.

The first musical guest of the evening was country singer Mickey Guyton, who sang her 2021 song “All American” to an enthusiastic audience. The track, from Guyton’s debut album Remember Her Name, is a classic country anthem that lists quintessential American elements: “We’re the stars in the Texas sky / And the jukebox vinyl / We’re the New York City lights / And a hotel bible.” This song aligned perfectly with a night aimed at projecting national unity and party solidarity, as Guyton captured the spirit of togetherness with the line, “Ain’t we all all-American?”

Guyton, a four-time Grammy nominee, has been at the forefront of a breakthrough for Black artists in country music. This movement has seen chart-topping country hits by both Beyoncé and Shaboozey in 2024.

Later in the night, Guyton handed off the musical duties to another country-adjacent artist, Jason Isbell, an Alabama native who originally gained fame as a member of The Drive-By Truckers.

Wearing a sharp tuxedo and acknowledging the convention’s Alabama delegation, Isbell performed the title track from his fifth solo album, 2015’s Something More Than Free. The song is about the aspiration for more than mere survival, emphasizing a readiness to work hard: “I don’t think on why I’m here or where it hurts / I’m just lucky to have the work,” he sang, adding, “Sunday morning I’m too tired to go to church / But I thank God for the work.”

Both performances contrasted sharply with the most prominent musical act at last month’s Republican National Convention: Kid Rock, who performed the rap-rock anthem “American Bad Ass” during the event’s final night.

Veteran singer-songwriter James Taylor was scheduled to perform but his segment was cut short due to time constraints. Whether he could have matched Kid Rock’s energetic performance remains an open question.

Copyright 2024 NPR

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