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Fans of Beyonc\u00e9<\/strong> at the Democratic National Convention and those watching at home were greatly disappointed by the absence of the 32-time Grammy winner at Chicago\u2019s United Center arena Thursday night, following widespread rumors that she would be \u201cthe big surprise performer.\u201d<\/p>\n On the fourth night of the DNC, anticipation was high as many delegates on the floor dressed in cowboy hats and wore red-white-and-blue sashes, emulating the style the singer, 42, sported on the cover of her latest country album, Cowboy Carter<\/em>. However, as the night progressed, Queen Bey, along with husband Jay Z<\/strong> and daughter Blue Ivy<\/strong>, never appeared.<\/p>\n Even after Vice President Kamala Harris<\/strong> took the stage, there was still no sign of the rumored performance.<\/p>\n The disappointment was palpable, especially after TMZ<\/a> had reported earlier that afternoon, citing sources, that Beyonc\u00e9 would perform as Harris officially accepted the Democratic Party\u2019s nomination for president.<\/p>\n \u201cHas TMZ ever been this wrong before?\u201d wrote TV writer Ben Siemon<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cThis is a total failure of American intelligence. A special counsel needs to be assigned.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam Smith<\/strong><\/a>, the vice president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, added jokingly, \u201cIt\u2019s time to subpoena TMZ.\u201d<\/p>\n It was later revealed that a representative for Beyonc\u00e9 had clarified that the singer \u201cwas never scheduled\u201d to attend the 2024 DNC. \u201cThe report of a performance is untrue,\u201d the rep told The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Harris has been using \u201cFreedom\u201d \u2014 with Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s permission \u2014 since the launch of her presidential campaign. At her first public appearance after securing Biden\u2019s endorsement, Harris walked out to the podium while the song played.<\/p>\n Additionally, the Harris-Walz campaign debuted a new ad soundtracked by the Grammy-nominated song, with actor Jeffrey Wright<\/strong> narrating, \u201cWhat kind of America do we want? One where we\u2019re divided, angry, depressed? C\u2019mon! We\u2019re Americans! Fascism? We conquered it. The moon? Landed on it. The future? Building it. Freedom? Nobody loves it more.\u201d<\/p>\n While the rumors ultimately turned out to be false, the DNC still featured a star-studded lineup, including performances by Stevie Wonder<\/strong>, John Legend<\/strong>, and Sheila E<\/strong> on Wednesday night, and a surprise appearance by Lil Jon<\/strong> during Georgia\u2019s delegation roll call. To close out the convention, The Chicks<\/strong> delivered a rendition of the National Anthem, and Pink<\/strong> and her daughter Willow Sage<\/strong> gave a heartfelt performance of \u201cWhat About Us.\u201d<\/p>\n