Carole King performed Taylor Swift's “Shake It Off” during the Swifties for Kamala inaugural call. The coalition's launch event featured an appearance by King, who spoke to the 34,000 attendees and performed a snippet of Swift's 2014 song.
“I’m a Swift fan, and Taylor and I are actually friends,” King said during the call. “We’ve had conversations behind the scenes and I see her as a musical, songwriting granddaughter. We have a great relationship, and I’m so proud of her.”
She added that her favorite song is 1989“Shake It Off” and explained why she wanted to support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. “I’m excited for Kamala, because a lot of people are excited for Kamala, and I’ve met her,” King said. “I admire her and the stars that are aligned, and Joe Biden has done a really great, really hard job, and I’m so proud of him. But this is about you. I know you have your own ways of communicating and socializing and organizing.”
King encouraged the Swifties to get involved in the advocacy in multiple ways. “I’ve been a political activist for years,” King said. “I’ve been calling people and knocking on doors, even as a celebrity. I’m telling you all this because if any of you are thinking about volunteering to be a door-knocker or a phone caller, but are a little nervous about what to say, please believe me, you will be working with an organizer who will walk you through the steps. Don’t be afraid, because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. There is a lot at stake.”
The kickoff event raised $122,000 for the Harris-Walz presidential campaign. The campaign also featured speakers from Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representatives Becca Balint and Chris DiLuzio.
“You guys have come together, hand in hand, friendship bracelets on your wrists, and you’ve overcome whatever life throws your way,” Warren said. “It’s about standing up for what’s right against bullies like Donald Trump.”
Although Swift was not present during the call, organizers shared on social media that Swift was “always welcome to come to our party.” The coalition was born the same day President Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Harris, and they quickly announced their mission statement: to help elect Harris as the 47th president of the United States.
The group has amassed a quarter of a million followers across social media platforms and launched a newsletter with subscribers in all 50 states and multiple countries.
In 2021, Swift introduced King during her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, performing King's song “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” and calling the rock icon “the greatest songwriter of all time.” Swift, who is cat mom to Scottish duo Floyd Meredith Grey and Olivia Benson, and Ragdoll Benjamin Button, also paid tribute to the cat featured on the album's cover. textureWhen recalling the honor, King said she felt overwhelmed by the emotion and humor of Swift's introduction.
“That was funny,” said the king. Rolling Stone “That year, it was an inspiration to all cats that they could also be on the album cover!”
King later praised Swift during the tribute, for her performance and songwriting abilities. “She owns the song, she owns the stage, she owns herself, she's a tall woman. She carries herself with grace and beauty, she knows what the audience wants, she loves the song and she loves to give it to them. And she loves her fans. That's the core of who she is. She loves her fans and they know it,” King said.
Earlier this month, Swifties for Kamala's social media manager, Rohan Regan, said: worldwide The coalition was not waiting for Swift's personal approval for the president to take action.
“We’re not waiting for Taylor to show her support for Kamala Harris,” Regan said. “We’re doing it outside of her, using Swifties’ platform as a way to engage people in the election. Taylor threw her support behind Joe Biden in the 2020 election, so she’ll likely show her support again. But Swifties for Kamala isn’t waiting for her to do that.”
