Carole King sings ‘Shake It Off’ at ‘Swifties for Kamala’ kickoff event

28 August, 2024

Taylor Swift inducts Carole King into the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Carole King has attended a virtual Swifties for Kamala kickoff event, where she spoke about Taylor Swift and even sang a little bit of ‘Shake It Off’ – find out more below.

The Swifties for Kamala campaign – which Taylor herself is not affiliated with – is an independent event founded by Taylor Swift fans (also known as Swifties), in an attempt to mobilise other likeminded fans to vote for Kamala Harris in the upcoming US Presidential Elections.

The first Swifties for Kamala event officially kicked off yesterday (August 27) with an online rally that included guest speakers like legendary singer-songwriter Carole King and US senator Elizabeth Warren.

King said to those on the online call: “I am a Swiftie, and Taylor and I are actually friends. We have had conversations backstage and I see her as sort of my musical and songwriting granddaughter. We have a lovely relationship, and I’m so proud of her.”

She then noted that her favourite song is ‘Shake It Off’ from ‘1989’ before getting down to business, voicing her support for Kamala Harris: “I’m excited about Kamala, because so many people are excited about Kamala, and I have met her. I admire her and the stars lined up, and Joe Biden did a really gracious, hard thing to do, and I’m so proud of him. But this is about you. I know you have your ways of communicating and social networking and organising.”

King would go on to encourage Swifties to get involved in-person, and to volunteer in door-knocking and phone calling to rally more voters: “I’ve been a political activist for years. I’ve been a caller, I’ve been a door knocker, even as a famous person. I’m telling you all this because if any of you are thinking of volunteering to be door knockers or phone callers, but you’re a little nervous about what you might say, please believe me, you will be working with an organizer who will give you steps. Don’t be afraid, because there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. There is too much at stake.”

Before hopping off the call, Carole King – who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame by Taylor Swift in 2021 – treated attendees to a quick, impromptu performance, singing the chorus of Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’. Watch a clip of the mini-performance below.

According to a Variety report, the Swifties for Kamala campaign has so far raised of US$100,000m which is being donated to support Harris’ campaign.

It is important to note that Taylor Swift has yet to publicly endorse anyone for the 2024 elections.

“We are not waiting on Taylor to show her support for Kamala Harris,” Swifties for Kamala social media manager Rohan Reagan told Cosmopolitan in an interview earlier this month. “We are doing this outside of her, using the platform of Swifties as a way to get people involved in the election. Taylor did throw her support toward Joe Biden during the 2020 election, so it is possible that she’ll show her support again. But Swifties for Kamala aren’t waiting for her to do that.”

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