John Legend visits Scranton to support Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign

He returned to the community church Sunday morning where he worked as choir director before going on to land Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.

Musician John Legend, the remarkable talent who went on to become an internationally known “EGOT” winner, stopped by his old stomping ground, Bethel AME Church on Washington Street, where he first set foot as a teen and later directed the musical choir. His 11th hour bid of support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz comes as Election Day looms.

Breathtaking stained glass windows flanked either side of the building, diffusing the morning light as 40 or so gathered for service.

The church’s band, consisting of three singers, a keyboardist and drummer sang the lyrics, “Victory is mine. Victory is mine. Victory today is mine.”

After three preachers clad in white from head to toe went through a sermon and led the band and congregation with more hymns, one touched briefly on Project 2025, a political strategy that many Democrats associate with former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Next, Legend, who sat in a pew toward the front of the church beside Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, approached the pulpit.

He reflected on his history with the church. “It’s so good to be back home,” he said. “It’s been a long time. The first time I walked in here I was about 16 years old, I’m 45 now.”

Legend spoke about his grandmother, Elmira Lloyd, who “taught him how to improvise,” along with musicians Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. He recalled her being a force in his family, and her early departure from this life at age 58 from heart failure, which led to hard times for his family.

His words led into a musical interlude, with Legend calling out his key to the choir band — “b flat’ — before he belted out, “I am tired, I am weak,” into the perfect acoustics of the high-vaulted ceiling.

Upon completing his number, his presentation took a political tone, branching from his grandmother’s leadership which taught him “the power of showing up, even when times are hard.”

“Today, we’ve got the power to show up and make a difference,” Legend said. “We have the power to select our leaders,” he added, touching on issues, such as affordable housing and healthcare, capping drug costs, a “fair and compassionate justice system,” fully funded schools, and “a better future for our children, regardless of “zip code or income status.”

“We don’t need leaders who fan the flames of hate,” Legend followed. “We need leaders who wake up every day thinking about what they can do to help.”

The primary focus of the talk, besides lifting up Harris’ campaign promises, was to encourage all in attendance to vote, and to reach out to others to assure they vote.

“Let’s remember all the Elmira Lloyds in our lives,” he said. “Help fulfill their wildest dreams for us.”

He wrapped up his presentation with song, his voice flowing seamlessly from speaking to singing, with audience members clapping and emoting encouragement.

Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti took the pulpit next in a dark blue dress, exhaled a long slow breath, and then quipped that her unexpected tears brought on by Legend’s moving performance weren’t “in the plan.” Cognetti talked about her hope for the upcoming election and her “pride in Kamala Harris,” cementing how close the final tally was when President Joe Biden won the presidency in 2020.

“It’s so important that you get out there talk to your friends,” she said. “There’s only 48 hours, this is when a lot of minds change,” she said, wrapping up her brief talk with, “Every vote matters,” and, “We’re gonna do this, Scranton.”

Later, Legend explored the upstairs level of a cultural center in a former bank building a short drive away, as the center’s director, Glynis Johns, told him about the resources and work that went into developing Black Scranton Project’s creative headquarters.

“I do really feel like we’re important to the legacy of black history,” she said about the work the center is doing, and called meeting Legend a “full circle moment.” “I love it,” said Legend, offering words of encouragement about the building and her work.

Legend, in a white sweater with a red striped pattern and a blue jacket, talked about his joy at revisiting the church earlier in the day.

“Springfield, Scranton and so many cities across this country are success stories, because with investment, and new jobs coming in… a lot of people don’t realize those investments were brought on by a man from Scranton, Pennsylvania–Joe Biden,” he said, adding that his town and Scranton are places that, once invested in, that “we all can flourish and thrive together.”

“I believe that politics matters,” he said before adding that who voters choose can make a difference in their lives and in the lives of others.

Legend spoke for about 15 minutes before continuing on to his last stop in the whirlwind day trip, to On and On in Scranton. He was led around each floor of the two-story vintage mall and record store by the store’s co-owner, Meegan Possemato. After the tour, the press followed him to their sister business, a coffee shop across the street, where Legend ordered an oat milk latte.

Originally Published: November 3, 2024 at 5:00 PM EST