🎸 James Taylor Gets Left Hanging at DNC 2024 🎸

Oh, the irony! James Taylor, the legendary singer-songwriter, was all set to grace the opening night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He was supposed to share the stage with country music star Mickey Guyton and Americana singer Jason Isbell. But alas, the universe had other plans.

While Guyton and Isbell delivered their performances as promised, Taylor was nowhere to be found in the Day 1 lineup. The "Fire and Rain" singer was scheduled to be part of the 9 p.m. block, which featured remarks from first lady Jill Biden and her daughter Ashley Biden, who introduced President Joe Biden with a heartwarming speech. But, spoiler alert, Taylor did not make an appearance.

Where was James Taylor at the DNC?

DNC officials later issued a statement acknowledging schedule delays in Monday night's program, though Taylor's performance was conveniently not mentioned.

"Because of the raucous applause interrupting speaker after speaker, we ultimately skipped elements of our program to ensure we could get to President Biden as quickly as possible so that he could speak directly to the American people," the statement read, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.

"We are proud of the electric atmosphere in our convention hall and proud that our convention is showcasing the broad and diverse coalition behind the Harris-Walz ticket throughout the week on and off the stage."

Taylor was spotted at the DNC earlier in the day, according to footage shared on social media. The Grammy-winning singer could be seen strumming his guitar as he rehearsed a performance of his 1971 hit "You've Got a Friend."

James Taylor Apologizes for Scrapped Performance

In an Instagram post Tuesday, Taylor addressed his absence from the DNC lineup Monday night.

"We had a great rehearsal with @RickeyMinor and terrific singers, @KenyaHathaway and Mathew Johnson before the event," Taylor wrote. "But it became clear, as the evening unfolded, that there wouldn't be time for our 'You've Got a Friend' with cello and voices. Maybe the organizers couldn't anticipate the wild response from the floor of the United Center…"

Taylor's publicist Allison Elbl told USA TODAY in an email Tuesday that "there are no plans to reschedule" the singer's performance.

"Anyway, sorry to disappoint," Taylor concluded. "But a great and inspirational, quintessentially American moment. We were honored to be there…"

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Day 2 of the DNC will start at 5:30 p.m. CT/6:30 p.m. ET. Speakers will include former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and second gentleman Dough Emhoff.

Contributing: Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY; Hannah Kirby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel