Going: Actress Eva Longoria will be speaking at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night prior to the president’s acceptance speech. Longoria has taken on a prominent role as co-chair of the Obama campaign, representing POTUS at a number of promotional events, including the Florida Women’s Summit on Aug. 4 in Miami.
Not Going: He was great in L.A last May, raising $15 million bucks for POTUS, and happy to go to Geneva last month to raise another large chunk of change for Obama, but he’s not going to Charlotte. Go figure. Clooney’s rep told TheWrap that he never planned on going to the DNC, despite hopeful speculation to the contrary.
Going: After President Obama formally accepts the nomination on Thursday evening, actress Jessica Alba (and producer-hubby Cash Warren) will host a closing party featuring live jams by Pitbull and the Scissor Sisters. Alba, a longtime Obama supporter, met with POTUS and other Dem celebs at the Beverly Hilton in June to discuss his “Young America Effort” initiative. "Got up bright & early to hear @BarackObama speak w an awesome group," she tweeted.
Not Going: Matt Damon, who strongly supported Obama in '08, won't make an appearance in Charlotte this year. For clues as to why, look to a particularly bracing December 2011 interview with Elle: "You know, a one-term president with some balls who actually got stuff done would have been, in the long run of the country, much better."
Going: One-man musical act and sometime Black Eyed Pea will.i.am came up with the memorable tune “Yes We Can” to boost Obama’s first bid for the White House. He’s lined up with Obama again and was scheduled to join former President Bill Clinton for a fund-raiser on Tuesday celebrating the 20th anniversary of Clinton’s presidential nomination.
Not Going: Outspoken Obama supporter Spike Lee recently told CNN’s Don Lemon that the president “was the savior – Black Jesus,” describing how Americans viewed Obama during his last campaign. “And … look, I don’t care who it was,” he continued. “Expectations were, I think, way too high.” But don’t expect Lee at this DNC – he’s busy with pre-production on “Oldboy,” his rep told TheWrap.
Going: Hard to believe, but Kal Penn, stoner movie star of “Harold & Kumar” fame, will host Thursday evening’s “Live from Charlotte” event – gavel-to-gavel online coverage of the DNC’s proceedings, which promises several star-studded interviews.
Not Going: He was in Denver in 2008, but like his friend and onetime writing partner Matt Damon, Ben Affleck also won't make it to the convention this time. He's currently working the film festival circuit, earning early awards-season buzz for his latest directorial effort, “Argo.”
Going: Salsa superstar Marc Anthony will belt out the national anthem on Thursday night, his rep confirmed. Anthony performed at a fund-raiser for Obama’s campaign in June at a concert in Miami.
Not Going: Oprah Winfrey endorsed Obama before his first presidential run but isn’t expected in the DNC audience this year. The talk-show legend says she still supports POTUS. “I actually love our president and have the utmost respect for him and that office and what it takes to be there,” Winfrey told Charlie Rose on CBS’ “This Morning” in April.
Going: Actress and Voto Latino co-founder Rosario Dawson will host Thursday’s “Purple Carpet Bash”— an all-night party combining politicos, celebrity activists and Silicon Valley innovators, her rep told TheWrap. Also attending: Fat Joe, America Ferrera, Russell Simmons and Paola Mendoza. Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas and Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship will bring the beats.
Not Going: No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani played hostess to FLOTUS at a family-friendly event at Stefani’s Beverly Hills home last month, but her rep told TheWrap she won’t make a showing in Charlotte.
Going: Actress Elizabeth Banks and other Obama-friendly celebs Olivia Wilde, Fran Drescher, Zack Braff, Aisha Tyler and Alexis Bledel will take part in "Live From Charlotte”— the DNC’s livestream coverage hosted by Kal Penn on Thursday night.
Not Going: Jamie Foxx, who whooped it up with Kanye West at the 2008 Dem-fest, singing a duet of “Gold Digger” in Denver, is out of the country filming and isn’t likely to turn up in Charlotte, his rep told TheWrap.
Going: Actress and activist Ashley Judd will be attending a women's event on Wednesday, representing the state of Tennessee as an official delegate.
Not Going: Sarah Jessica Parker, who hosted a fashionable soirée for the president and First Lady in June with Vogue editrix Anna Wintour at Parker’s pad in Manhattan, isn’t attending the DNC, according to her rep.
Going: Soulful songstress Janelle Monáe rocked her signature pompadour at CarolinaFest in Charlotte on Monday. Also signed on to play at the outdoor family fest were singer-songwriter James Taylor and musically inclined actor Jeff Bridges, with backup from his band, The Abiders.
Not Going: Alec Baldwin is not known for keeping his political opinions to himself, calling Obama critic Hank Williams Jr. a “pathetic, wheezing fossil” on Tuesday. Nevertheless, he will be missing in action from Charlotte.
Maybe?: Will Betty White speak (a la Clint Eastwood at the RNC) in Charlotte? The 90-year-old actress’ rep says no, but her online supporters beg to differ. More than 30,000 people liked “Bring Betty White to the DNC” on Facebook by Tuesday and more than 9,000 petitioners on Change.org demanded, “Democrats: Ask Betty White to Introduce President Obama at the DNC.” Only time (and the strength of viral web campaigns) will tell.
Oprah and other big Obama-boosters from 2008 may be missing from the mix in Charlotte this week, but plenty of celebrities are ready to stump for President Obama at the Democratic National Convention. Others? Not so much.
