This isn’t Texas, and there’s no Beyoncé here.

That’s the sentiment echoed by fans when Beyoncé did not appear at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night, where Vice President Kamala Harris was officially nominated for president.

Beyoncé’s publicist, Yvette Noel Schure, also weighed in on Instagram, sharing a DNC photo and cautioning followers not to believe rumors.

The buzz about a performance began when TMZ erroneously reported that Beyoncé was set to perform before Harris’ speech, igniting a wave of excitement.

Harris had chosen Beyoncé’s song “Freedom,” featuring Kendrick Lamar, from her 2016 album “Lemonade,” as her campaign anthem. As she concluded her speech, the track played, adding fuel to the speculation.

Many believe the rumors were simply a strategy to elevate the visibility of Harris’ speech, which peaked at around 29 million viewers—and this theory is finding agreement across party lines.

Comments from Mitt Romney, Sean Spicer, and others about Beyoncé at the DNC

The speculation about a performance gained traction when Emmy Ruiz, the Biden White House Political Director, tweeted a single bee emoji. Although she later explained that her child accidentally posted it, the tweet fueled rumors online.

“Apologies, my 6-year-old got my phone,” she later clarified. Meanwhile, others joined in on the conversation about the absent Beyoncé.

Sean Spicer, a former Trump administration communications director and “Dancing with the Stars” contestant, suggested on X that the Beyoncé rumor was merely a tactic to boost ratings.

One user, seemingly leaning left, commented, “They used the Beyoncé rumor to attract more viewers. Can’t be mad at that strategy,” while another chimed in, “Kudos to whoever started the buzz about a surprise performance by Beyoncé or Taylor Swift at the DNC. We got an unforgettable speech instead, which probably shifted many opinions.”

Mitt Romney, the outgoing Senator from Utah and a consistent critic of Donald Trump, quipped on X: “Despite what fake news says, I’m not the surprise guest at the DNC tonight. I would bet it’s either Beyoncé or Taylor Swift. Disappointing, I know!” This post arrived as the speculation around Beyoncé hit full swing.

CNN anchor Abby Phillip humorously remarked that “TMZ lost a lot of its credibility tonight,” given its history of breaking celebrity news first.

Later, TMZ acknowledged the mix-up on X, stating, “To quote the legendary Beyoncé: We have to lay our cards down, down, down we got this one wrong,” referencing lyrics from her song “Texas Hold ‘Em.”

Viewer turnout for the Democratic National Convention

Nielsen estimates that 26.2 million viewers tuned in for the last night of the Democratic National Convention.

The four-day event in Chicago maintained an audience of at least 20 million each day, with notable figures such as Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey captivating the crowd of Democratic delegates.

On Thursday, as Harris delivered her acceptance speech, the average viewership peaked at 28.9 million, according to Nielsen’s Friday report.

Beyoncé’s rumors coincide with a cease-and-desist notice to Trump

Previously, representatives for Beyoncé took action against Donald Trump’s campaign, sending a cease-and-desist letter regarding the unauthorized use of her music.

As reported by Billboard and Rolling Stone, the singer’s music label notified Trump’s campaign about the issue, stating they did not approve the use of her song.

Rolling Stone was the first to break the information that the artist behind “Cowboy Carter” had not granted permission for Trump to use her music.

Contributing: Caché McClay, Joyce Orlando, Kinsey Crowley