Lady Gaga’s All-star Virtual Concert Raises 128M US Dollars towards Fight against COVID-19
Written by Rev Noni on April 20, 2020
Various artists including Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Lizzo, Shawn Mendes sang songs brimmed with messages of hope and change during a TV special aimed at fighting the coronavirus. It was an eight-hour event aimed at supporting the World Health Organization alongside advocacy organization Global Citizen.
Lady Gaga, who curated the all-star TV event, kicked it off by urging people weathering the coronavirus pandemic to find a way to smile through the pain with a performance of Nat King Cole’s version of the song “Smile.” “I care so much about the medical workers that are putting their lives at risk for us,” Gaga said.
Beyoncé made a surprise appearance on the “One World: Together At Home,” event where she delivered a speech thanking delivery workers, mail carriers and sanitation employees for their tireless work during the pandemic.
“Black Americans disproportionately belong to these essential parts of the workforce that do not have the luxury of working from home. And African American communities at large have been severely affected in this crisis. Those with pre-existing conditions are at an even higher risk. This virus is killing black people at an alarmingly high rate here in America,” Beyoncé said.
“Please protect yourselves,” she continued. “We are one family. We need you. We need your voices, your abilities, and your strength all over this word. I know it’s very hard but please be patient, stay encouraged, keep the faith, stay positive and continue to pray for our heroes.”
Alicia Keys also made an appearance where she encouraged fans to keep their “frequency high” and that she was sending them all her love.
Stevie Wonder performed “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers, who died on March 30th. He told viewers: “During hardships like this we have to lean on each other for help.” John Legend and Sam Smith, each from their own homes, duetted on “Stand by Me”; Lizzo sang “A Change Is Gonna Come” with passion; and Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, sitting together, performed “What a Wonderful World.”
Former US first ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, Oprah Winfrey, Bill and Melinda Gates, Ellen DeGeneres, Pharrell Williams, Kerry Washington, Lupita Nyong’o and Henry Golding offered positive words while photos of health care workers and everyday people were shown on the screen.
“One World: Together At Home” featured stars appearing in intimate settings, beamed virtually to the world. It aired simultaneously on ABC, NBC, CBS, iHeartMedia and Bell Media networks and was hosted by Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Jimmy Kimmel. At the event’s end, organizers announced that the total amount raised was nearly $128 million.
