Beyoncé, Oprah to lead Harvey relief telethon

NEW YORK— Beyoncé, Blake Shelton, Barbra Streisand and Oprah Winfrey will headline a one-hour benefit telethon to benefit hurricane Harvey victims that will be simulcast next week on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CMT.

The event will be telecast live at 8 p.m. on Sept. 12, and on tape delay at 8 p.m. on the West Coast. It is being organized by Houston rap artist Bun B and Scooter Braun, founder of SB Projects. The show will also be streamed live on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. George Clooney, Matthew McConaughey, Dennis Quaid, Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx, Ryan Seacrest, Michael Strahan, Kelly Rowland, George Strait, Reese Witherspoon and others will also participate with taped or live messages. Journalists Matt Lauer and Norah O’Donnell will also participate and more celebrities are expected.

It will benefit several organizations, including United Way of Greater Houston, Habitat for Humanity, Save the Children, Direct Relief, Feeding Texas and the Mayor’s Fund for Hurricane Harvey Relief.

Other entertainment figures have already stepped up to help flood victims. ABC networks held a “day of giving” last week, and singers Paul Simon and Edie Brickell pledged $1 million (U.S.).

The telethon will air from Los Angeles, but there will be stages in New York and Nashville, Tenn. A performance from George Strait’s San Antonio benefit concert for Harvey will also be shown.

Harvey relief was also linked to a birthday celebration for Beyoncé on Monday. Michelle Obama, Serena Williams and other famous friends of the superstar sported looks from her “Formation” video to celebrate her 36th birthday and raise disaster relief funds. A series of 18 photos posted to Beyoncé’s website with a message and link asking fans to support relief efforts in Houston.