Beyonce, Lady Gaga offer hope at all-star event fighting virus
Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Lizzo, Shawn Mendes and others sang classic songs brimmed with messages of hope and change during a TV special aimed at fighting the coronavirus, while Beyonce and Alicia Keys spoke passionately about how the virus has disproportionately affected African Americans.
Beyonce made a surprise appearance on Saturday’s TV special, “One World: Together At Home,” thanking “delivery workers, mail carriers and sanitation employees” for their hard 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 preexisting conditions are at an even higher risk. This virus is killing black people at an alarmingly high rate here in America,” Beyonce said.
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.”
Paul McCartney sang the Beatles’ “Lady Madonna” and talked about the work his mother did as a nurse. The members of the Rolling Stones — from four different locations — joined forces to perform “You Can’t Always Get What
You Want.” And Taylor Swift sang “Soon You’ll Get Better” while playing piano.
Former 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.
At the event’s end, organizers announced that the total amount raised was nearly $128 million.
Other performers included Billie Eilish and her producer-brother Finneas, Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Kacey Musgraves, Maluma and Keith Urban.
Broadway star loses leg to virus: Tony Award-nominated actor Nick Cordero, 41, had his right leg amputated after suffering complications from the coronavirus, his wife says. On Instagram, Amanda Kloots wrote late Saturday that Cordero “made it out of surgery alive and is headed to his room to rest and recover.” Cordero had been treated with blood thinners to help with clotting in his leg, but his doctors had to stop the treatment because it was causing internal bleeding. Cordero entered the intensive care unit at CedarsSinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on March 31, and has been on a ventilator and unconscious after contracting COVID-19.
Babyface-Teddy Riley battle fizzles: The muchhyped battle between Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Teddy Riley was derailed by audio issues, forcing the R&B producers to postpone the Instagram Live event. More than 400,000 tuned in Saturday night to watch the livestream, but sound and technical issues plagued the friendly competition. The battle had already been postponed from April 12 after Edmonds was diagnosed with COVID-19. The Grammywinning singer and producer said last week that he and his family — who also tested positive —were recovering. The digital battle was part of a series dubbed “Verzuz” organized by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland.
April 20 birthdays: Actor George Takei is 83. Actor Ryan O’Neal is 79. Actress Jessica Lange is 71.