Manchester benefit raises $13M
Teary-eyed Grande, pop stars help aid victims of bombing
MANCHESTER, England — Ariana Grande paid tribute to the city of Manchester, England, on Sunday with an energetic, all-star concert that raised millions for victims of a suicide bombing that tore through her last performance in the city nearly two weeks ago.
Grande was emotional and teary-eyed throughout the One Love Manchester concert Sunday, which the British Red Cross said it raised more than $13 million for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, created for those affected by the attack at Grande’s May 22 show.
She closed the three-hour-plus event with a cover of “Over the Rainbow,” crying onstage at the song’s end as the audience cheered her on.
“Manchester, I love you with all of my heart,” Grande said before the performance, and just after singing “One Last Time” with Miley Cyrus, Pharrell and more of the show’s performers standing behind her in solidarity.
Grande enlisted some of music’s biggest names for the benefit concert, including Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Liam Gallagher.
Gallagher, formerly of Oasis, earned loud cheers from the audience as he emerged in his home town in surprise form.
He sang and offered encouraging words to the crowd, who held inspirational signs in their hands.
One of the most powerful moments was when the Parrs Wood High School Choir performed Grande’s “My Everything” with the singer. The 23-year-old pop star held the young lead performer’s hand, both with tears in their eyes, as the rest of the singers joined in.
Perry also left a mark with her resilient performance: She sang a stripped down version of her hit, “Part of Me.”
Backed by two singers and a guitarist, she delivered the song wearing all white, singing, “Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows, but you’re not gonna break my soul.”
“I encourage you to choose love even when it’s difficult. Let no one take that away from you,” she said.
Bieber shared similar words onstage, even coming close to crying when he spoke about God and those who died at Grande’s show.
“[God] loves you and he’s here for you. I wanna take this moment to honor the people that were lost, that were taken,” he said. “To the families, we love you so much. … Everybody say, ‘We honor you, and we love you.’ ”
Coldplay were also a crowd favorite, performing well-known songs like “Viva La Vida” and “Fix You.”
Robbie Williams also performed, changing some of his lyrics of “Strong” to honor the Manchester victims.
“Manchester we’re strong … we’re still singing our song,” he sang with the audience of 50,000.
The One Love Manchester concert aired across the globe.