The world of music was o
Hand in Hand 2017ut in full force on Tuesday night as dozens of A-list actors and musicians joined together for Hand in Hand Tuesday night, a nationwide television event spanning 16 networks and multiple radio and internet platforms. The event already raised more than $14.5 million for the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Demi Lovato was on hand in Nashville joining her “Without a Fight” collaborator, country star Brad Paisley, on a rendition of The Beatles classic “A Little Help from My Friends.” The pair performed live on stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville joined by country and rock star Darius Rucker and gospel singer CeCe Winans.
Justin Bieber didn’t perform, but joined Pastor John Gray, Rabbi Ari Lukas and Jihad Turk, the former director of religious affairs at the Southern California Islamic Center for an interfaith prayer.
Selena Gomez made an appearance by video, choking up as she related the story of Ricardo Saldivar, whose family was killed in Harvey.
Beyonce, a native of Houston, the city most devastated by flooding from Hurricane Harvey, delivered a moving speech via video saying, “During the time where it’s impossible to watch the news without seeing violence or racism in this country, just when you think you couldn’t possibly get worse, natural disasters take precious life, do massive damage and forever change lives.”
She added, “Seeing everyone of different racial, social and religious backgrounds put their own lives at risk to help each other survive restored my faith in humanity.”
She closed, “So, tonight, we come together in a collective effort to raise our voices. To help our communities. To lift our spirits and heal. Thank you.”
And Tori Kelly and Luis Fonsi joined forces for an emotional rendition of Leonard Cohen’s classic “Hallelujah.”
Copyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
