The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Taylor Swift and More Fight Covid-19 Through Lady Gaga-Curated ‘One World: Together At Home’ Event

Adi Mehta

When John Lennon and Yoko One stayed in bed to protest the Vietnam War in 1969, people laughed and shrugged in equal numbers. Having long mastered such courageous acts of defiance as growing out one’s hair and making an awful racket in drug-addled dissipations, youth culture had taken a bold leap forward and discovered a way to truly make a difference, a way to literally save lives — staying at home. As if everything about Covid-19 weren’t already surreal enough, the pandemic has officially realized this idea. Unaware carriers of the virus, free of any symptoms, unwittingly pass it along, within a week, to an average of two to three other people, each of whom pass it on to another two or three, and so on. By simply choosing to stay home, you prevent the spread of the virus, and ultimately save lives. It’s difficult to imagine a more appropriate situation for bringing the world together through music, and sure enough, the organization Global Citizen is launching “One World: Together At Home.” On Saturday, April 18, the global broadcast will bring together some of the biggest names in entertainment, along with leading global health experts, for a set of exclusive performances and appearances to support and honor healthcare workers and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the fight against Covid-19. 

An event of such a scale calls for a larger-than-life personality at the center, and Global Citizen has delivered, curating the festival in collaboration with none other than Lady Gaga. All three leading late night personalities, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert, will host the broadcast. And, now the Rolling Stones will join the lineup, along with already announced acts such as the definitive ‘90s goddess that is Alanis Morisette, Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Sam Smith, and Shawn Mendes along with Camila Cabello. Lizzo and Billie Eilish, each with their innumerable recent Grammys to speak for them, will also make appearances, as will ever-inspiring Italian opera star Andrea Bocelli, along with the legendary Sir Elton John, and even rock ‘n’ roll royalty Paul McCartney. They will be joined by soul giants old and new in Stevie Wonder and John Legend, as well as massive rock frontmen Eddie Vedder and Billie Joe Armstrong, and country stars Keith Urban and Kacey Musgraves. There will be sounds from all across the globe, courtesy of Colombian sensation Maluma, Nigerian singer Burna Boy, and Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang. Star power will extend beyond music to appearances from Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Usher, David and Victoria Beckham, Alicia Keys, Awkwafina, Kerry Washington, Idris and Sabrina Elba, Lupita Nyong’o, Pharrell Williams, Amy Poehler, and Indian celebrities Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Shah Rukh Khan.

Prior to the television broadcast, a six-hour live stream, via Global Citizen’s website, will begin at 2 p.m. ET, and include appearances and performances from such names as Andra Day, Annie Lennox, Billy Ray Cyrus, Christine and the Queens, Common, Don Cheadle, Ellie Goulding, Heidi Klum, Hozier, Jack Black, James McAvoy, Jennifer Hudson, Jessie J, Jessie Reyez, John Legend, Kesha, Lady Antebellum, Leslie Odom Jr., Luis Fonsi, Maren Morris, Matthew McConaughey, Michael Bublé, Rita Ora, Samuel L Jackson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sebastián Yatra, Sheryl Crow, Sofi Tukker and the Killers.

Global Citizen is a movement dedicated to ending extreme poverty by 2030. Its members work toward such goals as sustainability and equality by signing petitions, sharing messages on social media, contacting politicians, and otherwise spreading the word, in turn earning rewards that they may redeem for tickets to concerts and other events. To date, Global Citizen has facilitated commitments from leaders around the world valued at over $48 billion. Now, the organization has arranged a fundraiser, along with Lady Gaga, for the World Health Organization by bringing entertainment to responsible citizens self-quarantined around the world. Contributions from corporate partners, now in the tens of millions, will aid healthcare workers through the WHO’s Solidarity Response Fund. As of last week, the WHO has shipped two million pieces of critical personal protective equipment and supplies, including surgical masks, gloves, goggles, gowns, and face shields, to countries worldwide, and has aided developing countries in detecting and responding to the epidemic by supplying a million and a half diagnostic kits.

First and foremost, “One World: Together At Home” reminds you to be responsible and stay at home during these turbulent times. It rewards you for your civic duty by bringing you a star-studded, cross-platform entertainment extravaganza. Moreover, it gives artists who have had to cancel tours and other projects an arena in which to perform. And finally, it directly supports heroes in healthcare, and funds aid efforts all around the world. So, this weekend, stay at home and make a difference.

“One World: Together At Home“ will air at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 18 on multiple networks, including NBC, ABC, and CBS, and will be available worldwide through various streaming platforms.