Lady Gaga launches superstar-studded One World concert with tearful performance of Smile
Lady Gaga kicked-off the cross-platform global concert seeking to raise funds for COVID-19 response efforts. (Screen capture via Periscope)
Lady Gaga launched the One World: Together at Home concert with a tearful rendition of Nat King Cole’s “Smile” on Saturday.
The singer – who helped curate the telethon – began by dedicating her performance to front-line medical workers ahead of the cross-platform global concert seeking to raise funds for COVID-19 response efforts.
But it’s no ordinary telethon, Gaga stressed, as she and hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Fallon urged viewers to put their wallets and PayPal logins away.
After all, Gaga and the Global Citizen team had already raised more than $50 million before the special even began airing.
VIDEO: Lady Gaga's full performance of "Smile" at #TogetherAtHome pic.twitter.com/rBgsCTR6Mv
— Gaga Now (@ladygaganownet) April 19, 2020
Lady Gaga leads star-studded special One World: Together at Home.
It really did not get any bigger than this.
The anti-poverty charity Global Citizen special in support of the World Health Organization and regional charities’ fight against COVID-19 streamed to countless laptops and phones across the US Saturday night.
It began with a six-hour-long pre-show before the two-hour digital live stream, seemingly making its scheduled run time almost as long as its name: One World: Together at Home Special to Celebrate COVID-19 Workers.
Gaga curated and led a constellation of stars that included: Elton John, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah, Paul McCartney, Kacey Musgraves, Lizzo and dozens more.
“It is so important to think globally and support the World Health Organization to curb the pandemic and prevent future outbreaks,” Gaga said at a news conference Monday.
“We want to highlight the gravity of this historical, unprecedented and cultural movement.”
