Living Room Concert: Music Stars Hold Concert Fundraiser

Billie Eilish sang on her sofa, Elton John played a keyboard belonging to his children, and the Backstreet Boys sang in harmony from five locations as dozens of musicians put on a fundraiser for the warriors against a coronavirus.

Reuters reports those who performed from their homes for the “iHeart Living Room Concert for America” also included Mariah Carey, Camila Cabello, Alicia Keys, Shawn Mendes and Sam Smith.

Highlights:

• Mariah Carey, celebrating her 50th birthday, which was Friday, sang "Be My Baby," dedicating the song to her two children, "for staying with me at home, and not complaining too much." "I'm going to put my gloves on, even in my house," Carey said, ending the song.
• Billie Eilish sat on her living room couch in Los Angeles with her brother, Finneas, on the one-year anniversary of her Grammy-dominating album, "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" The duo performed an acoustic version of "Bad Guy."
• Demi Lovato appeared from her New York City home, playing the piano and singing a soulful version of "Skyscraper."
• A plaid-flannel-shirt-wearing David Grohl strummed an acoustic version of "My Hero" dedicated to first responders. "And if you sing that last chorus every time you wash your hands, I think you'll be in good shape," Grohl said.
• Camila Cabello, quarantined in Miami with Shawn Mendes, let her boyfriend play guitar ("He's taking over and just killing it") while she sang "My Oh My," peeking at her iPhone for the complicated lyrics.
• Tim McGraw performing "Something Like That" while sitting on the end of his home pool's diving board. Despite the wind in the background, and a cameo by his dog, McGraw was impressed. "We could do a whole concert like this," he said.
• Sam Smith, in his bedroom in London, sang an a capella version of "How Do You Sleep" 

The one-hour show, broadcast on Fox television without commercials, was the biggest joint effort in the pandemic to lift spirits, raise money for those in the frontlines, and remind Americans to wash their hands and keep their distance.

“There’s doctors, nurses and scientists on the frontlines. They’re living proof that most superheroes don’t wear capes,” said John, who hosted the show from his kitchen.

“We hope this bit of entertainment can feed and fuel your souls.”

All the performances and appearances by celebrities ranging from comedian Ellen DeGeneres to R&B artist Lizzo and country singer Tim McGraw were filmed on phones, home cameras or online platforms.



The songs were interspersed with short personal stories from nurses, doctors, truckers, grocery staff, and other essential workers as millions of Americans entered a third week subjected to orders to stay home.



The concert, also broadcast on iHM radio stations nationwide, urged listeners to donate to charities Feeding America, and First Responders Children’s Foundation.

The amount raised was not immediately known, but more than $1 million was donated in the first 10 minutes, courtesy of $500,000 from household goods giant Procter & Gamble and a matching sum from Fox Television.