On the night of April 18th, over 20 million people across the US tuned in to witness a TV special to spread awareness and hope for the COVID-19 pandemic. Created by Global Citizen, with the aid of Lady Gaga and the World Health Organization (WHO), and hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert, the event’s main focus was to promote social distancing while celebrating the heroes of the pandemic. 

A six-hour pre-show, aired across 30 networks with various hosts and artists performing from all over the world, was hosted by YouTube to precede the official start of the event at 8 pm. Of course, Lady Gaga herself kicked off the two-hour official show with the first performance, followed by countless famous artists all performing from the comfort of their own homes. 

The show featured artists one by one and incorporated intimate moments and segments from workers on the front lines in hospitals to the long lines for food banks among many other interviews with doctors and charity organizers. The director of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom, also gave a speech about the coronavirus and what the public should do to protect themselves.

The event was a huge success in garnering donations to support the WHO and food banks and housing providers. An astonishing total of $128 million dollars was raised thanks to corporate sponsors like The CocaCola Company, Target, Verizon, and Johnson & Johnson, as well as many private donors. The WHO’s Solidarity Response Fund will receive 55.1 million to aid in testing, treatment, and vaccine development, while 72.8 million will be given to a multitude of charities like food banks and other local and regional organizations . 

However, the show was not only about raising money to support coronavirus relief but also about spreading the facts and truth from the mouths of so many extremely influential celebrities. Beyoncé and Alicia Keys, for instance, both delivered beautiful messages about the effect of COVID-19 on the different populations like the African-American sector and the truth and reasoning behind it.

“Pre-existing health conditions and lack of access to information and affordable healthcare, and economic and societal circumstances, are some of the reasons why it’s most prevalent amongst communities of colour” said Keys, voicing an important message to the whole country to be more accepting and kind to all people and to continue to honor all essential workers. 

The show overall was eye-opening and inspiring, featuring not only popular artists but also many film stars and celebrities, including First Ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Ellen DeGeneres, David and Victoria Beckham, and Oprah Winfrey. Some of the performers included Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Céline Dion, John Legend, Elton John, Shawn Mendes, Taylor Swift, Charlie Puth, and Stevie Wonder.   Many artists gave their thoughts and well-wishes before performing.

Fittingly, the last act of the concert featured a collaboration between Andrea Bocelli, Céline Dion, John Legend, Lang Lang, and Lady Gaga of “The Prayer”, a tribute to the hard times we are enduring and the long road ahead. 

The show was a success in the US, receiving more viewers than the Golden Globes, Emmys, and Grammys this year. The event aired all over the world and brought everyone together for a bit of positivity and awareness, too, during these unprecedented times. 

Now more than ever, the whole world is enduring this pandemic, no matter if they are famous or not and the Together at Home concert was a great reminder that we are all in this together and need to unite for a common goal. 

If you missed out, click the link to watch the replay (TV special concert begins at 6 hour mark)!