Stars Come Together to Raise Funds for Oklahoma Tornado Relief
Published at
Trae Patton/NBC via Getty Images(OKLAHOMA CITY) — Blake Shelton assembled some of the music world’s hottest stars for the Healing in the Heartland benefit concert in Oklahoma City Wednesday night. The sold-out show raised funds for the victims of the tornadoes that ripped through nearby Moore, Okla. on May 20. The concert was broadcast on NBC as well as on Style, G4, Bravo, E! and CMT.
After a montage of footage showing the devastation from the storm, Blake opened the show performing his recent country hit, “God Gave Me You.” Blake’s fellow coach on The Voice, Usher, later joined him to close out the night singing Blake’s cover of the Michael Bublé hit “Home.” During the musical break in the song, Blake asked the crowd, “Is there anybody in the world cooler than Usher?”
Blake’s wife, Miranda Lambert, grew so emotional during her performance of “The House That Built Me,” she had to let the audience sing it for her at one point. Photographs of animals left in need in the wake of the storm were displayed on a screen behind Miranda.
OneRepublic front man and Tulsa, Okla. native Ryan Tedder was on hand to sing the band’s new single, “Counting Stars.” Darius Rucker sang the title cut of his new release, True Believers, which just bowed at the top of Billboard’s Country Albums chart.
Rascal Flatts’ bass player Joe Don Rooney’s hometown of Picher, Okla. was destroyed in a tornado a few years back, so the group’s performance of “I Won’t Let Go” took on added meaning. Luke Bryan delivered his latest single, “Crash My Party,” for the sold-out crowd too.
A few more Oklahomans rounded out the performance slots, including Reba, who took the stage to sing her 2007 song about volunteerism, “Everyday People.” Norman, Okla. native Vince Gill dedicated his solo acoustic performance of “Threaten Me with Heaven” to the people who didn’t make it through the tornado.
Though they couldn’t be there in person, music stars Carrie Underwood, Alicia Keys, Toby Keith, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and talk show hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jay Leno made pre-taped appearances for the cause. The special also included personal stories of those who lost loved ones in the storm.
Money raised from the special will go to the United Way’s tornado relief efforts in the affected areas. You can still donate to the cause at Facebook.com/UnitedWay.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio