Since the coronavirus outbreak, cities around the country have urged self-isolation in order to help flatten the curve and reduce transmission, resulting in school shutdowns, layoffs, and a plummeting stock market. Now, celebrities are stepping up to help.
In the entertainment industry, musicians have postponed and canceled tours, while events such as awards shows and festivals have also been put on hold. Movie and television sets have also shut down production while Americans hunker down.
With the situation and economy looking more dire with each passing day, celebrities are offering what help they can. Some musicians are sharing their talents, providing livestreams of performances to keep fans entertained. Others are donating not only their time, but rather their tremendous resources, to provide aid to the less fortunate in their communities and around the world.
Here’s a look at the stars who are giving back during the crisis.
The Weeknd
The artist donated $1,000,000 to COVID-19 relief efforts on June 29, with $500,000 of that going to MusiCares, and the other half to front-line healthcare workers of the Scarborough Health Network.
FKA Twigs
The artist has launched a fundraiser for sex workers in the U.K. whose incomes have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The GoFundMe initiative will benefit SWARM Collective, Lysistrata, and the East London Strippers Collective.
The Lumineers
The band raised more than $600,000 for the Colorado Restaurant Association and MusiCares via their “Colorado Gives Back” livestream concert on May 8. “Proud to call Colorado my home for the last 10 years, and so grateful to every person who tuned in and donated,” Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers said in a statement. Though the event is over, the show is still available to watch, and donations are still being accepted.
Halsey
Following the death of George Floyd, Halsey took to Twitter on Wednesday (May 27) to share how important it is for celebrities with big platforms to speak out against injustice and donate to organizations.
“man f— every single person with a platform who is choosing to be silent. idc,” she wrote. “fuck all of them. you have a platform. you have seen that a man was murdered. you don’t care.”
Nine Inch Nails
Frontman Trent Reznor announced on May 19 that the band’s previously unannounced 2020 concert was scrapped due to COVID-19. But since NIN already had merchandise ready for the tour, all proceeds would benefit the food banks of the cities the band had booked shows in.
Post Malone
The rapper’s Shaboink brand has teamed up with Direct Relief to donate 40,000 N95 masks to help keep front-line workers safe during the pandemic.
Watsky
The rapper and poet has raised more than $106,000 thus far for Sweet Relief’s COVID-19 Fund, which is providing financial assistance for musicians and industry workers impacted by the pandemic. Watsky is raising money by performing non-stop, and at press time, is nearing the 25-hour mark, which would earn him the new Guiness World Record for longest continuous rap. His goal is to rap for 33 hours and 33 minutes. Watch him live on Twitch, Facebook or YouTube.
Metallica
Drummer Lars Ulrich announced in an Instagram video that instead of just Giving Tuesday, the band has decided to do #MonthOfGiving for the entirety of May in order to raise funds for COVID-19 relief organizations. Each Tuesday, the band’s All Within My Hands Foundation will highlight a charity that they are supporting and will share how fans can also contribute. Metallica will also be donating proceeds from various merch items to the charities.
Duff McKagan
The Guns N’ Roses bassist and his wife, Susan, donated 1,000 Chrome Hearts masks to UW Medicine’s staff who work in the childcare center to help ensure that they can remain safe while traveling between work and home. “We were elated that we were part of this pilot program for the childcare center,” the rocker told Seattle’s Q13 News. “You think of all the tendrils of people that need masks — not just at the hospital — but they gotta go to the grocery store, they have people take care of their kids.” The pair plan to continue to donate masks.
Steven Curtis Chapman
The five-time Grammy winner gathered friends Brad Paisley, Lauren Alaina and Tasha Cobbs Leonard for “Together (We’ll Get Through This),” a song about getting through tough times, including the pandemic. “We all hope will fan the flame of a message that seems to be desperately needed now more than ever in our world,” Chapman said in a statement. “We are in this together, we really do need each other and together we will get through this.” Proceeds benefit Opry Trust Fund and Gospel Music Assn. to help those impacted by COVID-19.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande shared her roundup of organizations that she has been supporting during this time period, including The Bail Project, Fund for Families, The Mental Health Fund and more.
Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus announced that, in partnership with Genies, he will be donating 20,000 masks to Native Communities to use for their protection against the COVID-19 virus. The announcement came during the Native Americans & Coronavirus Virtual Town Hall.
Scotty McCreery, Eli Young Band, Maddie & Tae
The country artists are among those supporting Cracker Barrel Old County Store’s “There’s Comfort in Giving,” a program to donate meals to healthcare professionals. “Being married to a nurse, I know firsthand how incredibly hard our amazing healthcare professionals work every day, whether it’s an average week or a long-term pandemic,” said McCreery, who donated to Duke University’s pediatric bone marrow transplant unit. “These doctors, nurses, pharmacists, technicians, researchers, specialists and medical staffs are our heroes that always rise to the challenges put in front of them.
Shakira
Shakira donated ventilators as well as thousands of N95 masks for health care workers in Barranquilla, Colombia, and her hometown mayor took to social media to thank their native pop star. “One of the most beloved Barranquilleras in the world is @shakira, and she is also one of the people who most love Barranquilla,” Jaime Pumarejo wrote in the post below, translated to English. “Huge thank you for your contribution of thousands of N95 masks for our health care workers, and ventilators that will save lives.”
Eminem
The rapper is helping out in several ways. He announced in an April 29 tweet that he is donating an “extra pair” of his rare Eminem X Carhartt Air Jordans to benefit the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. A ticket for a chance to win the shoes will cost you $10, and can be purchased here. According to the Detroit Free Press, there are only 10 pairs of these sneakers in existence, and they’re worth about $20,000 each.
Earlier in April, the artist donated cups of his “Mom’s Spaghetti” to Detroit-area healthcare workers. He plans to continue to do so for the next few weeks, his camp told Billboard.
Corey Taylor
Slipknot’s Corey Taylor launched a special guitar auction with eBay to benefit Direct Relief in support of their COVID-19 response efforts. The auction features 13 handpicked guitars from Corey’s personal collection, with all proceeds going to the charitable organization. eBay will match dollar for dollar, up to $1 million through May 31, when you support Direct Relief. See the auction here.
Machine Gun Kelly
MGK bought lunch for diners at 12 Cleveland area restaurants on May 1 and donated 40,000 meals to Greater Cleveland Food Bank.
Adam Lambert
The performer’s Feel Something Foundation is auctioning off 15 of his stage outfits on eBay to benefit GLAAD, which is providing aid to the LGBTQ community during the coronavirus pandemic. The items include a Dolce & Gabbana suit, a leather studded jacket and more. “The funds raised through this eBay auction will be instrumental in helping the LGBTQ community during these unprecedented times,” the singer said in a statement. The eBay auction runs through May 6.
Madonna
The Material Girl teamed up with REFORM Alliance to donate 100,000 masks to jails and prisons in the hopes of curbing the spread of the coronavirus behind bars. Earlier in the month, REFORM also donated 100,000 masks to those at Rikers Island in NYC.
Future
The rapper’s FreeWishes Foundation has provided more than 100,000 masks to healthcare workers and hospital patients battling COVID-19. “It is important to my brother Future and I that we are of service to our community, especially during this pandemic and throughout the year. This is why our family created the foundation,” said Tia-Wilburn Anderson, who co-founded FreeWishes with the artist.
Third Eye Blind
The band released new EP So Alone, So Alive to benefit Crew Nation, a fund that is helping live music crews during the coronavirus pandemic. The new record and its video was filmed from various locations while in quarantine, and can be watched on YouTube.
2 Chainz
The rapper delayed his Escobar Restaurant launch and “decided to feed the homeless” instead.
Dave Navarro
The rocker will be donating proceeds from the sale of limited edition, signed prints of his More Government Care? series to help with efforts in the coronavirus pandemic. Proceeds will benefit The Sidewalk Project, which is currently providing food; education; and kits for hygiene and sanitation for the homeless. “Today, our immigrant population is facing an even more perilous crisis as COVID-19 has ravaged our world,” Navarro said in a statement. “Reports have suggested that our Latino communities are at higher risk and many cases go unreported due to the lack of available health care and the fear of deportation. Our undocumented are now afraid to seek help and testing, resulting in more deaths and the spreading of the virus within their communities.”
Birdman
The rapper and record exec announced in an April 20 Instagram post that he’d be helping out by paying the rent of some New Orleans residents. “I would like 2 offer to pay everybody rent for month of May (for those who in need) in residents area of UPTOWN New Orleans where I was born and raised at from mac melph calio and ST Thomas housing also from 3rd ward to 17th ward,” he wrote.
UB40
The beloved British reggae pop group released a cover of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” to help raise funds for the NHS’ Charities Together Urgent COVID-19 campaign. Listen to the track here.
My Chemical Romance
The reunited band, whose get-back tour has been put on hold due to the coronavirus, are giving back by selling a “My Chemical Romance Desert Screening Device” face mask for $14.99 to raise funds for the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.
Willie Nelson
The musician’s virtual Farm Aid concert on April 11 raised more than $500,000 for family farmers and ranchers who have been impacted during the pandemic. “The coronavirus has disrupted our entire country and is a grave threat to all of us. One of its many impacts is that it has helped us to better see the value of essential people like healthcare workers, grocery store clerks, delivery truck drivers, and farmers and ranchers,” Nelson said in a statement.
Ice Cube
The “Check Yo Self” rapper turned his famous lyrics from 1993 “Check Yo Self Before You Wreck Yo Self” into a custom T-shirt slogan that reminds people to do their part in protecting one another from COVID-19. Proceeds from T-shirt sales will benefit underfinanced hospitals and nurses in America’s inner cities and rural areas, including Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital & ER in his Los Angeles hometown. “As a global community, we all need to come together to fight against this coronavirus. Every citizen needs to step up,” said Ice Cube in a press statement. “Hopefully people can buy the shirts, and help us get supplies directly into the hands of the frontline healthcare workers that need it the most. We all need to do our part in helping the essential workers. We hope the funds from this program can help.”
Cardi B
The mastermind behind the “Coronavirus” rant remix teamed up with global fashion company Fashion Nova not for another collection, but for a campaign that vows to give away $1,000 every hour to those financially suffering during the pandemic until they’ve donated a total of $1 million. “Tell us how the $1,000 can help you during these times. We’ll be reading your submissions and selecting stories everyday so enter now by visiting www.FashionNova.com/Cares Also PLEASE make sure that your Instagram is public, because I will also personally be looking thru these submitted pages,” Cardi B wrote on Instagram on April 8.
Halsey
The “Without Me” hitmaker donated 100,000 FDA-certified three-ply face masks to four different Southern California-based hospitals: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Providence Saint Joseph, LAC+USC Medical Center and Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital. “Every single day I am in awe of the medical workers on the frontlines,” Halsey wrote on Instagram April 8. “If you are on the frontlines, my heart is with you. And I will be continuing the fight to help you get the support and resources you need.”
Jay-Z and Meek Mill
The rappers’ REFORM Alliance, an organization for justice reform, shared on April 3 and 4 that it is donating more than 130,000 surgical masks to frontline workers helping at correctional facilities, as well as correctional officers and inmates. “COVID-19 spreads most quickly in crowded and closed environments, and our jails and prisons are at high risk for an outbreak,” the group wrote on its website. “his is a huge threat to public health.
Megan Thee Stallion
The Hot Girl rapper helped her hometown by donating to Houston’s HMG Healthcare Foundation. Amazon Music is also matching Megan’s financial generosity and donating Fire 7 tablets to the residents of Park Manor Skilled Nursing Facility to help them stay connected with their family members during this time.
“Supporting the Park Manor Skilled Nursing Facility, in my hometown of Houston, is very important to me,” the rapper said in a statement. “I’d like to thank Amazon Music for their additional donation and joining me in providing much needed technology equipment and supplies for the residents. At this time where it is so important to stay inside and not put people at risk we are hoping to provide a way for them to see their families, when they cannot visit, and get the staff and residents what they need to stay safe and healthy. “
See her announcement here.
Young Thug
300 Entertainment is teaming up with Young Thug and Young Stoner Life Records to give $5,000 to a fan who redesigns the cover art for Thugger’s Barter 6 mixtape. The winner of Young Thug’s contest will be chosen by Young Thug himself and have their artwork displayed on his socials, and 300’s socials along with a $5,000 reward. Submission are due by April 30 and can be submitted via social media using the following hashtags for entry: #Barter6ArtChallenge, #Barter6, #300Creates, #MusicHeals, #Contest. Submissions can also be sent in via email to [email protected].
Elton John
The Elton John Foundation has been working to eradicate AIDS since 1992, and now it has established a COVID-19 emergency fund to further help communities that could be catastrophically impacted by this global pandemic.
“For almost 30 years, my foundation has prioritized the most vulnerable people to HIV to end the AIDS epidemic, and we’re committed to this during the COVID-19 crisis, too,” he said in a video message he shared on April 4. “Distributing medicines, testing and preventative treatment is not as simple as it was a few weeks ago, so our new COVID-19 emergency fund will help frontline partners to prepare for, and respond to, the pandemic and its affects on HIV prevention and care for the most marginalized communities.”
Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson
The couple brought 120 tacos to a local hospital as a delicious thank you for the healthcare workers treating patients in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic. “So grateful for these true legends of our time dedicating their lives to battling this pandemic,” Simpson wrote on Instagram following their taco delivery. “Show some love to yours in your community!”
Lady Gaga
The star took to Twitter on April 2 to announce that she donated to America’s Food Fund, “a new initiative directly supporting @FeedingAmerica & @WCKitchen to feed those in need & impacted by #COVID19.”
John Mayer
The singer-songwriter made a donation to the Livingston HealthCare Foundation, the hospital’s fundraising sector, so they can purchase ventilators, according to Livingston Enterprise. Mayer reportedly reached out to the hospital to ask about the organization’s needs.
Fall Out Boy
On April 3, FOB announced a $100,000 donation to the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund.
Dolly Parton
The country legend announced on April 1 that she’s donating $1 million to the Vanderbilt University. “My longtime friend Dr. Naji Abumrad, who’s been involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements towards research of the coronavirus for a cure,” Parton explained on Twitter, noting that her donation would be going toward that research.
Billy Joel
The Piano Man and wife Alexis announced on March 31 that their foundation, The Joel Foundation, would be making several donations to help fight the coronavirus pandemic. The first contribution was $500,000 to help buy personal protective equipment for healthcare workers. “So many of these heroic healthcare workers are risking their own lives,” the two said in a statement on the musician’s website. “We cannot begin to express our gratitude for them and our concern for their well-being.”
Jay-Z and Rihanna
The music superstars’ respective foundations — The Shawn Carter Foundation and The Clara Lionel Foundation — announced on March 31 that they are each donating $1 million to the coronavirus relief efforts. According to the press release, the money will “support undocumented workers, the children of frontline health workers and first responders, and incarcerated, elderly and homeless populations in New York City and Los Angeles.”
Selena Gomez
The “Lose You to Love Me” singer shared her appreciation for healthcare workers on the front lines by making a donation to Cedars Sinai. “I’m donating to @CedarsSinai as they are low on masks and ventilators,” she announced in a March 30 tweet. “They’ve taken such good care of me so it’s my turn to show my gratitude.”
Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes and The Shawn Mendes Foundation donated $175,000 to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) to provide the Toronto-based facility with emergency medical resources to combat coronavirus and efficient care to patients, families, staff and the overall community. “For the next month, all donations to The Shawn Mendes Foundation will go towards SickKids Hospital & relief efforts around the world by the @WHO,” read Mendes’ Instagram post.
G-Eazy
The rapper and his Endless Summer Fund are teaming up with Larkin Street Youth Services to provide meals to local at-risk youth in San Francisco, every day for an entire month.
James Taylor
James Taylor and his wife Kim donated $1 million to Massachusetts General Hospital. “There is no question that it’s a point of pride for New Englanders to claim the MGH as their hospital – our hospital – and this is especially true today with the threat coming from a new and insidious virus,” he said in a statement. “Kim and I want to be part of this fight. We have been so inspired by the courage and sacrifice of the health care heroes in the trenches who are working so hard to protect us all.”
The gift will support the MGH President’s Emergency Response Fund, which was established after the Boston Marathon bombing. For the COVID-19 outbreak, these funds are supporting development of in-house testing, establishing a coronavirus hotline for patients, allowing spaces in the hospital to be quickly transformed to accommodate COVID patients, expanding telemedicine capabilities and purchasing personal protective equipment.
Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin has launched a new campaign to help health care workers save lives across the globe through the nonprofit organization Project Hope. “In a situation like this, I need to do stuff,” Martin said via Instagram video, adding, “As you know, health care professionals are extremely vulnerable and professionals around the world don’t have personal protection equipment they need to prevent them getting infected.”
Kip Moore
Kip Moore recently offered up $5,000 to an East Nashville restaurant to help those in need. He later teamed up with Nashville organizations to help provide over 3,000 meals to kids in the area that rely on free school meals. “It’s a rough time for a lot of people out there, and definitely rough for the families who were already struggling before we started raiding grocery stores. I only post this in hopes that others in the position to help, will do so,” he wrote.
Rihanna
Her nonprofit organization, the Clara Lionel Foundation, donated $5 million to various organizations supporting underserved communities from the U.S. to Malawi. Through their contributions to Direct Relief, Partners In Health, Feeding America, the International Rescue Committee, World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and more, CLF’s donation will support underserved communities in the face of the global pandemic as well as the healthcare professionals working tirelessly to keep them safe.
Kid Rock
Kid Rock and the Godfather of Nashville’s Lower Broadway honky tonks Steve Smith announced that they will match all “Tips” made through the live performances starting at noon CST on Wednesday, April 15 being streamed on the Facebook pages of Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk, Honky Tonk Central, Rippy’s Honky Tonk, as well as the Facebook page and website of Honky Tonk School for 72 hours.
Mustard
The producer made a significant donation to the LA Mayor’s Fund, which will directly help families pay rent, provide child care services for health care providers, and help feed local senior citizens in this time of need.
Better Than Ezra
Frontman Kevin Griffin livestreamed a performance on Facebook March 19 to raise money for MusiCares. His acoustic set, which lasted a little more than an hour, has so far raised more than $41,000 for the non-profit, which helps musicians in need. The performance is still available for viewing and is accepting donations on Facebook.
Dirty Projectors
Dirty Projectors’ Dave Longstreth shared a cover of John Lennon’s “Isolation,” with all proceeds through April 3 going toward MusiCares’ COVID-19 relief fund for musicians and music industry workers whose work has been disrupted by the crisis.
Ciara and Russell Wilson
The singer and her husband, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, are donating a million meals to the Food Lifeline, which provides nutritious meals to the food insecure in Western Washington. “We want to encourage everyone out there to join us in whatever way you can, big or small,” she said in a video shared on Twitter Tuesday (March 17). “Everything makes a difference.”
Brad Paisley
The country star announced on March 17 that his Nashville grocery store — The Store, which provides free groceries to the needy — would be making deliveries to seniors.
Dierks Bentley
Bentley, who owns gastropub Whiskey Row, gave his 90 hourly employees $1,000 to help get them through this difficult time for the service industry, and urged fellow bar owners in Nashville to help. “I encourage all bar owners on Lower Broadway to take care of bartenders, bar backs, waitresses, security, dishwashers, etc the best they can,” he wrote March 16 on Instagram. “Let’s make sure we help the folks that help make the music happen.
Lady Gaga
The “Stupid Love” singer’s makeup brand, Haus Laboratories, announced March 16 that it would be donating to the L.A. Regional Food Bank and Food Bank for New York City. “We believe this is a time to choose compassion over fear,” the brand noted on Twitter.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds
The couple announced that they are donating $1 million, which will be split between Food Banks Canada and Feeding America. “I think we can all agree, Covid-19 is an a–hole,” the actor said on Instagram March 16.
Justin Timberlake
The singer-actor announced on March 15 that he made a donation to the Mid-South Food Bank in his hometown of Memphis. “This is a crazy time, but remember we’ll all in it together. Start small and support your local communities by getting food out to those in need,” he reminded followers. “Every. little. thing. helps.”
Jose Andres
The celebrated chef, who has made numerous headlines over the years with his efforts to feed those impacted by disasters, announced on March 15 that he was transforming some of his restaurants into community kitchens offering to-go lunches for the hungry. “These Community Kitchens will be part of @WCKitchen efforts across the country in the coming days & weeks,” he tweeted. “Not for enjoyment….but a service for people in need of a plate of food during this emergency.”
Rudy Gobert
The Utah Jazz player, who was the first NBA athlete to test positive for the coronavirus, announced on March 14 that he is donating $500,000 to those impacted by the suspension of the basketball season, including $200,000 for part-time employees at Salt Lake City’s Vivint Home Arena.
Vanessa Hudgens
The High School Musical star shared a screengrab of her donation receipt to Feeding America on March 13. “It’s a crazy time out there in the world,” she shared in her Instagram post. “Join me in supporting @feedingamerica today. Let’s help each other out rather than freaking the f–k out.”
Donatella Versace
The fashion designer and her daughter Allegra donated about $216,000 to the intensive care unit of the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan. “In times like this, it is important to be united and support however we can to help all those who are in the front lines, fighting every day to save hundreds of lives,” they shared in a statement on Instagram posted March 13.
Lil Nas X
The “Old Town Road” rapper offered to help fans with their bills during the outbreak. “hey guys drop ur cashapp,” he instructed via Twitter on March 12. “gonna send some of u some money to go get some food then stay inside.”
Megan Thee Stallion
Like Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion also wanted to support her fans. “Since y’all have been going so hard supporting me I wanna support y’all and bless them pockets real quick !!!” she tweeted March 12. “Drop y’all’s cash app names.”
Suga
The BTS member reportedly donated about $83,000 to Hope Bridge, a disaster-relief organization based in Suga’s hometown of Daegu, South Korea.
Justin Bieber
Bieber took early action. “Watching the news I couldn’t imagine how scary it would be if a new disease was effecting my wife and my family and friends,” he wrote on Instagram on Feb. 13. “China we stand with you as a collective humanity and have made a donation to support.”
Lecrae
Lecrae has partnered with Love Beyond Walls to plant portable hand washing stations around the Atlanta Metro Area for homeless and displaced people. The initiative kicks off on Thursday March 19 at 10 a.m. at Love Beyond Wall’s Center. Lecrae will help assemble the sinks, after which they will be filled with water, loaded on trucks, and distributed to key locations frequented by the homeless in the Atlanta Metro Area.
The National
The National set up a fundraiser to benefit their 12 live crew members who are currently out of work after the rock band canceled multiple international tour stops due to coronavirus. Profits from The National’s merch sales, enrollment fees into their Cherry Tree fan club and Cherry Tree exclusive merch sales will be donated to them. “Our crew are the lifeblood of our touring operation and have become family through the many years we’ve worked together,” The National tweeted with photo collages featuring each member.
Florida Georgia Line
Country duo Florida Georgia Line (Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley) have announced they’ll be offering financial assistance to employees of FGL House, their restaurant in Nashville that recently closed due to coronavirus concerns.
MILCK
Singer-songwriter MILCK (born Connie K. Lim) has raised nearly $3,000 for Feeding America so far via a weekly livestream concert + conversation series. You can tune in Mondays at 10:00 p.m. EST to watch the webcast, and/or donate at this link.
