Artists from every corner of New York came together Monday night (May 11) for Robin Hood and iHeartMedia’s Rise Up New York! virtual telethon.
The benefit event plans on donating 100 percent of the funds raised to the most vulnerable New Yorkers in need of food, shelter, financial assistance, physical and mental health services, legal services and educational support during the coronavirus pandemic. Tina Fey hosted the evening from 30 Rockefeller Plaza, but Billy Joel‘s face appeared on 13 billboards in Times Square as the Piano Man himself sang “Miami 2017” while lighting up the Empire State Building.
From his home, Bon Jovi delivered a melancholic acoustic rendition of his 2000 hit “It’s My Life” that still infused hope for those struggling during the pandemic, with its central message of living your life to the fullest. Mariah Carey kicked things up a notch with her uptempo medley of “Through the Rain” and “Make It Happen” about finding your footing and standing strong on your own, even though Carey’s socially distanced backup singers jazzed up the show.
But what’s the Big Apple without Broadway? The theater’s brightest stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andrew Rannells, Ben Platt, Chris Jackson, Cynthia Erivo, Idina Menzel and Karen Olivo took center stage from their homes and certainly had folks stirring in their seats at home when they belted out the beloved theme “New York, New York.”
So which New Yorker made their home state proud with their Rise Up New York! performance? Vote below!
