Biden concert - as it happened: Cher tells Joe Biden ‘this is your time’ as virtual show kicks off Inauguration Week
‘We The People’ concert is one in a series of events planned for Inauguration Week
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Cher gave a rousing address during Joe Biden’s pre-inaugural concert on Sunday night – one in a series of events planned in the lead-up to Inauguration Day.
The singer was one of the most high-profile guests featured during the remote show. The We The People pre-inauguration concert began shortly after 8pm ET and lasted a bit more than an hour, with guests such as Fall Out Boy, Carole King, will.i.am, Sophia Bush, Michael Bivins, and Jaime Camil giving performances and speeches via video link.
Keegan-Michael Key and Debra Messing teamed up as co-hosts for the event. Sunday night’s concert served as a fundraiser, meaning viewers were able to obtain a link to watch it in exchange for a donation.
“I’m so happy. I can’t tell you how happy I am,” Cher said in the opening of her video message, addressing Biden. She called him “the right man, for the right job, at the right time”.
“I’m so thrilled,” she added. “I know you’re going to take the country in an amazing direction, and I know that you love everybody, because that’s who you are.”
Cher said she feels “hopeful” for the future, telling Biden: “I know you’re tough. Everyone else knows you’re compassionate, but I know you’re tough. And I know that you’re the man. You’re the man.”
The artist also celebrated Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. She ended by telling Biden: “This is your time. Thank you for being here. I’m so excited.”
Her message was followed by a video performance of the song “I Hope You Find It”. The tune was originally released by Miley Cyrus in 2010, and covered by Cher in 2013.
Sunday’s concert also included a moving address by Connie Britton, as well as messages from Joe Biden, Dr Jill Biden, Kamala Harris, and her husband Doug Emhoff.
Follow the pre-inaugural concert as it happened with our live blog below:
Next up are American pop trio BJR, with their song “Bummerland”.
Barbra Streisand is here with a special message. She offers her congratulations to the president-elect and the vice-president elect, and adds: “We need to restore the health of our nation, as well as the health of our planet.”
Streisand wants to end with a song she has sung for three presidents before Biden: “Happy Days Are Here Again”.
Debra Messing, who is co-hosting the concert, is thrilled by Streisand’s appearance and is holding up a photo of herself with the artist.
The next guest is Kal Penn, an actor and former member of the Barack Obama administration. He is also reflecting on the theme of unity.
“We can’t give up the fight, and we deserve to celebrate when we win and work hard,” says Penn.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff are speaking via video message.
Harris thanks grassroots supporters. She lists the coronavirus pandemic, the economic recession, and systemic racism as challenges currently faced by the US.
Will.i.am is joining us. “The people have spoken and the democratic process worked,” he says.
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