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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Your support makes all the difference.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 is Carole King! She’s also addressing viewers in a video message, and performing the song “You’ve Got a Friend”, accompanying herself on the piano.
Jane The Virgin star Jaime Camil is here! Fans will recognise him as the great Rogelio de la Vega, Jane’s father.
Camil, a native of Mexico, mentions that he’s also a naturalised American citizen. He is ending his video appearance with a short address in Spanish.
Connie Britton is here! She thanks voters, telling them “it is because of you that we are here [celebrating]”.
Britton is remembering an address Biden gave back when he was vice president. “It is because of his commitment to hear every voice …that he is here now, when unity is going to be the most important,” she says, also saluting Harris. “It feels good to have our democracy and our nation back,” Britton adds.
And we’re onto Fall Out Boy with their extremely adrenaline-inducing song “Centuries”!
“Centuries”, by the way, was released in September 2014, back when Barack Obama was still president… and Joe Biden vice president.
“I’m so happy,” Cher tells Biden, adding: “This is your time, and thank you for being here. I’m so excited.”
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