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
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. 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:
The sign language interpreters who have transcribed tonight’s event in full are getting well deserved praise on social media:
Debra Messing reminds viewers that “this is just the beginning” of the Inauguration Week schedule. You can find a day-by-day list of events here.
And you can re-live Connie Britton’s moving address from tonight’s event right here.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments