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
Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music
Get our Now Hear This email for free
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:
Good evening and welcome to our live blog of the We The People pre-inaugural concert! There are approximately 45 minutes left before the festivities begin. Here is everything you need to know about tonight’s event.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, some of the events of this Inauguration Week have to take place virtually. Tonight’s concert is no exception. The Presidential Inaugural Committee, which is hosting it, has described it as “a first-of-its-kind virtual inaugural concert that will support this historic moment in our country’s history”.
So who are tonight’s performers? The Biden inaugural committee has listed the following ones so far: AJR, Michael Bivins, Connie Britton, Sophia Bush, DJ Cassidy, Cher, Fall Out Boy, Ben Harper, Carole King, Kal Penn, James Taylor, and will.i.am.
Tonight’s concert will also feature remarks from President-elect Joe Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and her husband Doug Emhoff.
Attention, everyone: there are two concerts planned as part of Joe Biden’s inauguration. One of them is tonight’s pre-inaugural show, which doubles as a fundraiser. The other will consist in a 90-minute prime-time special titled Celebrating America on Inauguration Day, 20 January. It will be hosted by Tom Hanks and feature Ant Clemons, Jon Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters, John Legend, Eva Longoria, Demi Lovato, Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, and Kerry Washington.
And for a primer on all events planned for Inauguration Week, click here.
We wait for the concert to begin with some audio of Sia’s “The Greatest”.
We are still waiting and are now listening to “Ain't Nothing Wrong With That” by the Marcus King Band.
While we wait, why not take a look at the Biden-Harris inauguration playlist? Read all about it here.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies