Billy Joel, Sting, and Bon Jovi represented the rock community last night (May 11th) during the citywide virtual telethonRise Up New York!Hosted by Tina Fey, and featuring appearances by Robert DeNiro, Mariah Carey, and Jennifer Lopez, among others, the fundraiser raked in over $115 million dollars for Robin Hood -- New York's largest poverty-fighting organization, Robin Hood.
Bon Jovi -- with each of its members performing remotely -- turned its 2000 anthem "It's My Life" into a somber reflective ballad touching upon the sadness and heroics of our times.Sting reused his "Message In A Bottle" home studio performance that he also offered up for Britain's charitable cancer organization, Maggie's.
As expected, Billy Joel stole the show with a home performance of his 1976 classic "Miami 2017 ('Seen The Lights Go Down On Broadway)" -- with the Empire State Building pulsating in colors to the beat and the "Piano Man's" performance projected all over the jumbotrons in an all-but empty Times Square.
The telethon, hosted by Tina Fey from 30 Rockefeller Plaza, featured numerous famous faces with New York ties, from musicians to Broadway stars to chefs and beyond. Each offered messages of hope and urged viewers to donate to help the people of New York get back on their feet after the devastating impact of COVID-19.
The Empire State Building synced its lights to Billy Joel’s “Miami 2017” in a brand-new music-to-light show as the surprise finale to Robin Hood & iHeartRadio’s “Rise Up New York” virtual telethon, hosted by Tina Fey! The light show will air nightly synced to the song on Q104.3 at 9PM ET through Friday, May 15th.
Tina Fey got emotional when she announced $115 million was raised Monday night during a star-studded telethon. The fundraiser by Robin Hood, New York's largest poverty-fighting organization, was aimed to help people and non-profits most impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.