Shawn Mendes represented Canada on Sunday night’s iHeart Living Room Concert for America, which was hosted by Elton John to raise funds for COVID-19 relief.
Mendes didn’t sing but played guitar as Camila Cabello performed “My Oh My” late last week inside her Miami home. (She read DaBaby’s rap from the original version of the song from her phone.)
“Essential workers who are showing up to work everyday, people who have children and grandparents, loved ones with compromised health – people they are worried about too, and yet they still show up to work every day,” Cabello shared on Instagram on Sunday.
“To all the people on the front lines, from all the first responders, to doctors and nurses saving people’s lives in the hospital and at the same time risking their own lives to do so, to police and Social workers and food delivery and grocery store employees, THANK YOU for your bravery we are all eternally grateful for you.”
This was the sentiment shared by all the stars who contributed a clip to the iHeart Living Room Concert for America – including Lady Gaga, Ryan Seacrest and Ellen DeGeneres. "We can't let the fear spread faster than the virus," said Lizzo. "We have to let love spread."
Dave Grohl dedicated his performance of “My Hero” to “all the people out there on the frontlines that are going their best to get us through all of this.”
The show also featured at-home performances of stripped-down songs by Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong (“Boulevard of Broken Dreams”), Billie Eilish and brother Finneas (“Bad Guy”), Sam Smith (“How Do You Sleep”), H.E.R. (“Keep Holding On”), Demi Lovato (“Skyscraper”) and Alicia Keys “Underdog.”
The Backstreet Boys edited together a performance of “I Want It That Way” with each member at home and country star Tim McGraw was remotely backed by members of his band as he sang “Something Like That” while sitting on the end of a diving board with daughter Maggie behind the camera.
The hour-long special was headlined by Mariah Carey performing “Always Be My Baby” – complete with back-up singers and an off-camera fan aimed at her hair.
Viewers of the iHeartRadio Living Room Concert for America in Canada were able to donate to the Canadian Red Cross while those south of the border were encouraged to give to Feeding America and First Responders Children's Foundation.
The special had a couple of WTF moments. During his chat with Lizzo, John said he believes COVID-19 is a message from the universe and suggested that with so many humans staying home, nature is getting a chance to restake its place. "I spoke to someone in Canada last night," he said. "They said it's like a jungle because the plants are out there, there's more sea lions."
John also introduced Smith as singing in "his" bedroom (Smith adopted gender-neutral pronouns last year).
The 73-year-old, who would have performed Sunday night in Toronto if COVID-19 had not forced him to postpone tour dates, closed the broadcast by playing keyboard and singing a bit of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me.” As the credits rolled, he promised: “When this is all over and done with, I’ll be out there playing for you again."