As millions of people across the globe hunker down at home to help flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic, many forms of entertainment have been shut down, from movie theaters to Broadway plays to live music concerts. But just as Hollywood is turning to video on-demand to bring the latest titles to audiences practicing social distancing, several musicians are now using social media to bring a bit of joy to fans in these uncertain times.
Artists you'd ordinarily have to drop triple-figure sums to see in concert -- including John Legend, Chris Martin, Lizzo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more -- are all streaming live, intimate performances to keep fans grooving through these difficult times. Meanwhile, other A-listers are also gathering to put on broadcast concerts for the greater good as well. TV Guide has rounded up some of the most prominent performances you might have missed, along with details about what's ahead, below.
Prince and the Revolution's 'Live 1985'
An epic concert from the late, great Prince will stream on YouTube from Friday, May 14 through 11:59pm on Sunday, May 17 as part of an effort to support the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization. The show -- filmed in Syracuse, NY on March 30, 1985 toward the end of the "Purple Rain" tour -- will show the legendary performer doing hits including "Let's Go Crazy," "When Doves Cry," "I Would Die 4 U," and "Little Red Corvette," among others. Viewer donations will be matched at $2 for every $1 up to $5 million. The Prince Estate and YouTube will host a watch party on Thursday, May 14, at 8/7c here; the concert itself will stream here beginning Friday May 14 at 8 p.m. EST.
Internationally, it will be broadcast on Channel 5 in the U.K., Network 10 in Australia, and Telefe in Argentina. Lady Gaga is curating the event, and in addition to appearances from McCartney and Lizzo, it will also include appearances by Sir Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Keith Urban, Andrea Bocelli, John Legend, Idris and Sabrina Elba, David Beckham, Kacey Musgraves, Billie Eilish, Kerry Washington, Eddie Vedder, Alanis Morissette, Billie Joe Armstrong, Burna Boy, Chris Martin, FINNEAS, J Balvin, Lang Lang, Maluma, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Shah Rukh Khan.
Sir Paul McCartney
Jim Dyson/Getty Images
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
The country icons began taking requests from fans every Monday night via Facebook Live for his their "Live From Studio G" show to pitch in on the coronavirus social distancing effort, and now the two are also teaming for a primetime concert special called Garth & Trisha Live! The special will air on CBS on Wednesday, April 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
The concert will encourage support for Feeding America and First Responders Children's Foundation. Fox Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America will air commercial-free on Sunday, March 29 at 9/8c on Fox.
Little Dragon
Swedish electronica/R&B group Little Dragon -- which had tour dates postponed because of the virus -- announced that they'll do a live stream on YouTube Friday, March 27th at 8 p.m. Central European Time (3 p.m. Eastern) in support of their latest album.
"NEW ME, SAME US" is released today! This album is about change, the inner personal universe transforming and the cosmic.Embracing all of our emotions...sadness, joy, love and stillness!Please come celebrate with us on our @youtube Live Stream tonight at 8pm CET #stayhome#withmepic.twitter.com/KMep7MkXjq
The Late Late Show host will host a CBS special called Homefest: James Corden's Late Late Show Special, which will include at-home performances by BTS in South Korea, Andrea Bocelli in Italy, Dua Lipa in London, and Billie Eilish and John Legend in Los Angeles. Corden and the entertainers will use their time in the spotlight to encourage audiences to follow the CDC's recommendations for COVID-19 response and provide viewers with details about how to support the CDC Foundation and Feed the Children. Homefest: James Corden's Late Late Show Special will air on CBS on Monday, March 30 at 10/9c on CBS.
Jewel
Jewel brought the meditative, acoustic vibes via her "Live From San Quarantine: A Livestream" concert on Instagram and Facebook Live on March 21 and raised money for Inspiring Children.
D-Nice
Maybe you hadn't heard of deejay D-Nice before now, but the onetime rapper turned celebrity DJ (he's done everything from Hollywood premieres to the Obamas' farewell party at the White House) has definitely made his name known over the past days. In a series of marathon sessions (one was 10 hours) on Instagram Live, D'Nice's #ClubQuarantine brought some 100,000 people to hear him spinning old-school hip-hop, disco and R&B jams; A-listers including Michelle Obama, Oprah, Stevie Wonder, Ellen DeGeneres, Naomi Campbell, Mark Zuckerberg, Janet Jackson, Joe Biden, Bruno Mars and many more flocked to attend his parties.
The Cats composer has been self-isolating at his piano and engaging in a Twitter back-and-forth with Lin-Manuel Miranda, where the two are challenging each other to play numbers from Webber's catalogue.
The folk crooner joined the concert trend while "sheltering in place" in his home in San Francisco. He started the stream by saying he sees the concerts becoming a regular thing, as he expects we'll all be inside for months.
Katharine McPhee-Foster and David Foster
The Smash alum and her husband have started doing daily concerts at 5:30 p.m. PT on McPhee's Instagram. On Day 2, they were joined by special guests! You never know who is going to pop in.
The singer took up the #TogetherAtHome mantle from John Legend and posted his own concern on Wednesday, March 18. He tagged Niall Horan and Common for the next one.
Lin-Manuel Miranda dropped a never-before-heard song from Hamilton that ended up being cut from the final production.
Wish I could send you peace of mind via this app. Alas. But I can send you music no one's heard. Here's a cut Hamilton/Washington tune called I Have This Friend. No one's heard it, not even Kail. Funnier if you picture me and @ChrisisSingin singing it.https://t.co/lhkLP0jQeT
Yo-Yo Ma released the first of his #SongsOfComfort series on Twitter.
In these days of anxiety, I wanted to find a way to continue to share some of the music that gives me comfort. The first of my #SongsOfComfort: Dvořák - "Going Home" Stay safe. pic.twitter.com/S28w6OlXiZ
Tony-award winning singer and actress Laura Benanti told Twitter she'd be their audience when high school musicals all over the country had to shutter their productions. Just try not to cry at the incredible responses.
Dark times for all. Trying to find some bright spots. If you were meant to perform in your High School musical and it was cancelled please post yourself singing and tag me. I want to be your audience!! Sending all my love and black market toilet paper. 💛 pic.twitter.com/BVYR4t3dJE