Blake Shelton recruited music giants Miranda Lambert and Reba to help heal the heartland during his concert for the Moore Tornado victims. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images)
By: Jacob Elyachar
Last week, a tornado touched down in Moore, Oklahoma.
This devastating tornado destroyed a town and took 24 people away from their families and friends.
Country star and Voice coach Blake Shelton gathered a group of some of his closest friends in the music industry and Oklahoma natives to perform a tribute concert dedicated to the victims of the Moore Tornado.
Shelton kicked off the night with his moving hit “God Gave Me You.” Before he introduced the next act, the country star and emcee gave the audience all the information they needed to do to help out with the recovery efforts.
Up next, Darius Rucker sang “True Believers” that got the audience on their feet. In addition to all of the performances, several celebrities including Carrie Underwood, Jimmy Fallon, Alicia Keys, Toby Keith, Jimmie Johnson, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood delivered PSAs encouraging viewers to give back to the Moore community.
Oklahoma’s honorary favorite sons, Rascal Flatts, delivered a haunting cover of their Nothing Like This hit, “I Won’t Let Go.” Throughout the number, all of the concertgoers in the Chesapeake Energy Area sang along and used their cell phones as lighters.
Blake’s wife, Miranda Lambert, took the stage to critical acclaim to perform her signature ballad: “The House That Built Me.” While she was singing, pictures flashed on the screen showing the animals who suffered during the tragedy. Halfway into the song, Lambert broke down and tried to fight back tears. She mouthed the words: “Sorry” at the end of the song.
Tulsa native Ryan Tedder was the next artist to perform and sang One Republic’s “Counting Stars.” He got the Chesapeake Energy Arena audience to participate by leading audience members to perform an impromptu clapping percussion session.
Reba performed a solo version of her 2007 collaboration with Carole King: “Everyday People.” Besides the absence of King’s vocals, she substituted “the Gulf” with Oklahoma in one of the verses. After her song, Reba paid tribute to the first responders, who were in the audience before exiting the stage.
Country legend Vince Gill took the stage to perform a melancholy cover of “Threaten Me With Heaven.” Gill dedicated the song to the “24 people that did not make it.”
The ladies in the audience screamed when Luke Bryan appeared to perform “Crash My Party.” Throughout the performance, Bryan interacted the audience members as he high-fived them and stated that Moore was in his “thoughts and prayers.”
Blake returned to the stage to close out the night as he performed “Home” with fellow Voice coach Usher. They had great vocal chemistry and the Oklahoma native asked the audience: “Is there anyone cooler than Usher?” The audience roared in approval.
You can help out the United Way’s relief efforts by donating by calling 1-800-890-4999, text “REBUILD” to 52000 or head to the United Way’s Facebook page.
