Stevie Wonder Performs Stirring Bill Withers Tribute During ‘One World’ Concert

Stevie Wonder turned in a soul-stirring efficiency Saturday to his late pal Invoice Withers, who died on April 3, throughout the “One World: Together at Home” COVID-19 profit live performance.

Because the televised portion of the live performance received underway, Stevie Wonder was launched by CBS Late Present host Stephen Colbert.

The Grammy-winning singer and songwriter opened by saying, “Throughout hardships like this, we’ve got to lean on one another. My pal, the late Invoice Withers, has the proper music about that and I need us to recollect him tonight.”

Stevie Wonder then performed the piano and sang Withers’ 1972 basic “Lean on Me,” earlier than launching into his personal hit “Love’s In Want Of Love In the present day” from his 1976 album Songs within the Key of Life.

Wonders’ efficiency was notable in that he not too long ago had severe well being issues. Final summer time, he introduced throughout a live performance that he would endure a kidney transplant on the finish of the 12 months.

“I’m going to have surgical procedure. I’m going to have a kidney transplant in September of this 12 months,” he mentioned on the time.

Stevie Wonder’s reps didn’t instantly reply to Deadline’s request for remark, nonetheless, he appeared in effective type throughout tonight’s efficiency.

The singer joined a protracted listing of music artists who participated all through the day within the huge “Together at Home” live performance produced by World Citizen to assist frontline well being care staff and the World Well being Group.

Curated by Lady Gaga, the live performance included digital performances by Gaga, the Rolling Stones, John Legend and Sam Smith, Burna Boy, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, Inexperienced Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Andrea Bocelli, and plenty of extra.

Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel hosted together with fellow late-night host, Stephen Colbert. The particular aired in primetime in the USA on a number of networks, cable channels and streaming providers at eight p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.