NBC Universal has announced a one-hour telethon to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy, airing Friday night at 8:00 PM EST to include musicians Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi, Sting and Christina Aguilera. NBC’s Sandy benefit has been dubbed “Coming Together.” Popular NBC figures Brian Williams, anchor of “NBC Nightly News,” and Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC’s “Late Night,” are scheduled to make appearances.
Aguilera tweeted this morning: “Off to NYC to perform on #ComingTogether telethon on NBC Fri to aid victims of #sandy. Blessed & honored to take part. XoXtina”
Viewers can catch the benefit on NBC or any of its subsidiaries, including Bravo, CNBC, E!, G4, MSNBC, Style, Syfy and USA. NBC also announced viewers can steam the telethon live at NBC.com.
While the stars will come together for the telethon Friday, thoughts are beginning to revert back to the 2012 Presidential Election. After performing at the telethon, Springsteen will fly west to help President Obama tighten the race in a few swing states.
Springsteen will both perform and introduce Obama on Monday in Madison, Wis. The rock singer will then accompany the president as he makes a final campaign stop in Columbus, Ohio.
Springsteen also campaigned for Obamas in 2008, shown here with the Obama family at a rally.
At the Ohio rally, Springsteen will be joined by another music heavyweight, Jay-Z, who has become a fixture in Obama campaign efforts. Earlier this fall, Jay-Z and wife Beyoncé hosted an event for the Obama team at Jay’s posh Manhattan 40/40 Club, raising $4 million for the campaign.
First Lady Michelle Obama will also be on hand in Ohio, before she and the president return home to Chicago for Election Day on Tuesday.
While the First Lady’s Twitter is mostly filled with campaign updates and encouragements to vote, she has commented on hurricane: “To everyone affected by the hurricane, Barack and my thoughts continue to be with you and your families today, and please stay safe. –mo”
Thus, even as the tide shifts back to partisan politics, it seems Sandy will still weigh heavily on the climate of this election.
