America: A Tribute To Heroes (2001)

George Clooney arranged this commercial-free televised benefit concert to pay homage to the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, especially the New York City firefighters and police. It also paid tribute to those heroes who were risking their lives searching the ruins. Staged like a telethon, well-known personalities performed or read tributes while celebrities manned phones to collect donations from the television viewers. A vast amount of candles lit the stage. Among the twenty-one musical presentations were Bruce Springsteen who sang a song he wrote before the attack, “My City of Ruins”. Stevie Wonder performed “Love’s in Need of Love Today” and Billy Joel sang “I’m in a New York State of Mind”. There were several patriotic songs like “God Bless America” and “America the Beautiful” performed individually by Celine Dion and Willie Nelson. A long list of famous actors and others read significant messages, including Tom Cruise, Muhammad Ali, Julia Roberts, Robert De Niro and Clint Eastwood. One of the most touching is Kelsey Grammar’s personal tribute to his friend, David, who was one of the civilian victims of the attack.