A large crowd gathers in Central Park for the “We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert.”
Andrew Kelly/Reuters
Updated 1:32 PM ET, Sun August 22, 2021
A large crowd gathers in Central Park for the “We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert.”
Andrew Kelly/Reuters
Some of music’s biggest names descended on New York City’s iconic Central Park for the “We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert” on Saturday to perform for a vaccinated crowd of 60,000.
The concert was meant to be “a celebration of New York City’s comeback” after a challenging 17 months marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and to “promote health, safety, and equity,” according to a news release for the show. It aired exclusively on CNN.
Nearly three hours after the event started, attendees were evacuated due to severe weather ahead of Hurricane Henri’s anticipated Sunday landfall.
Earth, Wind and Fire perform a soundcheck ahead of the concert on August 21.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Spectators wait for the concert to begin.
Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images
Jennifer Hudson performs “Nessun Dorma.”
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A staff member distributes free masks before the concert.
Jeenah Moon/AP
Andrea Bocelli performs “O Sole Mio.”
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
A view of the crowd during the concert.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Scorpio, Spliff Star, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, LL Cool J, and Remy Ma perform onstage.
Will Lanzoni/CNN
A member of the audience uses a phone to capture the moment.
Will Lanzoni/CNN
Guitar legend Carlos Santana performs “Maria Maria.” Wyclef Jean joined Santana for the performance.
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The crowd cheers during the concert
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Arnel Pineda and Neal Schon of Journey perform “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
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Clouds build over the bandstand in Central Park.
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Barry Manilow is interrupted while performing onstage. The concert was suspended due to weather.
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A severe weather warning is displayed on a screen, asking audience members to seek shelter.
Will Lanzoni/CNN
Audience members begin to leave and take shelter from the weather.
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While there was hope the concert would resume if the weather let up, organizers made the decision not to resume.
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Members of the audience leave the concert in search of shelter from the storm.
Will Lanzoni/CNN
An empty stage is illuminated by the letters NYC.
Will Lanzoni/CNN
