In honor of Veteran’s Day, music’s biggest stars united in Washington, D.C. to pay tribute to the nation’s veterans at “The Concert for Valor.” The three-hour event, which aired live on HBO, featured performances from Eminem, Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, Dave Grohl, Zac Brown Band, and Carrie Underwood, with appearances from Jamie Foxx, Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg, and Tom Hanks.
Before a crowd of 800,000 at the National Mall, Jennifer Hudson kicked things off with a stirring rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The powerhouse diva also joined Jessie J for a duet of David Guetta and Sia’s “Titanium,” and the British sensation stuck around to sing her hit “Bang Bang.”
Following an introduction from “Breaking Bad’s” Bryan Cranston, Rihanna—clad in a glittery cape—shined bright while singing “Diamonds.”
“Happy Veteran’s Day! I just want to thank you all, all the veterans, from the bottom of my heart for giving your time and your life for this country. We thank you, we love you,” said RiRi before dedicating “Stay” to them.
She closed out her set by bringing out Eminem for their duet “The Monster.”
“D.C., happy motherfu**in’ Veteran’s Day,” said Em before launching into his ShadyXV single “Guts Over Fear.” He dedicated “Not Afraid” to the veterans, and capped off the evening with “Lose Yourself.”
“To all the veterans in here tonight and everyone currently serving in our armed forces, and also to the ones who didn’t make it home, I just want to say thank you for your sacrifices,” said the Detroit rapper.
Watch Em and RiRi salute the troops.
