Blake Shelton’s ‘Healing in the Heartland’ set for May 29
Blake Shelton’s benefit concert for Oklahoma is set for May 29.
The singer announced that he was working with NBC to quickly organize a telethon in wake of the powerful tornado that ripped through central Oklahoma on Monday.
Shelton’s benefit, “Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert,†will air live from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City on NBC and other NBCUniversal networks Style, G4, Bravo, E! and CMT on either a live or delayed basis.
The country superstar has already tapped his wife, Miranda Lambert, and friends and fellow Oklahoma natives Reba McEntire and Vince Gill to perform. Additional guests are expected to be announced.
PHOTOS: The Oklahoma tornado as seen from space
“Everyone has their way to help, and mine as an entertainer is to perform to help raise money and awareness for this tragedy,†Shelton said in a statement. “This is why I want to do this special, and especially hold it in Oklahoma City, which is near ground zero.â€
The singer is a native of Ada, Okla., about 75 miles south of where the tornado struck. He currently lives in Tishomingo, Okla.
Monday’s twister, which produced winds topping 200 mph, killed at least 24 people and devastated the city of Moore. Meteorologists have given the storm an EF-5 intensity rating -- the highest severity for a tornado.
Shelton, along with McEntire, previously hosted a benefit concert for victims affected by tornadoes in 2011 in Atoka County. Those two sold-out concerts raised $500,000 for the victims.
The concert will raise funds for the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund.
“Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert,†will air live at 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times (tape delayed on the West Coast).
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