‘Hand In Hand’ Benefit Announced

Some of the biggest musicians, actors and celebrities are teaming up for the “Hand In Hand: A Benefit For Hurricane Harvey Relief” telethon. The show will feature performances from George Strait and special guests, live from San Antonio.

The one-hour Sept. 12 telethon will air on ABC, CBS, CMT, FOX and NBC, live on the East Coast at 8 p.m. EDT and replayed on the West Coast at 8 p.m. PDT.

As previously reported, the telethon is being presented by Houston native Bun B and SB Projects founder Scooter Braun, who manages Justin Bieber and produced Ariana Grande’s Manchester benefit show.

The telethon and Strait’s benefit concert will be available to live stream on Facebook.

Ethan Miller / Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media – George Strait
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nev.

Strait will be joined at San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre by Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen.

Tickets for the concert go on sale Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. CDT. All proceeds from the show benefit Rebuild Texas Fund, “thanks to event sponsor Cavender Auto Family and with assistance from the Majestic Theatre, Ticketmaster, VER, Bill Young Productions and the City of San Antonio,” according to an announcement. The concert is said to be just the start of Strait’s relief efforts.  

The telethon will feature appearances, performances and taped tributes from Bun B, J Balvin, The Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, George Clooney, Robert De Niro, Drake, Jamie Foxx, Karlie Kloss, Beyoncé, Matt Lauer, Rob Lowe, Matthew McConaughey, Norah O’Donnell, Dennis Quaid, Julia Roberts, Kelly Rowland, Adam Sandler, Ryan Seacrest, Blake Shelton, Michael Strahan, Barbra Streisand, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and more. 

AP Photo, file – Planning Houston Benefit
This combination photo shows Houston rapper Bun B in Miami Beach in 2013, left, and music manager Scooter Braun in Los Angeles in 2016.

SB Projects is producing the broadcast with Den of Thieves. Along with Braun and Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, executive producers include Allison Kaye, Jesse Ignjatovic and Evan Prager. Additional executive producers are Chris Choun and Lee Lodge with Jordan Brown, Penni Thow and Barb Bialkowski serving as co-executive producers.

Proceeds from the telethon will benefit United Way of Greater Houston, Habitat for Humanity, Save the Children, Feeding Texas, and Direct Relief.

FEMA director Brock Law told the Washington Post that Harvey is probably the worst natural disaster in the state’s history.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott estimated damage from the storm and flooding at $150 billion to $180 billion, according to Fortune.