Rolling Stones added to all-star lineup for Saturday's global coronavirus concert

[April 18, 2020]    LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Rolling Stones will join a star-studded global television broadcast on Saturday to honor healthcare workers on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic, the band announced on Friday.

The two-hour "One World: Together at Home" event, a combination of music, comedy and stories from doctors, nurses and grocery workers, will be broadcast across multiple North American and international television networks.

"We are honoured to be invited to be part of the 'One World: Together at Home' broadcast - from our homes in isolation," the group said in a statement released by Global Citizen, the nonprofit group that spearheaded the event with the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Stones join a lineup that includes Celine Dion, Billie Eilish, John Legend, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Chris Martin, Andrea Bocelli and Michael Buble.

The television broadcast will be preceded by a six-hour live streaming event with appearances by major sports stars, including British Formula One racing champion Lewis Hamilton, U.S. women's World Cup soccer champion Megan Rapinoe, World Cup ski racer Lindsey Vonn and dozens of other singers, actors and social media influencers.

Participants will appear remotely due to social distancing and shutdowns aimed at curtailing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

While the special is not billed as a public fundraiser, it is also aimed at encouraging philanthropists and companies to contribute to the WHO's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Lady Gaga said last week that more than $35 million had been raised.

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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