The COVID-19 vaccine is reuniting families around the world, including Jennifer Lopez and her mom.
Lopez kicked off the broadcast of Global Citizen’s VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World on Saturday with a cover of Neil Diamond’s classic rock hit “Sweet Caroline,” dedicated to her mother, Guadalupe Rodriguez, who was backstage.
“When I was thinking about what song to sing tonight, I remembered the song she always used to sing to me when I was baby,” Lopez said at the event, filmed at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. “So if you would indulge me, I’d love to sing that one tonight.”
Lopez didn’t get a chance to spend Christmas with her mom for the first time last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but because she is fully vaccinated now, she was able to see her daughter perform. Rodriguez then joined her on stage and serenaded her with the version she used to sing Lopez as a baby when she rocked her to sleep — "Sweet Jennifer."
Lopez also closed out the night with a performance of her 2016 women’s empowerment hit “Ain’t Your Mama.”
“[The] United States is doing great, we’re getting there but there’s a lot of underserved countries around the world and we’re trying to get vaccines to everybody and make sure that the whole world can get back to being together, to reuniting,” she said.
VAX LIVE brought together artists, entertainers, and world leaders in response to the actions taken by Global Citizens to encourage countries to donate COVID-19 vaccines to low-income countries aired and streamed globally.
Hosted by multi-platinum recording artist, actress, and producer Selena Gomez, VAX LIVE featured additional performances by Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin, and H.E.R. Special appearances included President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, David Letterman, Gayle King, Jimmy Kimmel, Nomzamo Mbatha, Olivia Munn, Sean Penn, and more.
VAX LIVEhelped mobilize $302 million to fight COVID-19 and secure more than 26 million COVID-19 doses through government, corporate, and philanthropic commitments.
As part of Global Citizen’s Recovery Plan for the World campaign, VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World will bring together artists, entertainers, world leaders, and more to ensure equitable vaccine distribution around the world, tackle COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and celebrate a hopeful future.
Find out how to tune in starting May 8 here, and join us in taking action to end the pandemic and ensure that everyone, everywhere has access to COVID-19 vaccines. Then, head to our multimedia hub VAX BECAUSE to join candid conversations about the pandemic and find answers to your biggest questions about the vaccines.
Want to take home part of the show? Check out our VAX LIVE merch at the Global Citizen official store.
