As the world marked the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks this past weekend, young music industry darling H.E.R. lent stirring live performances of “Hallelujah” and “Love’s In Need of Love Today” to CNN‘s Shine A Light program.
The hour-long special, hosted by Jake Tapper, aimed to highlight young adults who are still dealing with the loss of their parents in the terror attacks twenty years ago. Other performers included Maroon 5, Common, and Brad Paisley.
Set up on a pier overlooking Manhattan’s Hudson River, with the city’s famous skyline behind her, the 24-year-old R&B superstar delivered heartfelt renditions of the classic songs that ably captured the layers of emotion inherent in the occasion despite the fact that she herself was just three years old when the attacks occurred.
Related: Watch H.E.R. & Chris Stapleton Trade Guitar Licks On “Hold On” At CMT Awards [Video]
First, H.E.R., clad in flowing gold clothing, led her accompanying band and string section through a flowing rendition of Leonard Cohen classic “Hallelujah” as twilight set in over the city. Then, once night had fallen, H.E.R. pulled up a seat for a gospel-inflected cover of Stevie Wonder‘s classic plea for peace, “Love’s In Need of Love Today”.
Watch H.E.R. perform “Hallelujah” and “Love’s In Need of Love Today” as part of the CNN Shine A Light memorial special below.
H.E.R. – “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen) – CNN Shine A Light 9/11 Tribute
[Video: CNN]
H.E.R. – “Love’s In Need of Love Today” (Stevie Wonder) – CNN Shine A Light 9/11 Tribute
[Video: CNN]
From big wins at the Academy Awards (“Best Original Song” for “Fight For You”) and the Grammy Awards (“Song of the Year” for “I Can’t Breathe”) to an “America The Beautiful” performance at the Super Bowl and a sit-in with D’Angelo at the iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem, 2021 has been a big year for H.E.R. Later this month, she’ll host bi-coastal editions of her own Lights On Festival. For a full list of H.E.R. tour dates, head here.