Ellie Goulding candidly shared her struggles with anxiety during lockdown, as she led the British stars at the Global Citizen One World: Together at Home live concert, on Saturday night.
The British songstress admitted she was finding the concept of performing to the online audience ‘quite hard’ before delivered an acoustic rendition of some of her biggest hits.
Ellie joined a slew of British stars performing in the worldwide pre-show and the following televised concert, including David Beckham, Rita Ora and Liam Payne.
Candid: Ellie Goulding candidly shared her struggles with anxiety during lockdown, as she led the British stars at the Global Citizen One World: Together at Home live concert, on Saturday night
Difficult: The British songstress admitted she was finding the concept of performing to the online audience ‘quite hard’ before delivered an acoustic rendition of some of her biggest hits from her home during the online show
Performing from her home, as she said: ‘I think it’s amazing that we’re all staying home keeping ourselves safe, keeping others safe.’
‘And amazing that we all get to be in something together, terrible as it is,’ she added, before praising the feeling of widespread solidarity amid the crisis.
Playing her guitar, the star put on an emotional performance her 2015 pop hit Love Me Like You Do while sitting in her home.
Comforting: The blonde star admitted she’d found solace through music from the so-called Big Band Era and the 1940s and 50s, and joked that her dress for the performance ‘looked like a carpet’
Later Ellie then re-appeared on-screen, where she spoke about the anxiety she’d been struggling with during the pandemic.
She said: ‘ I know music has saved me, I mean it really saved me in my life but saved me recently having to be indoors and if you’re like me you love exploring, love to walk, but because we’re all staying into together this will be over soon hopefully we can catch the last of the summer.
‘But this has proved that humans can be awesome and the fact that everyone has come together and shown such incredible kindness towards each other, and just following on social media just making each other laugh and making videos and making memes, it’s the stuff that keeps us going and laughing.
‘Watching funny stuff has helped me through this time, I can get quite anxious, actually I’m finding it really hard. Music has really helped , I’ve been listening to a lot of old music from the 40s and 50s.’
Candid: Ahead of the show, Ellie admitted that despite her incredible success she still struggles with insecurities surrounding her appearance
Kind: David Beckham also stunned young fans as he joined them on Facetime during the pre-show, reminding them to keep practising their football skills no matter what the circumstances
Preparing to sing a rendition of Burn, Ellie then joked: ‘And I just became aware that I look like I’m wearing a carpet.’
Ahead of the show, Ellie admitted that despite her incredible success she still struggles with insecurities surrounding her appearance.
Speaking to The Mirror she said: ‘I have a really unusual voice so you either love it or hate it.
‘I thought I had a big nose and my hair was really weird or that I didn’t have a great figure.’
‘That’s why talking and being frank and open about it is really important because every single one of us – even my husband – has our own insecurities.’
Powerful: Niall’s former bandmate Liam Payne, 26, also sang a powerful rendition of his new song Midnight after sharing a poignant message
David Beckham also stunned young fans as he joined them on Facetime during the concert, reminding them to keep practising their football skills no matter what the circumstances.
The sportsman offered advice on how to practice and improve their skills, even agreeing to watch one youth ‘play for England’ one day.
Liam Payne, 26, also sang a powerful rendition of his new song Midnight after sharing a poignant message.
He said: ‘It’s a pretty dark time for us at the moment. For my personal benefit, I’ve been trying to think of the positives.
‘I really feel, at the moment we’re all being brought a lot closer together by this solidarity that we have to feel right now.’
Rita Ora, 29, gave an upbeat, soulful performance of her hit track I Will Never Let You down, before joining forces for a stellar duet with Liam.
Happy lady: Rita Ora, 29, gave an upbeat, soulful performance of her hit track I Will Never Let You down
Sensational: Rita and Liam – who collaborated on their single For You – then joined forces to deliver a stellar duet
Introducing the show was The Good Place actress Jameela Jamil, 34, who suffered a hilarious blunder when she stood in front of a chalk board covered in scribble to present her segments, realising only after it was too late that it read: ‘I have to pee.’
Taking to Instagram following her appearance in the concert, Jameela shared a screenshot of herself and circled a particular scribble behind her and captioned the post: ‘F*ck.’
She added: ‘Oh no, I did this in front of my landlord’s wall and didn’t know ‘I need to pee’ was written on it as I presented in aid of Covid-19 relief.’
Artsy backdrop… but look a little closer! The Good Place actress Jameela, 34, stood in front of a chalk board covered in scribble to present her segments
Whoops: She realised after it was too late that it read: ‘I have to pee’
Joining the Brits was Irish singer Niall Horan, 26, who sang an acoustic rendition of his track Black and White after thanking key workers.
The former One Direction singer sent a heartfelt message to those working in an ‘essential service’ during the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.
Niall said: ‘Thank you so much to anyone out there working in an essential service, whether it be a doctor, a nurse, a grocery store worker, teacher, anyone working in an essential service.
‘You are doing an unbelievable job and we thank you for your service so much. You were already doing a great job anyway but you’ve really stepped up to the plate on another level. Thank you so much.’
Thankful: Niall Horan, 26, thanked key workers before performing a song
Incredible: Jess Glynne (left) and Jessie J also delivered their own stellar performances as part of the online pre-show, which came ahead of the televised concert later that evening
As she joined the star-studded broadcast, Jessie J said: ‘I have no words to really explain how grateful I am for each and everyone of you across the world. The love and admiration is undeniable.’
Meanwhile, Annie Lennox told viewers: ‘We have a collective responsibility to make sure that global health systems are strong enough to identify and prevent global pandemics before they happen again. Be safe, be well and please stay home.’
She then performed the Eurythmics track I Saved The World Today during the livestreamed show.
The stars participated in a marathon, six-hour livestreamed event, putting on a series of performances from their homes around the world ahead of the main One World: Together at Home show.
With 100 performers singing for the global audience, the event has been put on to support healthcare workers as they continue to treat patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which to date has infected more than 2.3million and killed 159,667.
Ahead of the broadcast kicking off, Elton John took to Instagram to share a snap of himself sat at an outdoor piano, while husband David Furnish stood next to him holding a camera phone and mic.
Prevention: Annie Lennox said, ‘We have a collective responsibility to make sure that global health systems are strong enough to… prevent global pandemics before they happen again’
Heartfelt performance: Annie then performed the Eurythmics track I Saved The World Today
He wrote alongside: I’m going to be sitting down tonight with David and the boys to watch One World: #TogetherAtHome, a global display of unity to support @WHO in the fight against #COVID19.
‘Tune in at 8pm ET for performances from fantastic artists and stories from workers on the frontline of the crisis who need our support.
‘For more info on how to watch from wherever you are, visit globalcitizen.org/togetherathome #CoronaVirus #HealthForAll @davidfurnish @ladygaga.’
The stars were joined by a host of internationally acclaimed artists, including curator Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift.
Ready to go! Elton John took to Instagram to share a snap of himself sat at an outdoor piano, while husband David Furnish stood next to him holding a camera phone and mic
