Christina Grimmie’s friends and family are coming together to pay tribute to the late Voice contestant with virtual fundraising show “Concert For a Cause” five years after her death, and the Christina Grimmie Foundation is sharing the lineup with Billboard first.
Tori Kelly, who paid tribute to her friend with “Blink of an Eye” one month after the rising star’s 2016 death, is set to perform during the show. Also taking the stage are Rachel Platten, who toured with Grimmie; Audra McLaughlin and Jacquie Lee, her friends from season six of The Voice; and YouTubers Sam Tsui, Tiffany Alvord, and Tyler Ward. Kurt Schneider, who was Grimmie’s producer, will be joining Tsui for “Just a Dream,” and also worked with the artists for a special tribute to the singer. Music from The Similar and Stephen Rezza will also be featured during the show.
Hunter March of E! News’ Nightly Pop is hosting the event, which will be a tribute to Grimmie’s legacy as well as a fundraiser to help families impacted by gun violence. Grimmie, who finished third in her season of The Voice, was shot and killed during a fan meet-and-greet in June 2016. She was 22. Her brother, Marcus, was able to tackle the gunman.
“We’re honored to see the amount of support we’ve gotten for this event from so many of the people Christina cherished, respected, and loved, and we’re excited to bring this event to Team Grimmie and fans around the world,” Marcus said in a statement.
Noted dad Albert, one of the foundation’s founders, “This June marks five years since Christina was taken from us, and while we miss her immensely, we are choosing to celebrate her life by continuing her legacy of love, hope, and inspiration.”
The show is set to stream June 8 at 8 p.m. ET via the concert’s official website. The event is free, but donations are encouraged, and will benefit the Christina Grimmie Foundation, which helps families rebuild their lives after losing someone to gun violence.
