New York’s months-in-planning post-Covid-shutdown “Homecoming” concert in Central Park, airing live on CNN, was abruptly halted mid-show this evening – mid-song, in fact – after lightning and rain broke out in the area.
Grammy winner Barry Manilow was on stage performing the song “Can’t Smile Without You” when an announcement was made, telling those on the scene to exit the venue and seek shelter.
While artists including Andrea Bocelli,, LL Cool J, Jennifer Hudson, Journey, Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas, the New York Philharmonic, Jon Batiste, Earth, Wind and Fire and Wyclef Jean,had already gotten their stage time before the concert shutdown, other headliners including Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Paul Simon and Elvis Costello had not yet performed.
CNN, with host Anderson Cooper vamping on the phone with Manilow to fill time, currently is waiting to determine whether mogul Clive Davis will decide to present the remainder of the performances – including Springsteen, Simon, Smith and Costello, among others – tonight at 10 pm ET if the threat of lightning diminishes, though an audience callback is unlikely.
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Gayle King, Don Lemon, Davis, and Steven Colbert had appeared on stage to address the audience between the performances.
The concert, created and produced by Davis, was being broadcast on CNN, leaving anchor Cooper unclear on whether the show would resume, would not resume, or perhaps resume without an audience.