Lady Gaga’s star-studded One World virtual ‘mega concert’ will be a Live Aid for the coronavirus generation

Concert to thank the world’s medical workers will be shown on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube and broadcast on major TV networks

The big name line-up, all playing remotely, includes Billie Eilish, Lizzo and Live Aid veterans Elton John and Paul McCartney

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Live Aid was two mega concerts, held at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia (pictured) and Wembley Stadium in London on July 13, 1985.

Published: 10:00pm, 17 Apr 2020Updated: 1:11am, 18 Apr 2020

Is Lady Gaga’s One World: Together at Home the new Live Aid?

That question will be answered on Saturday when the star-studded One World concert, instigated by Gaga and presented with the World Health Organisation and the anti-poverty organisation Global Citizen, will aim to raise coronavirus awareness while celebrating health care workers who have been putting their lives at risk.

The One World bill is loaded with big names. Stars expected to be joining Gaga from socially distanced locations include Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, John Legend, Billie Joe Armstrong, J Balvin, Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Eddie Vedder, Kacey Musgraves, Burna Boy and Chris Martin.

In a show of late-night TV unity, the special will be carried live on American television networks CBS, ABC and NBC (but not Fox) and hosted by Stephen Colbert as well as Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon. It will also be streamed on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Lady Gaga has asked the UN-led Call for Code initiative to help find tech solutions to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event is by far the biggest virtual music gathering mounted since the global pandemic shut down the concert business and spurred an explosion of live-streamed performances by quarantined musicians.