Matthew McConaughey corralled an impressive array of talent on Sunday night to help raise money for Texans devastated by February’s unexpected winter storm that shut down much of the state.
The 51-year-old Dallas Buyers Club star appeared on YouTube with shaggy pandemic hair and a navy blue denim shirt as he made a call to viewers to donate while promising that 100 percent of the donations would go toward ‘short-term, mid-term and long-term needs resulting from the devastation caused by Winter Storm Uri.’
The two-and-a-quarter hour fundraiser featured numerous musical performances, including intimate acoustic performances from county songstresses Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert, plus speaking spots with Megan Thee Stallion, Jamie Foxx and many others.
Helping those in need: Matthew McConaughey, 51, put on a two-and-a-quarter hour fundraiser on Sunday night, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting Texans affected by February’s deadly winter storm
Matthew opened the program on stage with an opening monologue full of his unique brand of folksy stream-of-consciousness poetry.
‘Tonight we’re going to share with you song, stories and traditions that define the DNA of this state so many of us call home.
‘I’m gonna be your guide, your DJ, your friend,’ he continued. ‘I’m going to be walking you through this night of artistry, this album of big hearts and hospitality, this jam session of generosity, as I’m calling it. Tonight, we’re going to show you the soul of Texas.’
Guiding light: ‘I’m going to be walking you through this night of artistry, this album of big hearts and hospitality, this jam session of generosity, as I’m calling it. Tonight, we’re going to show you the soul of Texas,’ he said from behind a desk
Superstar: Kacey Musgraves was among the high-profile performers, with many coming from the world of country music
Low key: She wore a simple black hoodie and performed on acoustic guitar from her bedroom
Classic: She performed Willie Nelson’s classic On The Road Again
For Musgraves’ performance, she drew on a classic: Willie Nelson’s On The Road Again.
The Grammy-winning country singer gave her low-key performance in her bedroom while wearing a simple black hoodie and matching it with her dark locks.
She performed solo on her acoustic guitar, adding more of a country twang than on the original recording.
Before singing, Musgraves recounted how she got a surprise call from McConaughey.
‘The other night I got a phone call. It was kind of getting late and I don’t answer unknown number, but for some reason I did and it was Matthew and he was like, “Hey, Kacey, wanna be part of this thing I’m doing? It’s gonna be really cool,”‘ she recounted.
‘Obviously it was a “hell yes” from me,’ she added.
She also joked that she trimmed her nails just for the performance.
Relaxed: Miranda Lambert opted for the great outdoors for her solo acoustic performance. She wore a playful plaid shirt with a patch on the chest reading ‘School Crossing Guard’
Oldie: The ex-wife of Blake Shelton stuck to her own discography but reached all the way back to 2009 for her song Heart Like Mine from her 2009 album Revolution
Miranda Lambert opted for the great outdoors for her solo acoustic performance.
She wore a playful plaid shirt with a patch on the chest reading ‘School Crossing Guard.’
She added a green scarf tied around her neck for extra color while wearing jeans and a wide-brimmed straw hat.
The ex-wife of Blake Shelton stuck to her own discography but reached all the way back to 2009 for her song Heart Like Mine from her 2009 album Revolution.
Change of pace: Post Malone is best known for his rapping and hip-hop tracks, but he was fully committed to a rollicking country–rock performance of Brad Paisley’s I’m Gonna Miss Her to cap off the show
Rocking out: He stuck to acoustic guitar and impassioned vocals, but he was backed by Dwight Yoakam’s band, which was on fire
Post Malone is best known for his rapping and hip-hop tracks, but he was fully committed to a rollicking country–rock performance of Brad Paisley’s I’m Gonna Miss Her to cap off the show.
He stuck to acoustic guitar and impassioned vocals, but he was backed by Dwight Yoakam’s band, which was on fire.
Fort Worth native Kelly Clarkson also brought in a full band to perform Whole Lotta Woman.
She stood out on the broadcast thanks to her black outfit covered in white stars.
Standout: Fort Worth native Kelly Clarkson also brought in a full band to perform Whole Lotta Woman. She stood out on the broadcast thanks to her black outfit covered in white stars
Icon: Country legend George Strait led a mostly acoustic performance of the song Troubadour from his 2008 album of the same name
Country legend George Strait led a mostly acoustic performance of the song Troubadour from his 2008 album of the same name.
Country fans had plenty to enjoy thanks to a performance from Outlaw Country superstar Willie Nelson of Beautiful Texas, which perfectly fit the theme.
Another member of country royalty, Clint Black, gave a moving performance of Killin’ Time without a backing band.
Don Henley looked gruff with a white beard in his strangely filmed performance, which was bathed in blue light.
He sported a gruff white beard and appeared to be lip syncing, and he certainly wasn’t playing, as he strummed along on a shovel rather than a guitar.
Legend: Country fans had plenty to enjoy thanks to a performance from Outlaw Country superstar Willie Nelson of Beautiful Texas, which perfectly fit the theme
Country superstar: Another member of country royalty, Clint Black, gave a moving performance of Killin’ Time without a backing band
Bizarre: Don Henley looked gruff with a white beard in his strangely filmed performance, which was bathed in blue light
Megan Thee Stallion, who grew up in Houston, was among the most high-profile celebrities voicing their support for their fellows Texans.
She wore electric blue hair with a yellow Sublime T-shirt and a black and red baseball cap.
‘I love that we have great food, great music, but most of all we have great people. Texas people are just proud and resilient, but most of all we’re so giving and so generous, and that is what I love about my home state, Texas,’ she said.
Jennifer Garner called herself a proud ‘fifth-generation Texan’ as revealed that all of her family members on her father’s side were still living in the state.
Selena Gomez reveal the things she likes most about Texas are ‘the good barbecue, good Mexican food and southern hospitality.’
Helping out: Megan Thee Stallion, who grew up in Houston, was among the most high-profile celebrities voicing their support for their fellows Texans
Giving back: She wore electric blue hair with a yellow Sublime T-shirt and a black and red baseball cap while talking about Texans’ ‘giving’ and ‘generous’ personalities
Tradition: Jennifer Garner called herself a proud ‘fifth-generation Texan’ as revealed that all of her family members on her father’s side were still living in the state
A few of her favorite things: Selena Gomez reveal the things she likes most about Texas are ‘the good barbecue, good Mexican food and southern hospitality’
The Jonas Brothers, Joe, Kevin and Nick, all made a short appearance together, though they didn’t have much to say.
Jamie Foxx shared words of encouragement for Texans.
‘I know people’s will has been tested. I know our humanity has been tested. But there’s nothing like Texas people, and we will do whatever we can to protect our Texas spirit, our Texas roots, because nobody, absolutely nobody, messes with Texas.
Quiet: The Jonas Brothers, Joe, Kevin and Nick, all made a short appearance together, though they didn’t have much to say.
Jamie Foxx shared words of encouragement for Texans. ‘I know people’s will has been tested. I know our humanity has been tested. But there’s nothing like Texas people…’
Many Texans were left without power for anywhere from hours to days amid the historic storm, leaving them shivering in the dark and forced to huddle up to stay warm, though some where able to go to shelters.
Others found themselves owing tens of thousands of dollars for only a few hours worth of electricity due to the skyrocketing demand and Texas mostly unregulated electric grid.
Some homes were made unlivable, as many homes in Texas have pipes that aren’t as well insulated as in colder states, so their pipes burst amid the freezing weather.
In between the performances, McConaughey chatted with regular Texans affected in various ways by the winter storm.
One woman recounted having to spend the night in her car with her children to stay warm, but when they went back inside after the power returned, water began pouring into light socks and electrical outlets.
They ran out of the house just seconds before the ceiling collapsed.
Tragic: McConaughey chatted with multiple Texans, including one woman who had to stay in her car with her children for warmth, only for her ceiling to collapse once the power went back on