United Way and Paramount to air benefit for hurricane relief

By The Associated Press

Robert Turick, 68, works to clear household debris that Hurricane Milton storm surge swept from other properties into his canal-facing back yard, in Englewood, Fla., Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Turick, whose family has owned the home for more than 25 years, said it had never flooded until 2022's Hurricane Ian, but since then, it has flooded in three more hurricanes, each bringing higher water levels than the last. A small positive, said Turick, is that he hadn't yet begun repairs after Hurricane Helene's 3-foot flood waters before Hurricane Milton brought five feet of flooding. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Rebecca Blackwell]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — United Way Worldwide and Paramount Global on Wednesday announced they will host a benefit to raise funds for those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

CBS Television and CMT will air the one-hour special at 8 p.m. ET Saturday, according to a news release.

Performers include Brittney Spencer, Chris Janson, Clay Aiken, Jonathan McReynolds and Tyler Hubbard. There will also be appearances by the Backstreet Boys, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Burke, Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Cedric The Entertainer, Cody Alan, Jackson Dean, JB SMOOVE, Kelsea Ballerini, Max Thieriot, Nate Burleson, Stephen Colbert, Taye Diggs, and Zac Brown Band.

“In times of crisis, United Way mobilizes the caring power of communities to help people in need,” said Angela F. Williams, president and CEO of UWW, in a statement.

Proceeds from the special, taped Oct. 27-28 in Nashville, Tennessee, will go to support those harmed by the hurricanes across the southeastern U.S.

Water left by Hurricane Milton floods a road inside Pines Trailer Park, where debris was still piled outside homes from Hurricane Helene, in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Rebecca Blackwell

The benefit will also be available for streaming live on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.

Helene decimated remote towns throughout the Appalachians, left millions without power, knocked out cellular service and killed more than 200 people. It was the deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since Katrina in 2005. Milton then made landfall on the west side of Florida, less than two weeks after Helene, and devastated large swaths of the state.