WHAT a wonderful showing from everybody in Manchester last week.
I tuned in to the One Love Manchester concert like everyone else not exactly sure what to expect – but it was a moving, triumphant and hopeful evening.
Didn’t Ariana Grande do well for a girl of only 23?
She met the victims and their families and did her best to make it an absolutely incredible night.
Ariana met with the mum of 15-year-old Olivia Campbell, who died in the attack at the Manchester Arena.
I have to admit I welled up when Ariana revealed Olivia’s mum told her not to cry as her daughter wouldn’t want her to.
A video of Olivia singing soul and pop star John Legend’s song All Of Me – her favourite song – had already emerged.
I met with John at the Greek Theatre in Hollywood last week and he kindly offered to send a message to Olivia’s parents.
The lovely video was played as they sat in the Good Morning Britain studio.
It was a small gesture, but John was only too happy to help out.
I hope it was at least some comfort to Charlotte and Paul.
He spoke of how he couldn’t comprehend what they were going through as he has his own child, called Luna, with partner Chrissy Teigen.
In a one-on-one sit down with John he told me: “I can’t imagine what it feels like for the families of those who lost their loved ones in Manchester.
“I know I have a young daughter now, but the idea of having to bury one of your children, I can’t even bear the thought of it. My heart goes out to them.”
John starred in and co-produced the fantastic La La Land – he’s the singer who Ryan Gosling’s character plays piano for in the second half of the movie.
But he’s also known for producing and playing music on a host of other stars’ hits – people such as Lauryn Hill, Kanye West, Jay Z and Mariah Carey.
He’s also good friends with Ariana and dueted with her on the title track for the recent Beauty And The Beast movie.
John is currently on tour and he’ll be at the Glasgow SSE Hydro on Friday, September 8.
Remarkably, daughter Luna is coming on a portion of his tour – which led to some interesting additions to his rider!
“This is Luna’s first tour so we’ve got a toy xylophone for her,” John laughed.
“We’ve got some adult beverages and some child beverages too!”
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe