7 grammy winners who are making a global impact
TRANSCRIPT
Alicia Keys
A 14-time Grammy winner, Alicia Keys has been a fierce advocate for social good movements since co-founding Keep A Child Alive in 2003. As KCA’s global ambassador, Keys raises funds for clinical and orphan care sites for families living with HIV and AIDs across sub-Saharan Africa. Her latest venture, the “We are Here” movement was inspired by her sons and seeks to build up social justice advocates among her fan base.
Keys is a collaborator on Pharrell’s album “Girl,” which is nominated for best album. She sings vocals for “Know Who You Are.”
Bono
U2 frontman Bono holds the title for the most “politically effective celebrity” for his activism and philanthropic work. He has rallied musicians to perform at numerous benefit concerts for causes including Haiti relief, famine and more. He is a co-founder of the ONE campaign, which fights extreme poverty and preventable disease. He was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 2005 along with Bill and Melinda Gates.
U2’s album "Songs of Innocence" is nominated for best rock album.
Beyonce
The “Queen B” and greatest living female entertainer, Beyoncé , uses her talent to bring awareness to the issues both stateside and globally, fighting obesity with U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and raising funds post-Katrina with Kelly Rowland. Beyoncé was an ambassador for the 2012 World Humanitarian Day campaign donating her song "I Was Here" to the campaign. Beyoncé is also a co-founder of Gucci’s Chime for Change campaign that aims to spread female empowerment.
Beyonce is nominated for best album, best contemporary album, best surround sound album, best R&B song, best R&B performance and best music film with her husband Jay Z.
Angélique Kidjo
Time magazine called her "Africa's premier diva." Born in Benin, Angélique Kidjo’s philanthropic work spans the African continent. She is a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and has travelled to several nations including Tanzania, Senegal South Africa. She is also a girls’ rights champion and co-founded the Batonga Foundation, which empowers young women through education.
Angelique Kidjo's album "Eve" is nominated for best world music album.
Pharrell
Pharrell is renowned for more than just making the world join the "Happy" craze. A longtime advocate for youth empowerment, he founded From One Hand to anOTHER — a nonprofit spinoff of his label i am OTHER — which focuses on empowering underserved youth. His song "Happy" was the theme for the UN International Day of Happiness. At the World Economic Forum, Pharrell announced his partnership with Al Gore to kick off “Live Earth” in June 2015 to raise awareness about climate change.
Pharrell is nominated for album of the year, best urban contemporary album, best solo pop performance and best music video.
Madonna
Madonna, the “queen of pop”, has ruled airwaves since the early ‘80s. Her charity work, however, has been characterized by steady activistism for causes close to her heart. Since 2006, she has worked closely with the Malawian government to improve education in the country. Her foundation, Raising Malawi, is currently working on building schools for communities throughout the country. In 2014, she was appointed goodwill ambassador for child welfare by Malawian President Peter Mutharika.
Seven-time Grammy winner Madonna will perform at the 57th annual Grammy awards.
Chris Martin
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin’s charity work has primarily been through quiet activism and substantial donations for organizations including Oxfam and Amnesty International. In 2014, Chris Martin joined British and Irish music artists to record a reworked version of "Do They Know it's Christmas," with proceeds from the single going toward the U.N. effort to fight the Ebola virus in West Africa. The single has sold more than 206,000 copies since its release.
Coldplay is nominated for best pop duo/group performance, best pop vocal album and best music film.
