Alicia Keys, Kerry Washington, America Ferrera to Co-Host ‘Every Vote Counts’ TV/Streaming Special
Alicia Keys, Kerry Washington, America Ferrera, and numerous Hollywood stars are joining forces to celebrate the power of voting and spur voter turnout with a nationally televised and streaming special set to air just days before the 2020 election.
The hour-long special, Every Vote Counts – A Celebration of Democracy, will air on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS and its All Access streaming platform, iHeartMedia radio stations and apps, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Apple Music and TV, Amazon Music, Twitch, NowThis, Tidal and other platforms.
Keys will also perform on the show, as will Shawn Mendes, country duo Dan + Shay, Offset, and others to be announced. The list of those making non-performing appearances includes public figures like John Kasich and Condoleezza Rice as well as Chris Rock, Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Eva Longoria.
“The purpose for this special is to remind and inspire all Americans of the power of their voice and their vote,” said Keys in a statement. “Also, for many young people across the country, this is their first time voting, so we want to make sure they understand the magnitude of this time and learn why this is one of the most exciting moments in the democratic process.”
Washington said she was “thrilled to be joining my dear friends Alicia Keys and America Ferrera … so that we can amplify voters’ voices and provide resources for all Americans as they participate in our democratic process. For our democracy to work, every American’s voice must be heard and every vote must be counted. We are so excited about this opportunity to celebrate democracy and our collective power when we all show up at the polls.”
Live Nation, Global Citizen, and Live Animals are the producing entities. Onboard as co-producers for the special are Ryan Piers Williams, Chris Stadler, Rick Yorn, AK Worldwide, Harness, Simpson Street, Sunshine Sachs, and participating celebs Keys, Ferrera, Washington, Longoria, and DiCaprio. Cisco Webex is the presenting partner.
Other celebrities making appearances on the show include Kelly Clarkson, Natalie Portman, Shaquille O’Neal, Tan France, Wilmer Valderrama, Amy Schumer, Cobie Smulders, and Coldplay.
The event is being positioned as “a nonpartisan civic engagement event” that will “empower citizens with incontrovertible information on how to vote and allay concerns they may have around voting amid a pandemic.” Further information on the broadcast and its voter advocacy can be found here.