United We Sing: A Grammy Tribute to the Unsung Heroes: Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock thank workers

Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock were among a slew of stars who showed their thanks to workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis in United We Sing: A Grammy Tribute to the Unsung Heroes.

The two-hour CBS special follows Harry Connick Jr. and his filmmaker daughter Georgia, who, along with a camera crew, go on a road trip from New York City to Harry’s hometown of New Orleans.

Along they way, they meet some of these heroes, as Harry surprises them with video conferencing appearances by celebs such as Pitt, Bullock and many more.

Pitt surfaced through videoconferencing when Harry goes to meet one of the most, ‘unsung heroes of all,’ Darnell Rudolph, a waste management worker.

When asked what his changed since COVID-19, he says, ‘the guys are more protective now,’ wearing gloves and masks.

He adds that he thinks it’s heroic because people are ‘conscious of the COVID and they still come out to do their job.’

Harry thanks him for everything that he does, and Darnell thanks him for ‘believing in us.’

He brings up an iPad, showing Darnell Brad Pitt, as Darnell says he ‘loves the work he did after Katrina,’ and Brad says he ‘has such love for that city.

‘You’re motivating us to keep up the great work,’ asking Darnell how they’re holding up, and he asks if his family is all good.

Darnell has four kids and wife in quarantine, saying his family play, ‘a lot of cards, a lot of Monopoly.’

‘Every night at 8 PM I go out on the porch, our entire neighborhood gets out and claps and cheers for everything you’re doing. I’m so appreciative of being on the front lines of making us safe and keeping us moving forward.’

Harry also visited Joy Palmer, a Regional Transit Authority manager as they meet on a streetcar, when Harry introduced Joy to Sandra Bullock.

‘I recently just lost my husband to COVID in March 31,’ adding they diagnosed him with pneumonia first and when she brought him back, he died from COVID-19.

When asked was it tough to get back to work, Joy said her co-workers, ‘are family too,’ as he introduces her to Sandra Bullock.

‘I just wanted to take this time to thank you for your service and your contributions to keep everyone safe,’ Bullock said.

She added that sometimes in isolation ‘some people don’t realize how bright their light is,’ when Bullock said she has ‘love for New Orleans’ because it gave her motherhood. The actress adopted a son who was born in New Orleans in 2010.

She added that there is a ‘bright light at the end of this and you will be leading us out of it,’ before wishing Joy well.

Bullock and Pitt were just two of several celebrities that took the time to thank these essential workers. 

Harry Connick Jr. introduces the special, revealing it was filmed a few weeks ago, and the world has changed since then.

He is putting this together to honor the ‘unsung heroes’ with his filmmaker daughter Georgia, as they start their journey in New Orleans.

‘Georgia and I wanted to thank people,’ he said of the special.

Drive 1300 miles from New York to New Orleans ‘who make our everyday lives bearable and we thank them in person.’

He adds they ‘called some celebrity friends’ to thank them in person, and they did, including Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock.

On the road, Harry talks about his sister, a nurse, wondering if she’s scared, and his daughter said they ‘can’t think’ about those kinds of things.

They meet Harry’s sister, and he says it’s weird not hugging her.

She says she got a call on March 26 and her commander ‘asked me to come to duty for a seven day period’ adding they were going to be mobilized but didn’t know where they were going.

She added there is a ‘sense of accomplishment’ but also a ‘sense of how ill people really are,’ adding people can’t see their families because the disease is so contagious.

Harry says he thinks about all of them all the time and tells her to be safe as they hit the road.

‘She’s unbelievable,’ Georgia says as Harry says he’s proud of all those folks’ working 24-7’ to take care of those who have fallen ill.

Their next stop is in Chattanooga, TN, as Harry says he’s been looking forward to meeting truckers because they are ‘the backbone of our supply chain.’

He meets a married couple, Kim and Mike Frazier, who are both truckers.

Harry says ‘without truckers we have nothing,’ while he’s seen keeping a safe distance from the couples.

When asked what’s different, Kim says they ‘take your temperature’ before you get to the docks.

Harry adds that people are confused and truckers are travelling everywhere, ‘seeing the entire country.’

Harry adds that his friend wants to say hi, as he’s handed a tablet, with country legend Tim McGraw on a video call.

‘I wanted to thank you guys. You guys are the backbone keeping us alive.’

McGraw said his dad was a trucker and he was ‘eight years old listening to eight-tracks with Merle Haggard’ and listening to jukeboxes while on the road with his dad.

‘I wanted to thank you guys. You guys are real heroes and we can’t thank you enough,’ Tim says, adding he’s gonna play a song for them in a little bit.

McGraw moves inside to sing Something Like That with another man providing accompaniment on an acoustic guitar.

After his song, McGraw thanks ‘all the people taking care of everybody’ as Harry and Georgia hit the road again as they go to commercial.

Connick is heading through Queens and he realizes they were not gonna make it through the Holland Tunnel as they head to Newark.

They’re heading to Neward to meet a teacher who is ‘risking her life’ by visiting a teacher as Harry says it’s an ‘honor to meet you.’

The teacher Aysha Notice says she went around to kids who performed the best in school and gave them a ‘car parade’ that blew the students and parents away.

Harry hints there was a famous person who went to her school, but she needs some more hints, as Queen Latifah is waiting on the other end of a tablet.

Aysha she can’t see her smile and she’s so star struck.

Latifah says her mom was a teacher in that school and she refused to teach her, she joked, but she talked about the great teachers she had.

Aysha said her students are trying to learn but they’re scared, as Latifah says it’s a ‘blessing’ to honor her because she’s a ‘superstar.’

‘You are going to their houses, you’re going above and beyond, you’re amazing,’ Latifah said, as Connick adds, ‘that woman is a hero right there.’

Connick adds he has ‘strong women everywhere’ and he’s just gonna ‘shut up and learn.’

Connick introduces Trombone Shorty, while Harry video calls with Jimi and Karen from Little Big Town.

Karen was asked what she thinks about New Orleans musicians and she says they’re amazing, as they all perform Hank Williams’ Jambalaya, with Trombone Shorty in New Orleans and Jimi and Karen from Little Big Town in Nashville.

The special picks up in Kosciusko, Mississippi as they find some kids who want them to blow the horn, which they do.

Harry heads to a Boys and Girls Club, which is one of the only places people can get food in the area, when they introduce Oprah Winfrey on video chat from Santa Barbara, CA.

‘They have been the essential workers on the front lines feeding kids,’ Winfrey says, as Jermaine tells her the last stop of his day.

‘When I get there I hit the horn and the kids coming out of front doors side doors, everywhere,’ adding that they’re so happy to see them.

‘When we put the bag in their hand, they’re so helpful and so thankful,’ he added. ‘That’s something they can count on every day.’

Kosciusko is Oprah’s hometown and she she set up that Boys and Girls Club.

Harry introduces the next performer, Andra Day, who is playing Billie Holliday in an upcoming biopic, The United States of Billie Holliday, who sings Holliday’s God Bless the Child with the help of Herbie Hancock.

Connick’s next stop is in Knoxville, TN, meeting Molly, the manager of a grocery store and Poseta, who is an employee at the store who has also raised $2,000 for the local food bank.

Poseta added that she has gone so far to play songs to make people feel better, as she sings Lay It All Down.

Harry introduces them the Renee Zellweger, who says they’re an ‘inspiration to the rest of us’ and ‘we’re so grateful.’

‘I’m so grateful you’re out there making it happen and you’re in our thoughts and thank you,’ she added. ‘I’m so grateful for making me a part of this.’

Before a commercial, there is a link to No Kld Hungry, which has teamed up with the special and fans can learn more at NoKidHungry.com/UnitedWeSing.

Their next stop is Wytheville, Virginia, as he meets the chief of the fire department and their whole crew.

‘They’re the kinds of folks who are risking their lives for all of us,’ Hary adds.

Harry meets Marc Brade, the Wytheville fire chief, who says COVID-19 has ‘certainly posed a challenge, but this is what we do.’

He added they’re taking ‘extra precautions,’ and everyone there has family members, as they try to make sure everyone gets home safe.

He adds one of the employees, the son has cystic fibrosis and they’ve been making sure he stays home to keep his family safe.

Harry meets the rest of the team, and shows them an iPad with New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

‘I appreciate the opportunity to see all of you and let you know how much we appreciate you,’ Brees said.

‘Like Harry said, you guys are really the true heroes,’ Brees said, adding he knows there’s a long road ahead but it’s guys like them how he knows they’ll get out of this.

Brees adds that he’s the ‘resident P.E. and math teacher’ to his four kids, as him and his wife are home schooling their kids.

Drew tells everybody to ‘stay strong’ as Harry and the firemen all break into a rendition of God Bless America together, while all wearing masks.

They hit the road again, as Harry introduces Jon Batiste, who wanted to pay tribute to heroes with a gospel rendition of Amazing Grace with a full choir.

Harry meets with Blake Lynch in Harrisburg, PA, who has been getting food to citizens, and Meridith Coyle in Allentown, PA, who has turned her restaurant into a food bank.

Harry and Georgia are on their way to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, and the folks at the hospital don’t know he’s coming.

He meets some people in the Environmental Services Department, who have been keeping everything clean, as Harry says they are ‘taking the most risks’ of everyone.

When asked what the vibe is like, one of them says the hospital isn’t scary and they’re, ‘keeping it upbeat, keeping it clean.’

Harry says they seem so relaxed and calm, as they say they’re, ‘trained to be that way,’ and they ‘don’t take it home to our families.’

Harry then shows them a tablet asking them to guess who it is, and one woman guesses Jamie Foxx, and she’s right.

‘I just want to say god bless to all of you,’ Foxx says. ‘We have not witnessed anything like this in our lives, and I want to thank you for what you’re doing.’

He wants to hear from all of them, asking Alfredo what it’s like to do his job.’

‘Take it one day at a time, keep in the right frame of mind,’ Alfredo says, as the rest say their families are good.

One woman says she takes all of her scrubs off and puts them in the wash right away and goes to shower after work so she doesn’t bring it to her family.

Foxx says he wants to come and see them when this is all over, and he sings a song for them, his grandmother, and the late great Bill Withers, singing his classic tune Grandma’s Hands.

They also highlight Conscioius Alliance, asking fans to visit ConsciousAlliance.org/COVID19. 

Connick is outside New Orleans CIty Hall, where his mother used to work when he was a kid, as he meets New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who says they’re getting ready to open the city.

‘If we have to tighten it back up we will, but we want to be slow and methodical in our approach,’ the mayor says.

Harry says the mayor is ‘a very cool lady’ and that she ‘cares a lot about this city.’

Harry introduces Lou Hill from the Recording Academy, whose MusiCares charity benefits a lot of people in New Orleans.

Hill announces a $100,000 donation as well.

Harry says he was going to do a traditional New Orleans ‘second line,’ but there is social distancing, so he brings out The Wild Magnolias and The Buck Jumpers for a social distancing version of a second line, as the musicians play America the Beautiful on an empty Bourbon Street as they all stand six feet apart.

On the road again, Harry prepares to see his father in New Orleans and he’s ‘mentally preparing’ himself to ‘not hug’ his father, because his family are big huggers.

‘It’s strange being in this transition because the initial shock of the pandemic is over, but the pandemic isn’t over and we’re all trying to find our way,’ Harry says. 

They arrive and find his parents on the porch, as Harry apologizes about the tree.

‘We’ve met a lot of heroes along the way, but I ended by the trip with my biggest hero,’ adding it’s the first time he’s seen him and not hugged him.

She says they can make crawfish in the backyard before he leaves, adding he’ll be in town for four or five days.

Harry introduces a New Orleans legend Rockin Dopsie Jr. with John Fogarty, singing his classic New Orleans anthem Proud Mary.

Harry then heads to the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, which is a ‘jewel’ in one of the city, as Harry adds he was recently lost to COVID-19.

Harry introduces Brandford and Wynton Marsalis, from their homes in North Carolina and New York, as Harry talks about his pop

Branford says he’s taking it ‘one day at a time’ and he’s trying to ‘stay on the path that he set us all on.’

Wynton says he was hit by in on a deeper level because he thinks about how sweet of a person he was.

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Harry says Ellis is still there in ‘all the ways we love him,’ as Harry shares his love for Branford and Wynton.

Harry performs How Great Thou Art with Branford, Wynton and their brother Jason Marsalis, as Harry plays a piano outside the Center, as the Marsalis brothers accompany him through video conferencing.

Harry also spends time with Margie Perez who is one of the residents at Musician’s VIllage, as Harry plays bass as she sings.

Margie says a lot of the ‘essential workers are not protected’ and there are groups who are helping bring aid to people.

Fans can visit EllisMarsalisCenter.org for more information and to learn how to help this Musician’s Village.

Harry adds that New Orleans has a lot of legends, but perhaps none more legendary than Irma Thomas, who is confident ‘we’re gonna get through it.’

‘We’re so used to walking up to people hugging each other, saying hello,’ Thomas said.

Harry introduces Cyndi Lauper in New York, who joins Thomas in singing her iconic hit It’s Raining. 

Dave Matthews, from his home in Virginia, and Brandford Marsalis, from his home in New York, perform his hit 2012 song Mercy, set to footage of people delivering food to others in need.

Brad Pitt ends the special with a message, stating, ‘As we’ve learned when we’ve asked them, they state they’re just doing their jobs.’

Brad then introduces Harry singing his song Stars Still Shine, asking everyone to, ‘stay safe, look out for each other and take care.’

Harry sings Stars Still Shine while playing a piano outside in New Orleans’ Jackson Square, with a small orchestral section and a choir accompanying him from a safe distance.

Fans who also download Stars Still Shine on all platforms, proceeds from each song will benefit the Ellis Marsalis Center in New Orleans.

The special winds down with Harry and Georgia talking about their journey, as she says one of her favorites was Aysha, the teacher in Newark.

He adds that it’s been so special to see her learn from all of these heroes, as the two-hour special comes to an end.