Sting Joins Elton John And Lady Gaga For Rainforest Charity Concert

Sting and Trudie Styler hosted the 16th annual Rainforest Foundation benefit concert to celebrate the organization’s 21st anniversary at Carnegie Hall on Thursday night. This year’s performers included Elton John, Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Debbie Harry, Mary J. Blige and Shirley Bassey.

The event – which has been the Foundation’s main fundraiser since 1989 – was dubbed as an evening of 1980s hits and stars (“Sting told me we’re doing a show of ’80s nostalgia,” said Springsteen. “I said, ’That’s easy! We’re both ‘80s nostalgia!’”). And the concert didn’t let fans down, with Sir Elton covering Madonna’s Material Girl and The Boss singing a version of Bryan Adam’s Cuts Like A Knife. Sting duetted with Lady Gaga on Stand By Me, while Gaga joined Sir Elton for Speechless/Your Song. Sting also joined Mary J. Blige for their 2003 duet Whenever I say Your Name. Both Elton and Sting joined Shirley Bassey for Hey Big Spender, and the evening ended with everyone on stage for Don’t Stop Believing.

To watch a video of Sting and Trudie Styler talking to Katie Couric about the work the Foundation does and the history of the Rainforest Foundation concerts, click here.