Sheryl Crow took a break from her hosting duties during the ninth televised fundraising special Stand Up To Cancer to offer a heartfelt message and perform a cover of “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers alongside Noah Cyrus.
“There’s a Nashville saying that I love. The best songs are just three chords and the truth. Each chord has its own power. Music is magical that way. Together its notes create something bigger, harmonies that move us, lift us up and sometimes even change the world.” Crow shared. “That’s just like what Major League Baseball, Mastercard and American Airlines have done for Stand Up To Cancer’s truth. They have elevated our efforts to eradicate cancer for good. What’s true in music is true in life and when we come together anything is possible. Tonight, we invite you to stand up with us, just as you’ve done for so many years.”
Sheryl Crow then welcomed Noah Cyrus to the stage, “come out and sing with me.” Crow, strumming the acoustic guitar, took on the first verse of the unifying Withers’ tune, before Cyrus joined her on the chorus.
“Sometimes in our lives we all have pain/ We all have sorrow/ But if we are wise/ We know that there’s always tomorrow,” Crow, donning a Stand Up To Cancer t-shirt and black leather pants, sang.
Crow and Cyrus then blended their vocals together for the chorus of the track, which appears on Bill Withers’ second studio album, Still Bill.
“Lean on me, when you’re not strong/ And I’ll be your friend/ I’ll help you carry on/ For it won’t be long/ ‘Til I’m gonna need/ Somebody to lean on,” the pair of superstars sang as the crowd swayed along, some with tears in their eyes.
Noah Cyrus also joined Gavin DeGraw for a heart-wrenching performance of “Hero In Our House” during the telecast.
Hosted by GRAMMY Award-winning country superstar Sheryl Crow, the Stand Up To Cancer fundraising special also featured performances from Crow, Noah Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw, Marcus King, Brothers Osborne, Jon Pardi, Jelly Roll, Dan + Shay and CeCe Winans, joined by Nashville Community Gospel Choir.
The Stand Up To Cancer telecast, airing for the first time ever from The Pinnacle in Nashville, also included appearances from special guests such as Kevin Bacon, Jamie Foxx, Tim McGraw, Zoe Saldaña, Reese Witherspoon, Keith Urban, SU2C co-founder Katie Couric and more.
“Tonight was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we come together with one shared goal, to end cancer,” Couric shared during the show. “We heard stories of hope, saw the progress that research is making right now, and felt the compassion and generosity of people from all walks of life. There’s still so much work ahead, but every donation, every action, brings us closer to a future where more people survive and thrive after a cancer diagnosis.”
Throughout the telecast, viewers also heard from top SU2C-funded researchers about recent breakthroughs and the importance of ongoing support in the fight against cancer. From early detection to innovative treatments, survivor stories showcased the real-world impact of SU2C’s work and the hope it brought to patients and families.
Donate today to help fund cancer research aimed at finding cures. Your contribution supports Stand Up To Cancer and its collaborative research programs. You can donate by calling 1-800-90-STAND or online by visiting StandUpToCancer.org.
For more information, visit StandUpToCancer.org, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
