Rihanna debuts 'Stranded' during telethon
R&B star performs new song with Jay-Z, The Edge and Bono
January 23, 2010, 10:54 p.m.
STAFF REPORT
Rihanna performed a new song called "Stranded" with rapper Jay-Z and U2's The Edge and Bono during Friday's "Hope for Haiti" telethon in London.
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The R&B superstar said she feels drawn to the cause because of Haiti's proximity to her home country of Barbados.
"In the Caribbean, we think of ourselves as one big family, one country," Rihanna said. "We're all together. We all represent each other."
She said she felt "great sadness" when thinking about what Haiti has been through.
"It's like it happened to Barbados," she said.
The singer also released a cover of Bob Marley's classic "Redemption Song" online to benefit relief in the earthquake-stricken nation.
She performed the track on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Wednesday, telling Oprah, "I feel the people of Haiti need to hear something inspiring.
"This song, for me, any time there was a difficult situation, I always listened to this song. It's so liberating," she added.
'Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief' aired at 8 p.m. Friday. Wyclef Jean hosted the show from New York, while George Clooney hosted from Los Angeles.
The funds raised from the benefit were donated to several relief organizations, including UNICEF, Oxfam America and Partners in Health.