Shakira donates concert proceeds to Texas flood victims
Shakira pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds from her concert in San Antonio, Texas to help the victims of the devastating floods in the state.
Bang Showbiz – Vertical
Shakira may be busy on the road, but she’s taking a moment to wrap her arms around the Lone Star State.
As Texas battles a deadly surge of flash flooding, the Colombian pop superstar, who’s been crisscrossing North America on her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, announced on July 5 that she was donating proceeds from her San Antonio concert to Catholic Charities of San Antonio.
“Dear San Antonio, our hearts and prayers are with those affected by the flood in central Texas,” Shakira wrote in an X post. “We are donating a portion of tonight’s show proceeds to Catholic Charities of San Antonio, who are providing disaster relief to the families impacted.”
The Grammy-winning singer, 48, also encouraged her fans to assist relief efforts by donating to the humanitarian aid organization. “Your help is important and appreciated,” she added.
Historic flash floods swept across central Texas after unrelenting rainfall on Thursday, July 3, and Friday, July 4, triggered the ravaging flooding. Local authorities said at least 104 people have died.
As of Monday, July 7, the sheriff’s office for Kerr County, the area hardest hit by the floods, confirmed that the county’s fatality count is now 84, including 56 adults and 28 children. Identification is pending for 22 adults and 10 children.
As rescuers resumed searches for missing people by air, land and water, officials warned those in central Texas that there remains a danger of “life-threatening flooding.” Multiple flash flood warnings were active across the Hill Country region as storms drenched the area, inundating roads and waterways.
Here’s what other stars are saying about the natural disaster.
Jenna Bush Hager gets emotional over camp impacted by Texas floods
The Texas floods are hitting close to home for Jenna Bush Hager.
The “Today” show host, who was born and raised in Dallas, got emotional on the NBC morning talk show as she reflected on the natural disaster, including its destructive toll on Camp Mystic, a beloved all-girls summer camp in Kerr County. At least 27 children and counselors from the camp were among the floods’ fatalities.
“Texas camps are institutions … where many family members — generations (go),” Bush Hager, 43, said on July 7. “This camp was 100 years old. So, grandmothers, mothers, kids have all gone there. My mom was a drama counselor there. But many of my friends were there, had their kids there last week. And the stories that I heard over the last couple days were beautiful and heartbreaking.”
There were about 700 children at Camp Mystic when relentless rain caused the nearby Guadalupe River to surge over 26 feet in less than an hour on July 4, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said. Photos taken at the scene show a building, where some of the children slept, with broken windows and a blown-out wall. Among the mud-covered debris were pink blankets and stuffed animals.
Bush Hager also paid tribute to Camp Mystic director Richard “Dick” Eastland, who perished during the flooding.
“That family, the Eastland family is Texas royalty,” Bush Hager said. “They raised so many girls. And his son, who has passed as well, went to the University of Texas where I went. But so many of my friends said he was their summer father. He looked out for his campers. He raised girls to be brave and loving, and his legacy will live on.”
Miranda Lambert encourages animal welfare amid Texas floods
Miranda Lambert is looking out for the critters as massive flooding devastates her home state.
The acclaimed country singer-songwriter, who hails from Longview, Texas, announced on social media that her nonprofit organization, MuttNation, was starting a fundraiser to help pet owners amid the displacement caused by the floods.
“I can’t even come up with any words for the loss that everybody’s suffering,” Lambert, 41, said in a July 5 video shared on Instagram.
Maren Morris laments ‘devastating’ Texas floods
Maren Morris is a Texan cowgirl through and through.
The Grammy-winning country singer, who was born in Arlington, Texas, reflected that she was “thinking of my home state right now” in an emotional Instagram post on July 5. “The floods are devastating, and people are still missing,” she wrote alongside a photo carousel that included a childhood picture of herself.
“There are several places to donate, but I’ll be donating to an incredibly impactful fund called the Texas Hill Country Community Foundation,” Morris, 35, added. “They’ve set up a specific fund to support local efforts (nonprofits, local government, first responders and local shelters).”
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Contributing: Susan Miller, Christopher Cann, Thao Nguyen, Kathryn Palmer and Doyle Rice, USA TODAY
