Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts in global virus relief livestream

Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts and former President George W Bush will be among 200 star-studded participants in a 24-hour global livestream event.

The Call to Unite event will kick off May 1 to offer performances and conversations about overcoming the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Event organisers hope participants can help inspire people to “emerge from this crisis better than when it began.”

Quincy Jones, Jennifer Garner, Common, Maria Shriver, Questlove, Yo-Yo Ma, Eva Longoria, Naomi Campbell and Alanis Morissette are expected to participate in the event.

Each participant will answer calls in their own way, whether through performing a song, sharing a story or offering a prayer.

The event will be livestreamed at unite.us and on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, LinkedIn and SiriusXM Stars.