Whether on a concert stage in a large arena or singing from his own home, Tim McGraw is able to deliver a flawless performance, which he did last night for the televised United We Sing: A Grammy Salute to the Unsung Heroes TV special. The two-hour show, hosted by Harry Connick, Jr., also featured appearances by John Fogerty, Jamie Foxx, Herbie Hancock, Cyndi Lauper, Little Big Town, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and Dave Matthews, among others.

United We Sing, which was taped weeks in advance, was to pay honor to essential workers and those on the frontlines of the global coronavirus pandemic. Tim recently spoke out about the way people are dealing with self-isolating, recalling a conversation he had with his nephew, Jeffrey, a pharmacist, when his nephew worried that the pandemic was bringing out the worst in people.

“’Well, Jeffrey, I understand what you’re saying,” Tim told him (via CMT). “When a disaster happens, something happens, then it’s over and everybody moves in to try to help. Everybody wants to help. But when something like this happens, there’s a part of us that wants to put your arms around your immediate family and shutter the doors and not let the world in.’”

“That’s the safe thing to do, for sure,” he continued. “Now, in a bigger way, it’s the best time to reach out. And I think that’s what keeps us sane during this time. It’s what keeps us comfortable, what keeps us grounded, keeps our humanity about us and keeps us from not turning cold, bitter and scared.”

Tim also praised the seniors who are graduating without much of a celebration, including his own daughters, Maggie and Audrey.

“Throughout my career, it’s always been my goal to reach out and connect with others through music,” Tim said as part of iHeartRadio‘s Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020 . “Everything I do at home in the studio or on that stage; lights, sound, music, everything, it’s all done with the goal of connection. I want to connect with the people in those seats, to bring us a moment we can all share together.”

“Graduates, you are a generation that understands community,” he continued. “I see in my daughters, and I see in you a passion to understand and help others, an awareness of the bigger picture of humanity, and a willingness to show up for each other. A wholly elevated level of care and attention to the world, and the footprint we make with them. We will get back to a new normal, and as we do, I challenge you graduates to become leaders who guide us with the beacon of human connection.”