Christina Aguilera leads the celebrity performances at star-studded TV telethon to aid the victims of Superstorm Sandy

PUBLISHED: 00:16 EST, 3 November 2012 | UPDATED: 00:19 EST, 3 November 2012

She was born on Staten Island, New York, and on Friday was the first to perform at a star studded telethon, to ask for aid to help rebuild a city ravaged by Superstorm Sandy.

Looking more demure than usual in a bright pink metallic jacket and black dress, Christina Aguilera performed a powerful version of her hit song Beautiful.

Hosted by The Today Show's Matt Lauer, the telethon ran for an hour on U.S. TV network NBC and asked for donations for the Red Cross's disaster relief efforts.

Coming together: Christina Aguilera led the star-studded line-up at Friday night's telethon in aid of the victims of Superstorm Sandy

Aguilera's performance was followed by the first of several clips of footage of the devastation wrought by the Superstorm, which has so far claimed the lives of 88 people.

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi, who hails from New Jersey was seen visiting a flooded neighbourhood in his home state to meet residents and victims of the storm.

He then sang an acoustic mash up of his hits Who Says You Can't Go Home and Living on a Prayer.

Powerhouse performance: Christina was born in hurricane ravaged Staten Island

Pleas for help: Christina was one of many celebrities appearing on tonight's telecast

Sting performed acoustically at the telethon

Guitar medley: With much of New York without power, Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen performed acoustically

Famous New Yorker Billy Joel took the stage to sing Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway).

Even Jimmy Fallon joined in with the music, duetting on Under the Boardwalk with Steven Tyler, while Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen provided backing guitars and piano.

'Jimmy Fallon is a bold man to take lead vocals from Steven Tyler, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen,' Jon Stewart joked, before making another plea for viewers to dig deep.

Striking images: Bon Jovi performed Who Says You Can't Go Home and Livin' On A Prayer

New York State of Mind: Billy Joel performed poignant song Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)

Star-studded duet: Steven Tyler and Jimmy Fallon took part in a rendition of Under The Boardwalk, backed by Springsteen on guitar

He was joined by several East Coast based celebrities including Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Bacon, Danny De Vito and Jimmy Fallon, asking viewers to phone in.

The mood was sombre, with Tyler then performing Dream On with Aerosmith band members Joe Perry and Brad Whitford.

The Today Show host Lauer opened the show by referring to the many East Coast residents still without electricty: 'One of the great ironies of this telethon is that the people who need the help most can’t watch it.' he said. 'They don’t have power.'

Hopeful: Bruce Springsteen and his E Street band wrapped up the show by playing Land of Hope and Dreams

Say a prayer: Mary J Blige told victims of the storm to 'hang in there, be strong and have faith'

Raw emotion: The soul singer, who hails from The Bronx, performed song The Living Proof at the telethon

Trying to help: Whoopi Goldberg hails from New York City, while Mary J Blige is from The Bronx

Coming together: Jon Stewart provided a touch of comic relief to the sombre occasion

The show took place in NBC’s studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza with a small invited audience, who watched Sting perform a poignant version of Police hit Message in a Bottle, with the refrain: 'I'll send out an SOS to the World.'

Mary J Blige, who hails from The Bronx, then performed The Living Proof, after telling viewers: 'My prayers go out to everyone affected by the hurricane. Hang in there, be strong and have faith.'

Help for the community: East Coast natives Kevin Bacon and Jimmy Fallon made pleas for aid

East coast plea: Danny De Vito, who was born in New Jersey, asks viewers to dig deep

Applause for donations: The telethon featured Brian Williams, Jon Stewart, Al Roker and Matt Lauer, who hosted the occasion

Celebrity benefit: Tina Fey was one of the famous faces who appeared in the hour long show

The telethon was played out by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band playing their song: Land of Hope and Dreams.

'God bless New York. God bless the Jersey Shore,' Bruce said after the song.

To make a donation, visit RedCross.org, call (800) RED-CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 contribution to the cause.

Devastation: The Queen's Borough of New York City is one of the neighbourhoods devastated by the Superstorm Sandy

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Left-wingers are only generous with OTHER people¿s money. I know, I know, they GIVE of their TIME!

- Lee , Fairfield USA, 03/11/2012 20:00

Click to rate Rating 9

Amy86 , London, Middle class? Get a new dictionary and psst, they're not all white. That said, I wish they would tell us how much they donated, money wise. People who are without homes, much less tv's, don't give a stuff about their self-entitled telethon.

- Hollywood Losers , NYC, 03/11/2012 19:44

Click to rate Rating 4

That's a picture of Sting NOT Bruce Springsteen. Gawd 'elp us.

- Julie Andrews , Hollywood, 03/11/2012 18:56

Click to rate Rating 28

It's like that Simpsons episode when the celebs make a record "we're sending our love down the well", I think Sting was on it too lol

- C.P. , London, 03/11/2012 18:55

Click to rate Rating 13

Nobody does schmaltz and insincerity like white middle-class Americans. And Christina is looking more and more like Barbara Cartland every day. - Amy86 , London, there was no need for that Amy.

- Niamh , Dublin, 03/11/2012 18:16

Click to rate Rating 29

" Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen performed acoustically" - written underneath pictures of Bon Jovi and STING

- rcs , Newcastle, 03/11/2012 18:07

Click to rate Rating 15

Jon Bon Jovi organised this and you highlight Christina Aguilera grrrrrrrrr

- KaylaL , Enniskillen, United Kingdom, 03/11/2012 17:28

Click to rate Rating 6

I was happy to see Christina opening the telethon, great show great work everyone!

- davidz2011 , los angeles california, United States, 03/11/2012 17:04

Click to rate Rating 13

It was a great show. Thanks to all of them for giving their time, talent and money to help the red cross. I donated.