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CNN Live Event/Special

Farm Aid 2026 Music Festival Live. Aired 6:45-7p ET

Aired September 26, 2026 - 18:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: Live from Virginia Beach, a star studded night as legends of country, rock and folk unite in support of America's family of farmers.

Hello to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. I am John Berman.

LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR AND SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: And I am Laura Coates, and you are watching Farm Aid 2026 Music Festival Live, a CNN Special Event, and the party is well underway here at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater and we are standing by for performances from all three of Farm Aid founders.

That's right! John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and the one the only, Willie Nelson.

BERMAN: But wait, there is more. How about Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, plus Nathaniel Rateliff and Margo Price? She is getting ready right now. All of them musical icons and Farm Aid board members.

COATES: But the true stars of the night really are the men and women who feed America. And tonight, it is all about raising money for those farmer families and raising awareness of the challenges that they face in putting good food on our tables.

BERMAN: Yes, since that first concert in 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $90 million to support family farmers. And last year, Laura and I were at that concert in Minneapolis. You CNN viewers donated more than $600,000.00.

COATES: Unbelievable. And to donate this year, you can scan the Q.R. code, it is at the bottom of your screen, or you can text Farm Aid to 707070. Otherwise known as 70-70-70. And you know, we are all so, so excited for Margo Price to take the stage and later John Mellencamp, of course, Neil Young and the legendary, Willie Nelson.

And you know who is out in the crowd? CNN's Bill Weir.

And Bill, we are going to talk to him soon.

BERMAN: We are going to talk to him soon, but not yet.

COATES: Yes. Not yet, but that's where we are rolling around!

BERMAN: I will say I've been out in the crowd over the course. So there is Bill. BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: I am here. I am here if you need me.

BERMAN: Go ahead, BILL COWHER:

WEIR: Guys, I am back.

COATES: We always need you, Bill.

WEIR: Salt of the Earth. Oh, bless you. Laura.

BERMAN: What are you seeing out there?

WEIR: I am doing this again with you guys.

You know, I was reminiscing last year. We had this, like, unbelievable three act play on mortality with Bob Dylan sort of hiding from it and Neil Young raging against it and Willie Nelson at peace at 93 in ways that I hope to be here.

But the crowd, filling in fired up. This is Bonnie. She is from Baltimore. She is here to see John Mellencamp because he was a hottie back in the day.

BONNIE FROM BALTIMORE: Yes, he was.

WEIR: And your husband? You're the Neil Young fan?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, a big Neil Young fan. Yes! I like to play a lot of Neil Young music.

WEIR: You know, if we could afford the rights to it, I'd have you do a little bit of "Heart of Gold," but we can't afford it, frankly. But let me show you around a little bit.

Come on, Jay, lets wander down and see what is happening. We are waiting for Margo Price, by the way, whose new album, if you guys haven't heard it is beautiful. It moved me to tears on the way here. A tribute to a lot of Latino field workers in this industry.

Well, I will kick it back over to you guys.

BERMAN: Let's listen to Nathaniel Rateliff, who has got a big introduction here.

NATHANIEL RATELIFF, SINGER-SONGWRITER: It is a pleasure to introduce this next act. She does a little bit of everything, but everything she does is from her heart and I am privileged to call her my friend. I am a fellow board member and we came up together in this together. And so it is amazing to see her growth over the years and her continued passion for equality and food sovereignty.

Please give it up for, like I said, my friend and fellow board member Margo Price.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) (PERFORMANCE by MARGO PRICE)

[19:00:00]