Advertisement

Britney Spears, Katy Perry and Selena Gomez Among Hundred-Plus Celebs to Sign Letter to End Gun Violence

They may not be leading a sit-in in the capital, but some of music's biggest stars -- including Britney Spears and Selena Gomez -- are coming together to demand change.

Following the mass killing at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that left 49 dead and The Voice singer Christina Grimmie's murder the same weekend, Billboard magazine and gun-violence prevention group Everytown partnered to pen an open letter demanding stricter gun laws from Congress.

"Music always has been celebrated communally, on dancefloors and at concert halls," the magazine writes. "But this life-affirming ritual, like so many other daily experiences -- going to school or church or work -- now is threatened, because of gun violence in this country."

WATCH: Selena Gomez Breaks Down During Tribute to Christina Grimmie at Miami Concert

The open letter calls for background checks for every gun sale and a block on suspected terrorists from buying guns and was co-signed by some 180 celebrities, from Katy Perry to DJ Khaled, Calvin Harris to Cher.

Here are just a handful of the many stars that lent their names to the cause:

Christina Aguilera
Demi Lovato
Dixie Chicks
Ellen DeGeneres
Jennifer Lopez
Lady Gaga
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Meghan Trainor
Nick Jonas
Paul McCartney
Ringo Starr
Shakira
Sia

"Joan Jett was the first to sign on. Lady Gaga shortly followed," Billboard writes. "Within hours, and then in a matter of just a few days, more than 180 top artists and executives -- pop stars (including Grimmie's friend Selena Gomez), rappers, rock gods, legends, Broadway heroes, even two Beatles and Yoko Ono -- lent their voices to the chorus of Americans looking to our political leaders for change."

You can find the complete list of signees here.

NEWS: Taylor Swift Pens Handwritten Note to Families of Orlando Shooting Victims: 'There Are Millions of Us Sending You Love'

In the wake of the Pulse tragedy on June 12, Gaga also gave an emotional speech during an appearance at an L.A. vigil, where the singer said, "Tonight, I gather humbly with you, as a human being, in peace, in sincerity, in commitment, in solidarity, to take a real moment and mourn the tragic loss of these innocent, beautiful people."

"As we have now witnessed the largest mass shooting in American history, I can't help but feel that this level of hatred, like all prejudicial crimes, this is an attack on humanity itself," she continued.

Watch more of her tearful speech in the video below.

Related Articles