Last year Steven Tyler of Aerosmith raised $2.4 million at his inaugural GRAMMY viewing party and for 2019, the Janie's Fund fundraiser was bigger than ever with Joe Perry and the band performing, and musicians Nuno Bettencourt, Alice Cooper, David Foster, Duff McKagan, Ashlee Simpson, and X Ambassadors in attendance. "Glee"'s Jane Lynch hosted the event which also turned out Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Kelsey Grammer, Caitlyn Jenner, and Sharon Stone, who jumped on stage with Tyler to join him on the harmonica.
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In partnership with Youth Villages, Janie's Fund is dedicated to assisting young women victimized by sexual assault. "It's an amazing organization," said Lynch. "Steven is so passionate about it and to hear him talk about it, you want to write a check and get involved." Items auctioned for the occasion included one of Perry's personal guitars, which sold for $80,000, and Tyler's Can-AM 3-wheeler, which sold for $40,000. The total take from the event has not yet been announced.
Right before Aerosmith took the stage for an 11-song set, beginning with "Back In The Saddle" and ending with "Walk This Way," Tyler told Billboard, "I'm so moved. I'm over the moon." The highlight of their set was "Janie's Got A Gun," the Fund's theme song. It brought a reverent silence followed by enthusiastic applause, leading Tyler to declare, "That's exactly why we're doing this."
