But in a show of support for the victims and families she is now “racing” to organise the event, which will not be held at Manchester Arena where the carnage happened.
The Break Free singer could be joined on the bill by top acts from both sides of the Atlantic, including Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Anglo-Irish boy band The Wanted and R&B icon Usher.
A host of showbusiness stars have already pledged to raise money for those affected by the outrage, including Take That, Liam Gallagher, US rapper Eminem and actor Tom Hardy.
The total amount raised from appeal funds has now topped £5million.
Ariana and her manager Scooter Braun, 35, are said to be “reaching out” to some of the world’s leading performers to take part in a show at “one of four” venues in the city.
It will be produced by American concert giant Live Nation Entertainment, with all proceeds going to those injured in the bombing as well as victims’ families, according to US website TMZ.
Last night a source close to Braun, who also manages Bieber and The Wanted and co-owns a record label with Usher, confirmed: “Scooter and Ariana are racing to assemble the line-up of talent, while Live Nation is trying to book a venue.
“They are talking about next weekend but if that proves too much of a push they still want to do this as soon as possible and hopefully before the end of June.”
Katy Perry, 32, a close friend of Ariana’s, has reportedly signed up for the concert and rumours were swirling that One Direction could appear, after Irish heart-throb Niall Horan cryptically told Billboard magazine the band will reunite “sooner rather than later”.
Shaken Ariana said on Friday that she has been thinking about the victims “non-stop” since the bomb exploded just moments after she left the Arena stage.
In a statement, she praised the “compassion, kindness, love, strength and oneness” the city has shown in the wake of the attack
She added: “We will not quit or operate in fear. We won’t let this divide us. We won’t let hate win.”
Take That have already donated the proceeds from their concert in Liverpool on Friday to the victims.
The show had been postponed from Tuesday as a mark of respect.
The band, which formed in Manchester in 1990, performed at the Arena the week before the blast and had postponed three more shows in the city – set for Thursday, Friday and yesterday.
However they will play one big event at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium on June 18.
Ahead of their Liverpool show Gary Barlow, 46, urged fans to “send good vibrations all around the world”.
Bandmate Howard Donald, 49, said: “At this moment I’ve never been so proud to be a Mancunian.”
Liam Gallagher will play a fundraising solo gig at the city’s O2 Ritz on Tuesday and the former Oasis frontman, 44, will give the proceeds to the appeal.
He said: “I want to try and help pick people up.”
Mad Max: Fury Road actor Tom Hardy, 39, has launched a JustGiving page to raise money following the attack, which he called “cruel, cowardly and barbaric”.
US rapper Eminem, 44, has given an undisclosed sum to victims and their families, and urged his 20.8 million Twitter followers to follow his lead.
Source: express
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