H.E.R.'s Roots Picnic Performance of "I Can't Breathe" Is a Soulfully Potent Must-See

H.E.R. made a special appearance at the virtual Roots Picnic festival on June 27 to sing her latest song, "I Can't Breathe." The track, which the songstress dropped on June 18, melodiously explores the Black experience and reacts to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of police. H.E.R., who also celebrated her 23rd birthday on Saturday, sang the thought-provoking tune while playing the guitar at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.

The remote event took place in lieu of the traditional Roots Picnic, which was canceled due to coronavirus concerns. There were appearances from a handful of celebrities, including Janelle Monáe, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Michelle Obama, who shared an important message about voting. The musical lineup was also impressive, featuring artists such as The Roots (of course), Snoh Aalegra, and EarthGang. Above, watch H.E.R.'s compelling performance of "I Can't Breathe" at the 19:53 mark!