Lin-Manuel Miranda Releases New Song, ‘Almost Like Praying,’ For Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief

Lin-Manuel Miranda, born the son of Puerto Rican parents, is launched a project to support hurricane relief in the territory.

LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA RELEASES “ALMOST LIKE PRAYING”

Much of the island is still without power and the people have been struggling with access to food and water since Hurricane Maria hit a few weeks ago. Miranda, creator of such Broadway hits as In The Heights and Hamilton, released a new song called “Almost Like Praying” to raise money for victims and families.

The song features artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, and Gloria Estefan, and proceeds will go to the Hispanic Federation’s UNIDOS Disaster Relief Fund for Puerto Rico. It will also be featured on a special on Telemundo on Saturday.

“What I saw on my Facebook feed — and I’m sure a lot of other Latinos feel the same way — was this roll call of towns. ‘Has anyone heard from Isabela? ‘Has anyone heard from ‘San Juan?’ ‘My grandmother is in Lares,'” the songwriter said on CBS This Morning. “If I can manage to put all 78 towns into a lyric for this song and then use the song for fundraising relief, that’s something we can all get behind… I also wanted to make it as catchy as any other song I’d write. It’s for a good cause but I want it to spread on its own.”

Miranda recently made headlines for a tweet directed at Donald Trump, telling him he had an express ticket to hell after the way he responded to the hurricane damage in Puerto Rico. “You’re going straight to hell, @realDonaldTrump. No long lines for you. Someone will say, “Right this way, sir.” They’ll clear a path,” the tweet read.

You’re going straight to hell, @realDonaldTrump.
No long lines for you.
Someone will say, “Right this way, sir.”
They’ll clear a path. https://t.co/xXfJH0KJmw

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) September 30, 2017

After Maria hit, Trump essentially blamed the mayor of Puerto Rico and didn’t offer his help. “I wish I could tell you that was an impulsive tweet,” Miranda admitted. “I’ve never seen the president of the United States attack the victims of a natural disaster. That has no precedent for me and so those words coming out of me also has no precedent.”