Backline’s Hilary Gleason On Supporting Musicians’ Mental Health – Billboard

Trending on Billboard When Chappell Roan accepted her best new artist trophy at the Grammy Awards in February 2025, she called on record labels to cover healthcare costs for artists. “We got you, but do you got us?” she questioned. A few days later, Hilary Gleason received a call from her longtime friend, Lisa Hess, who also happened to be Roan’s business manager. The outspoken pop star wanted to make a sizable donation to Gleason’s growing nonprofit, Backline, which she had helped establish in 2019 to support the mental health of artists and music industry professionals. On Super Bowl Sunday, Gleason’s team built a fundraising page; soon after, Roan made a $25,000 donation. (An added bonus: Gleason’s Philadelphia Eagles took home the Lombardi Trophy.) “It was the single largest fundraising moment in Backline’s history,” says Gleason, 36. “It also really motivated corporations to give to Backline in a more serious way.” AEG matched Roan’s donation, as did artists including Noah Kahan, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx as part of a fundraising campaign aptly called “WE GOT YOU!” Related Yet, part of Gleason was hesitant to accept Roan’s charity. Backline was built to support access to mental healthcare specifically, and Roan was
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