Sara Bareilles

‘Love Song’ and ‘Uncharted‘ hitmaker superstar Sara Bareilles performed right before the mobile stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 13, only narrowly averting what turned out to be a major tragedy. Five people were killed and another 40 were injured out of a crowd of roughly 12,000 fans who were waiting to see country duo Sugarland perform.

Bareilles was born and raised in Eureka, California, the youngest of three daughters of Bonnie Halvorsen  a funeral home worker, and Paul Bareilles, an insurance adjuster. She was raised Catholic and participated in the high school choir, Limited Edition, and local community theater musical productions, including her high school's production of Little Shop of Horrors as Audrey.

Naturally, Bareilles echoed their sentiments. She tweeted Saturday night, “I’m speechless and feel so helpless. Please send love and prayers to Indianapolis tonight.Another eyewitness, Allison Hoehn, said that “the storm came on so fast, and the stage just snapped like a toothpick. Everyone rushed to help, and we saw people searching and pulling people out.  Saw five people go away on stretchers. It was amazing how many people ran in to try to lift the scaffolding.”

Bareilles says that Kaleidoscope Heart is my new album, and I’m beyond proud of this collection of songs, in no small part due to the fact it was like pulling teeth to write them. We spent the better part of three years touring and supporting my first record, Little Voice, and by the end of that process I was completely burnt out.