PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia taxpayers are stuck footing the bill for a Fourth of July performance they never had the chance to see.
It’s clear Christina Aguilera had something special planned for the big finale of Philadelphia’s “One Philly” July Fourth concert on the Ben Franklin Parkway. “We poured so much heart and soul into this one,” she wrote on Instagram with video showing multiple days of rehearsal.
It’s a little heartbreaking then, to see what she had planned: strings, dancers, patriotic music and big hits — all washed out in Saturday’s torrential downpour. Still, Mayor Cherelle Parker’s office said she will get paid, as per her contract.
Her post said, “I hope to be back in Philly soon,” but made no commitments.
Last year, when LL Cool J dropped out of the July Fourth concert so as not to cross the striking city workers’ picket line, he came back and did a New Year’s show, for which the city paid an additional fee, though it declined to reveal how much. It’s likely the city would welcome that kind of do-over from Aguilera, though officials have declined to comment on the matter.
The mayor also hasn’t yet disclosed how much this year’s concert cost, though she has pledged a full accounting at some point.
Other headliners, including the Roots, Kathy Sledge, Meek Mill, State Property, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith, did go on with the show after the rain. Smith told Instagram followers he too had left the Parkway during the storm, before returning thanks to Parker's intervention.
“The mayor called and said, ‘Would we come back and go on at midnight?’” he recalled. “Come on man, this is me. I’m going to make as much noise as I want in Philly.”
