FLASHBACK: Elton John headlines Hard Rock Live grand opening in 1999

Legendary singer set to return to Orlando March 18

ORLANDO, Fla. – Twenty years ago, singer Elton John christened the stage at the grand opening ceremony for Hard Rock Live in Universal Orlando. 

The sold-out performance, on March 12, 1999, featured some of the legendary singer's greatest hits in front of around 3,000 fans. 

News 6 was there for the welcome celebration and uncovered in our library coverage of the event, including one of the songs the popular singer performed that night -- "Your Song."

John is set to return to Orlando on March 18 for a rescheduled sold-out concert as part of his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour, after postponing his original performance on Nov. 27 due to an ear infection. 

 “I’m so deeply sorry to everyone attending the shows in Orlando last night and Tampa tonight," John said after the original concert was cancelled. "I have been on a course of antibiotics to combat an ear infection and it was expected that these would clear the infection up in time for me to play in Orlando.

"I travelled to the venue in preparation for the show, but after further consultation with doctors before taking the stage, the decision had to be taken on their advice that I still wasn’t well enough to perform. We always play 100% live and with impaired hearing and ear pain, I wouldn’t have been able to deliver the performance that my fans deserve.

"I absolutely hate letting my fans down and it was an incredibly hard decision to make.

"Thank you for all your patience and support.”


About the Author

It has been an absolute pleasure for Clay LePard living and working in Orlando since he joined News 6 in July 2017. Previously, Clay worked at WNEP TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he brought viewers along to witness everything from unprecedented access to the Tobyhanna Army Depot to an interview with convicted double-murderer Hugo Selenski.

Recommended Videos