Sammy Hagar addressed the sudden cancellation of his Fourth of July performance in Washington DC. He shared a statement on Instagram explaining the circumstances behind the last-minute decision.
Hagar had recently faced criticism over a photo posted from rehearsals for his Freedom 250 event appearance. He revealed that bad weather was the cause of the cancellation and expressed his disappointment in a heartfelt message to fans.
“Bad news on my way to the Plane — everything got canceled because of bad weather,” Hagar said. “So sorry and so disappointed. But hey, shit happens. God bless and happy Independence Day to all.”
The singer went on to elaborate on how much the performance had meant to him, particularly a speech he had been preparing to deliver during the Van Halen song “Right Now.”
“I’m so sorry about the cancellation up to tonight’s the Fourth of July event in DC,” he continued. “I was so excited to present this speech to the world at the beginning of the Van Halen song ‘Right Now.’ For those of you that had seen shows leading up to the Fourth of July event, I had been practicing every night trying to get it right.”
Hagar also shared the speech he had planned to deliver, giving fans a glimpse of what the moment was meant to be.
“Here’s the original last version of what I wanted to present to the United States of America and the rest of the world on Independence Day,” he said.
The cancellation came as part of the broader Freedom 250 event in DC, where Hagar had been set to perform a free concert. No word yet on whether a rescheduled date is being planned.
Hagar’s show was far from the only casualty of the day. A dangerous heatwave swept across Washington DC and much of the East Coast, turning what was meant to be a historic national celebration into a public safety emergency.
The National Weather Service issued heat advisories with temperatures in Washington DC expected to reach 103 degrees. The heat index was forecast to climb as high as 111 degrees, approaching all-time records for the city. The extreme conditions forced organizers of multiple events to make difficult last-minute calls.
The annual National Independence Day Parade along Independence Avenue, which typically draws thousands of spectators, was also canceled. Organizers cited safety concerns for participants and spectators as their top priority and confirmed the event would not be rescheduled this year.
The heatwave had already been causing disruptions in the days leading up to July 4th. A celebration concert at Independence Mall in Philadelphia on July 2nd was scrapped due to the oppressive heat. It had been set to feature Queen Latifah, the U.S. Army Field Band, and the Soldiers Chorus.
The Great American State Fair on the National Mall was temporarily shut down on Friday after several people were treated for heat-related illnesses. City officials urged residents to stay cool, hydrated, and make use of public cooling centers available throughout the District. The heatwave was forecast to continue through the weekend.
