Hilary Duff strutted onto the stage for the first of her two sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Wednesday (Aug. 5), surprising fans by bringing out Good Charlotte to perform the pop-punk band’s 2003 hit “The Anthem.”
While surprise guests haven’t been a staple of the Lucky Me Tour, Duff has consistently been giving fans exactly what they came for by blending nostalgic favorites with her latest material.
Duff’s return to music was met with excitement from longtime fans who had eagerly awaited her comeback. While also emerging as an acting star on both the small and big screen, Duff scored seven Billboard Hot 100 hits in the mid-’00s, including enduring favorites like 2003’s “So Yesterday” and 2004’s “Come Clean.” Since then, fans have continued hoping for new music that captures the sound and authenticity that made Duff a standout artist.
Her new album, luck…or something, is filled with the nostalgic charm and authentic sound that fans have come to love. At the same time, her seamless transition into a more mature musical style highlights her growth, adaptability and versatility as an artist, as she continues to carve out her own lane in pop music, and prove that her star power is stronger than ever.
The Lucky Me Tour returns to Madison Square Garden for a second New York City show on Thursday (Aug. 6) before wrapping its U.S. leg in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Aug. 16. From there, Duff will take the tour overseas with dates across the U.K., Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Mexico.
Throughout the US leg of the tour, Duff treated fans to a mix of brand-new tracks and beloved classics. Those fortunate enough to score tickets to her sold-out night-one performance were rewarded with an unforgettable evening. Here were the five best moments from the show.
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Surprise at NYC Show With Good Charlotte
Image Credit: Michael Drummond “New York, you know I’d never come here without a surprise for you, right?” Duff asked as the crowd erupted in anticipation. As the cheers grew louder, she continued, “I brought some of my dearest friends to New York City tonight. Talk about some day one-ers… New York City, can you please give the warmest welcome to my friends, Good Charlotte?”
Because Duff has rarely spoken publicly about her past relationship with Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden, the surprise appearance and introduction to the band caught many fans off guard at one of the biggest stops on the Lucky Me Tour. It was a full-circle throwback moment as Duff warmly embraced the band members onstage, sporting a Good Charlotte merch T-shirt while the band leaned into their signature early-2000s pop-punk style.
Singing “The Anthem,” the band’s 2003 hit, was a throwback fans weren’t expecting to hear live. Everyone was jumping for joy as this unexpected crossover resulted in the fan-favorite moment of the night.
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What Dreams Are Made Of
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard Hilary’s sold out show was packed with high energy and giggles, as she constantly told the crowd how lucky she was to return to music and how excited she was that her fans showed up for her – whether she was their first concert when they were ten years old, or if they’re now at her concert with their kids in toe.
“This is just a magical moment for me. It’s happened! This is the third stop on this tour where I’ve been able to say that I’m home,” Duff told the crowd. She even laughed, adding, “I used to come to hockey games here!” As fans erupted in cheers, Duff paused to take in the moment. The roaring applause filled Madison Square Garden, with the crowd hanging on every word she had to say.
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A Family ER Moment in NYC
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard Of course, this being New York City, the Madison Square Garden stop was also a family affair. Duff’s husband and children were in attendance, with the singer sharing that one of her kids had even spent the morning in the emergency room getting stitches before making it to the show.
With Duff sharing that her and her husband “had an unusual start to their day,” leading up to the concert, fans all clapped when she told the crowd that her daughter is “fine now” and she was “incredibly proud of her for being so brave.”
Fans have watched Hilary Duff grow up in the public eye, making this heartfelt moment especially meaningful to see her acknowledge her daughter on stage. It was a full-circle moment for both Duff and the audience, many of whom have followed her journey from child star to adulthood and now motherhood.
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A Finger Heart for “Beat of My Heart”
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard Hilary treated fans to a mix of nostalgic favorites and newer tracks throughout the U.S. leg of her tour, giving concertgoers of all ages — from day-one supporters to newer fans — plenty to sing along to. One standout moment came when she performed “Beat of My Heart” from her 2005 album Most Wanted.
During the performance, Hilary grabbed a handheld camera rig and turned it toward herself, making it feel as though she was on a FaceTime call with the audience. She laughed, interacted with fans, and embraced the candid, unfiltered vibe — even if the camera wasn’t always perfectly centered. The close-up footage captured her taking in the sea of cheering fans as they passionately sang every word of the fan-favorite hit back to her. She even flashed a Korean finger-heart gesture, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
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Bringing Out Drag Queens as ‘With Love’ Dance Takes Over NYC
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Billboard The “With Love” dance, which Hilary Duff first performed on Good Morning America in 2007, became a viral sensation and remains a fan-favorite moment.
For the tradition, the Lizzie McGuire alum invited three drag queens onstage to join her for the iconic “With Love” dance that she performs at every show. While Duff typically selects audience members to participate, she surprised the New York crowd by revealing that she had already chosen three special fans: Crystal Envy, Luxx Noir and Aquaria.
As they made their entrance, Duff introduced them as “some of the most beautiful queens in all of the land!” Each queen paid tribute to a different era of Duff’s career, dressing as one of her most memorable characters and looks — from her “Wake Up” music video outfit, to Lizzie McGuire herself, to Isabella from The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
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