Top 10 Normal Looking Performances with Disturbing Backstories

Whitney Houston & Kelly Price

Three days before the 2012 Grammys, Whitney Houston attended an event at a nightclub where she performed an unplanned duet with fellow R&B artist Kelly Price. The two sang “Jesus Loves Me,” which seemed appropriate given their gospel roots. This song choice soon took on a haunting sentiment, being the last public performance Houston gave. On February 11, the same day that Houston was to appear at another pre-Grammy party hosted by mentor Clive Davis, she was discovered dead in her Beverly Hilton hotel room. The Grammys had multiple touching tributes to Houston the following day. In retrospect, though, it doesn’t get more chilling than Houston and Price’s duet. As casual as it was spontaneous, nobody could’ve predicted this would be Houston’s swan song.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley gave the performance of a lifetime on December 5, 1976, solidifying Smile Jamaica as one of his crowning achievements. Had it not been for a moment when Marley pulled up his sleeves, you’d never guess that this reggae legend was shot multiple times only two days earlier. The intruders also hit band assistant Louis Griffiths, manager Don Taylor, and Marley’s wife Rita, the latter of whom survived a near-fatal blow to the head thanks to her dreadlocks. Astonishingly, nobody died in the assassination attempt with Bob and Rita performing on stage as planned. While the shooting overshadowed the concert, it didn’t define it. Lasting over an hour, it’s easy to get lost in Marley’s music, forgetting how this performance almost didn’t happen.

Eva Cassidy

Coming from humble roots in Washington, D.C., this artist was just starting to gain recognition in the 90s. On September 17, 1996, Eva Cassidy found herself surrounded by loved ones at the Georgetown music venue, The Bayou. Participating in a benefit concert, Cassidy concluded her set with one of her favorite songs, “What a Wonderful World.” The song itself has always been bittersweet, but it’s devastating to learn that this was Cassidy’s final public performance. The previous July, doctors found that cancer had spread throughout Cassidy’s body, suspecting she had less than a year to live. Despite seeking treatment, the melanoma took its toll that November. Cassidy continued to grow a following over the years, but she tragically didn’t live to see this success.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones Tour of Europe '76 was winding down when the band played at the Pavillon de Paris. Their performance on June 6 seemed like any other. What the cheering crowd didn’t realize was that guitarist Keith Richards was enduring every parent’s worst nightmare. Ten weeks earlier, Richards and his partner Anita Pallenberg welcomed their third child into the world. On the day of this Paris performance, Richards received word that his son was gone. Richards initially kept the loss private, going on with the show. Although many questioned his decision, Richards didn’t know how else to deal with the grief, believing he would’ve shot himself had he not performed. Not being there when his son passed would remain one of Richards’ deepest regrets.

Vanessa Hudgens

Many considered Vanessa Hudgens the MVP of “Grease Live!,” her rendition of “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” being a highlight. Betty Rizzo puts up a tough front, but behind her brave face is a well of sorrow. To an extent, Hudgens could relate during this vulnerable moment. A night before the live special, Hudgens lost her father to cancer. Like Rizzo, Hudgens showed great resilience during this difficult time, saying that her sadness and desire to honor her father would fuel her performance. Nowhere was this more apparent than during this emotional song. While it works beautifully within the context of Rizzo’s character act, the audience is moved to tears knowing that Hudgens is doing everything in her power to keep it together.

Nirvana

For grunge fans, seeing Nirvana live was a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity. March 1, 1994, would be the last opportunity, although nobody realized this at the time. Playing at Terminal 1 of Munich-Riem Airport, Nirvana had several more gigs lined up on their In Utero European Tour. Shortly after the performance, frontman Kurt Cobain came down with a serious case of bronchitis and laryngitis. Cobain’s history of substance use, coupled with severe depression, went into overdrive during this time. As performances were canceled and rescheduled, the future of the band was called into question. With the discovery of Cobain’s body on April 8, three days after enduring a self-inflicted gunshot wound, it became clear that the Munich performance would go down in history and notoriety.

Take That

No matter who wins the gold, the closing ceremony is always a triumphant Olympic moment. For Take That member Gary Barlow, it was one of tragedy and recovery in 2012. As the flame was extinguished at the London Summer Olympics, the English pop group performed “Rule the World.” The lively tune makes the audience feel like they can illuminate the sky, but this particular performance serves as a reminder of how suddenly a star can fade away. A week before the ceremony, Barlow and his wife Dawn Andrews lost their stillborn daughter. As devastated as they were, Barlow found the strength to perform alongside his bandmates, dressed in black with a phoenix in the backdrop. Equally inspirational and heartbreaking, the stars came out that night.

Selena

On February 26, 1995, the Queen of Tejano Music performed before a sold-out crowd of more than 66,000 at the Houston Astrodome, setting a new attendance record. It was not only a historic night for music, but also fashion with Selena sporting a now-iconic purple jumpsuit. Even if the concert wasn’t marked by tragedy, this would’ve been a performance to remember. That said, this concert is remembered as Selena’s final bow. The following month, she was murdered by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldívar. Several years later, Selena’s last concert would be immortalized through a live album and DVD release. As grateful as we are for these recordings, Selena’s fiery performance reminds us how much more she had to offer.

Lady Gaga

2018’s “A Star is Born” delivers an emotional wallop as Lady Gaga’s Ally pays tribute to her late love Jackson through the finale, “I’ll Never Love Again.” As tearjerking as the song is, it’s even more powerful knowing what drove Gaga’s genuine performance. Before shooting, Gaga received word that Sonja Durham, a friend since childhood, was about to succumb to cancer. Gaga immediately left to be by Durham’s side, but arrived ten minutes too late. Director/co-star Bradley Cooper was more than willing to postpone, but after talking with Durham’s husband, Gaga decided that returning to the set would be the best way to honor her friend. Ally might be singing for Jackson, but Gaga sang for Durham, saying she gave her a “tragic gift.”

Elton John

Thanksgiving 1974 saw two superstars collide as John Lennon joined Elton John at Madison Square Garden for a surprise performance. Little did anyone realize this would be among Lennon’s last public appearances before his 1980 murder. Elton John also came close to death in 1975, announcing that he had taken 85 Valiums before jumping into his pool. John’s premature death was thankfully averted with an emergency team showing up to pump his stomach. Despite feeling overworked to the point of nearly taking his life, John performed at Dodger Stadium two days later, saying, “I have a very strong constitution and the show must go on.” Fans were elated to see John, although few knew how fortunate the world was that he was still standing.

Which music performances do you look at differently knowing their backstory? Share your thoughts in the comments.