SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 26 (Gephardt Daily) — Two of the most respected recording artists in history, Billy Joel and Sting, have announced a one-night-only performance at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City next May.
“The iconic musicians will each perform their most beloved songs from throughout their illustrious careers,” says a statement on Sting’s website. “The spectacular shows promise to be an unforgettable evening of live music.”
The show, on Friday, May 23, 2025, marks Joel’s first performance in Salt Lake City since 2017 and Sting’s first since 2023. It will also be the debut for both artists at Rice-Eccles Stadium, following iconic concerts such as Garth Brooks, George Strait with Little Big Town and Chris Stapleton and U2. Joel and Sting have toured together over the last few years, and the duo announced four new shows Thursday, including the Salt Lake City date.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m. MT at Ticketmaster.com. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Monday, September 30, at 10 a.m. MT until Thursday, Oct. 3, at 10 p.m. MT through the Citi Entertainment program.
Dozens of members of the media gathered on the field at Rice-Eccles Stadium for the announcement; we were greeted by University of Utah cheerleaders in their distinctive red and white uniforms, as well as Swoop, the red-tailed hawk who is the mascot of the Utah Utes sports teams.
Bill Riley, director of broadcasting and play-by-play voice for U of U University Athletics, welcomed us to the stadium, and reminded us that it was the home for the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2002 Winter Olympics, and will also host the ceremonies for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
“We’re here today to tell you about another big moment that will be coming to Rice-Eccles Stadium here in 2025,” Riley said. He then introduced Jason Farrell, president of Live Nation Utah.
“Utah has become a market that is a destination for music artists of all sizes, from clubs to stadiums,” Farrell said. “And there’s a reason why, and it’s not just because Utah is a beautiful state, and it is, or world-class venues like Rice-Eccles Stadium, where we’re standing here today. But we in Utah have hands down the greatest fans in the entire world. Night after night, I am told by artists coming off stage that it was the best show they’ve ever played, that it’s the best crowd they’ve ever played in front of, and it’s not lip service, it’s not selling it to the audience, it’s the truth. There is a magic at these shows, and there’s an energy that is created by community-minded fans that want to share an experience, and it creates something magical. On behalf of Live Nation, I want to thank the fans of Utah for making this market what it is and creating a situation where we can have, and build and grow, major stadium announcements for shows.”
Riley then took the field again to introduce U of U football head coach Kyle Whittingham, who Riley said: “might be as big a Billy Joel fan as there is in the state of Utah” and who rode into the stadium on an Indian motorcycle, wearing a Billy Joel T-shirt and flanked by the cheerleaders.
“I was fired up about Billy Joel when I heard he was coming, absolutely elated about that,” Whittingham said. “I’ve been listening to Billy for 50-plus years, from way back in ’73 when ‘Piano Man’ came out, and then all those albums; I’ve been a Billy Joel fan forever. So really nice stuff. I can’t wait for the concert. I’ll be here, hopefully, if I can get tickets. And I just couldn’t be more thrilled to have Billy Joel and Sting in Salt Lake City.”
About Billy Joel:
Legendary musician Billy Joel ranks as one of the most popular recording artists and respected entertainers in history. The singer/songwriter/composer is the sixth best-selling recording artist and the fourth best-selling solo artist with over 160 million records sold worldwide. His 1985 compilation album, “Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2,” is one of the best-selling albums in the United States. Joel’s songs have acted as personal and cultural touchstones for millions of people across five decades. Joel’s string of 33 Top 40 hits, all of which Joel has written himself, began with 1973’s autobiographical “Piano Man.” It was written while Joel was playing in a Los Angeles lounge. In 2016, the Library of Congress selected “Piano Man” for preservation in the National Recording Registry. The hits have continued for almost five decades, with three of Joel’s Top 40 songs — “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me,” “Tell Her About It” and “We Didn’t Start The Fire” — peaking at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts and 23 Grammy nominations awarded to Joel since he signed his first recording contract in 1972.
In January 2014, Joel began Madison Square Garden’s first-ever music franchise performing one show at The Garden each month; Billboard Magazine called it “The Greatest Arena Run in History.” More than 50 years after his The Garden debut, after 10 years of sold-out shows, his final concert marked Joel’s 150th lifetime performance at the venue this past July.
The long list of accolades awarded to Joel across his career is a testament to the reverence given to him by fans, critics, and fellow musicians alike. Joel was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Ray Charles in 1999, and has received the RIAA’s Diamond Award twice for “Greatest Hits Vol. I & Vol. II” and “The Stranger,” presented for albums that have sold over 10 million copies. He is the recipient of six GRAMMY® Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Legend Award. Joel has been inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, and he was inducted by Barack and Michelle Obama at the 36th Annual Kennedy Center Honors. He received a TONY AWARD for “Movin’ Out,” a Broadway musical based on Joel’s music.
As a humanitarian, The Joel Foundation has made and pledged millions in charitable donations with a focus on music education and humanitarian aid. In addition to supporting vital global relief efforts, The Joel Foundation provides grants to organizations throughout New York City and Long Island leveraging the power of music to enhance the lives of people of every age. Recently, The Joel Foundation announced the continuation of its long-term investment in Long Island’s only public arts high school, Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA), serving student artists in a pre-conservatory model with a focus on career and technical education.
About Sting:
Composer, singer-songwriter, actor, author, and activist Sting was born in Newcastle, England, before moving to London in 1977 to form The Police with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers. The band released five studio albums, earned six GRAMMY® Awards and two Brits, and was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
As one of the world’s most distinctive solo artists, Sting has received an additional 11 GRAMMY® Awards, two Brits, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, four Oscar nominations, a TONY nomination, Billboard Magazine’s Century Award, and MusiCares 2004 Person of the Year. Also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, he has received the Kennedy Center Honors, The American Music Award of Merit and The Polar Music Prize. Sting has been awarded Honorary Doctorates of Music by the University of Northumbria (1992), Berklee College of Music (1994), University of Newcastle upon Tyne (2006) and Brown University at its 250th Commencement ceremony (2018).
Throughout his illustrious career, Sting has sold over 100 million albums from his combined work with The Police and as a solo artist.
Sting is once again shaking things up with his “STING 3.0” World Tour. Joined by virtuoso guitarist and longtime collaborator, Dominic Miller, and dynamic drummer Chris Maas (Mumford & Sons, Maggie Rogers), the power trio perform the most electrifying hits and rarities from Sting’s timeless discography.
He has appeared in more than 15 films, executive produced the critically acclaimed “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” and in 1989 starred in “The Threepenny Opera” on Broadway. His most recent theater project was the TONY-nominated musical “The Last Ship,” inspired by his memories of the shipbuilding community of Wallsend in the North East of England where he was born and raised. The show, with music and lyrics by Sting, ran on Broadway in 2014/2015.
Sting’s support for human rights organizations such as the Rainforest Fund, Amnesty International, and Live Aid mirrors his art in its universal outreach. Along with wife Trudie Styler, Sting founded the Rainforest Fund in 1989 to protect both the world’s rainforests and the indigenous people living there. Together they have held 18 benefit concerts to raise funds and awareness for our planet’s endangered resources. Since its inception, the Rainforest Fund has expanded to a network of interconnected organizations working in more than 20 countries over three continents.
