Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera Headline Prince Tribute At Xcel Center
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A star-studded line-up will honor the music and life of Prince next month.
Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Christina Aguilera and John Mayer are among the stars who will participate in the tribute concert.
Details were announced Late Thursday for the Oct. 13 show at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center -- just a day after questions surfaced if the concert would happen at all.
Those moved by the life and death of Prince have waited in earnest since his family announced a tribute concert in July, and now plans are solidified.
Jimmy Hefferan is general manager of Bunker's Music Bar & Grill in Minneapolis, where Prince was known to slide into a back bar top -- unbeknownst to bar-goers.
"Whenever there's something Prince-related, they come from all over the world here," Hefferan said.
He says it is no surprise that major artists like Wonder and Mayer will honor the Purple One.
"There's been so much respect for him out in the music world," he said. "I think this is going to go on, the Prince legacy will go on forever."
Minnesota's Mint Condition, NPG and 3rdEyedGirl will perform, along with Morris Day and the Time, Tori Kelly, Anita Baker, Doug E. Fresh, Luke James, Bilal, Judith Hill and Liv Warfield.
The tribute concert moved from the originally-named location, U.S. Bank Stadium, to Xcel Energy Center, where Prince holds the record for most sellout concerts in a row. Fans have waited for a way to celebrate Prince's life and music.
"We owe it to him as a musician. He put Minnesota on the map, he made amazing music," fan Jake Finckler said.
Sharon Nelson, Prince's half-sister, says the concert will be a must-see event.
"The family is extremely excited to provide an opportunity for the world to participate in the tribute for our brother," Nelson said.
Tickets go on sale on Monday, Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. They will be available at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office, by calling 800-745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone using Ticketmaster TDD/TTY, call 800-359-2525.