Rock history will meet philanthropic ambition this coming November 23 in Nashville when former champion figure skater Scott Hamilton transforms the Bridgestone Arena into a hybrid spectacle of ice‑skating and stage‑rock. The show is part of his annual cancer‑research fundraising gala, and this year he’s gone big by assembling a one‑night “supergroup” of six lead singers drawn from iconic 1970s and 1980s rock bands.
Hamilton’s lineup reads like a who’s‑who of the era: Kevin Cronin from REO Speedwagon, Wally Palmar of The Romantics, Mike Reno of Loverboy (with his wife Catherine St. Germain in tow), Jason Derlatka performing under the Journey banner, Jason Scheff of Chicago, and John Elefante formerly of Kansas. Hamilton said we’re “getting six lead singers … from six bands that were just iconic in the late seventies, eighties.” The show promises a powerful blast of nostalgia, live performance and rock‑and‑roll showmanship.
What makes the event particularly distinctive is the staging. Hamilton is turning the arena into an intimate, immersive space by removing the ice rink, bringing seats down to the floor, and placing the audience mere feet from performers. In addition to live sets firing off classic rock favourites, the show pairs figure‑skating routines with those songs. For example, Nathan Chen will skate to a set by REO Speedwagon, while Gracie Gold takes to the ice to the music of Chicago.
The fundraising element remains front and centre. Hamilton is a cancer survivor who founded the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, which supports cancer research and offers peer‑mentoring for newly diagnosed patients. Funds raised at this event will go toward research centres and a program called The 4th Angel, which is designed to connect survivors with those newly diagnosed. Hamilton has said he believes strongly “there’ll be a time … where no one dies of cancer.”
In short, attendees will not only get an unforgettable evening of classic‑rock power and athletic grace, they’ll be supporting a cause that is deeply personal for Hamilton. With six legendary singers performing their hits live, and the arena transformed into a shared space of skate‑and‑sound, it’s shaping up to be an event beyond the usual benefit concert.