'70s Rock Band Abruptly Cancels Show Amid 50th Anniversary Tour

On Saturday night, the '70s rock band the Eagles performed at the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana. The set marked their first performance at a venue other than the Las Vegas Sphere since the start of their residency in September 2024. Unfortunately, their performance was cut short by 20 minutes.

The band played a 19-song setlist packed with hits from the group's peak and members' most notable solo projects, including guitarist Joe Walsh's "Life's Been Good" and lead vocalist Don Henley's "Boys of Summer." The Eagles opened their set with "Seven Bridges Road," a deviation from their Sphere opener, which has consistently been their 1977 hit "Hotel California."

At the beginning of the set, Henley admitted the festival was a different experience than the Sphere, joking with the crowd about being able to see the sun. "This is very different from the Sphere," he said. "We got some sunshine up in here."

After completing the majority of their set, the group wrapped up quickly, ending the performance with "Heartache Tonight" and leaving with 20 minutes to spare from their allotted time. Die-hard fans noted the group's rushed exit, as they failed to play one of their biggest hits, "Desperado," a song they have not omitted from a set in decades.

Following the performance, NOLA.com addressed the situation, reporting that the shortened set was due to the band's piano player experiencing a health issue.

"In the latter half of the show, the band's piano player reportedly suffered some sort of medical episode and couldn't continue to perform," the site reported. "Without him, the band had to skip the piano-heavy ‘Desperado.'"

Details regarding the specificities of the medical emergency remain unclear. The Eagles are scheduled to continue with another show separate from the Sphere on May 5 in Atlanta, Georgia, as they move forward with their 50th anniversary tour, "The Long Goodbye – Act III."

Related: Iconic '70s Rock Band's Performance Canceled Amid Weather Delay

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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 11:02 AM.