Cyndi Lauper bids iconic farewell at the Hollywood Bowl with surprise Cher duet
Cyndi Lauper closed her legendary touring career with a star-studded farewell at the Hollywood Bowl over the weekend, featuring surprise duets with Cher and Joni Mitchell.
Cyndi Lauper brought down the house at the Hollywood Bowl over the weekend, delivering a spectacular farewell concert, capped off by a surprise duet with none other than Cher.
The 72-year-old singer, famed for hits like Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Time After Time, officially closed the curtain on her touring career in front of a packed crowd celebrating nearly five decades of her groundbreaking legacy in pop music.
Lauper performed a string of classics on Saturday night (30.08.25), including I Drove All Night, The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough, and She Bop.
The night was filled with heartfelt tributes and powerhouse vocals, with the singer receiving a giant bouquet of flowers as the audience roared.
Cher made a dramatic entrance to share the stage with Lauper, who called her “the f***** queen” before launching into a duet of Girls Just Want to Have Fun. The two icons embraced on stage amid cheers, with Cher handing back the bouquet and saying, “No, you’re the f****** queen.”
The star-studded evening also featured guest appearances from SZA, John Legend, Joni Mitchell, Trombone Shorty, and Jake Wesley Rogers. Mitchell, 81, joined Lauper for a moving rendition of her 1971 classic Carey - a song Lauper has covered multiple times, including at a 2000 tribute concert for Mitchell. John Legend appeared later to sing Time After Time alongside Lauper.
SZA, meanwhile, put a soulful spin on True Colors.
Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour began in October 2024 in Montreal and spanned 69 shows across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.
Last year, Lauper announced her decision to retire from touring, citing the physical toll of constant travel.
In a candid interview with Jimmy Kimmel, she said : “I’m not doing the trains, planes, and automobiles anymore. I’m strong now, but I don’t know what I’m going to be like in four years. I wanted to a chance to just do this when I’m feeling strong and, you know, celebrate with people.”
