Hilary Duff turned the first of her two sold-out Madison Square Garden concerts into an early-2000s pop-rock crossover by bringing Good Charlotte onstage for a surprise performance of “The Anthem.”
The band joined Duff during her August 5th show in New York City. Joel and Benji Madden embraced her onstage before the three performed the Good Charlotte favorite together.
Duff prepared the audience for the surprise by changing into baggy jeans and an oversized Good Charlotte T-shirt near the end of the concert.
The performance came during the lucky me tour, Duff’s first full-scale global headlining tour in nearly two decades and the live return supporting her 2026 album, luck… or something.
Duff Promised New York a Surprise
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“New York, you know I would never come here and not have a surprise for you,” Duff told the crowd. “New York City, can you please give the warmest welcome to my friends Good Charlotte!” Video from the concert showed Joel and Benji Madden walking onto the stage as Duff welcomed them with hugs.
Joel handled the lead vocals while Duff sang along, moved across the stage and encouraged the audience through the chorus. Rolling Stone reported that the collaboration took place during the first night of Duff’s two-show Madison Square Garden run.
‘The Anthem’ Connected Two Early-2000s Catalogs
“The Anthem” appeared on Good Charlotte’s 2002 album, The Young and the Hopeless, alongside songs including “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous,” “Girls & Boys” and “Hold On.” Good Charlotte and Duff reached some of their greatest commercial success during the same period, although they did not originally record “The Anthem” together.
Duff’s early albums included Metamorphosis and Hilary Duff, while her films and television work made her one of the era’s most recognizable Disney Channel stars. The Madison Square Garden performance gave fans who discovered both acts during that period a collaboration more than two decades later.
Duff and Joel Madden Remain Close With Each Other’s Families
Duff and Joel dated from 2004 to 2006, but their former relationship was not presented as the focus of the performance. After the show, Duff and her husband, Matthew Koma, posed backstage with Joel, Benji and Joel’s wife, Nicole Richie.
Benji shared the photograph on Instagram Stories and described the gathering as “FAMILY NIGHT @ MSG.” Duff said in 2023 that she had remained close to Joel and his family, explaining that the families were neighbors and frequently spent time together. Koma has also performed with Good Charlotte during breaks in Duff’s tour schedule.
Duff’s Second Madison Square Garden Show Is Set for August 6th
The August 5th performance was the first of two sold-out the lucky me tour concerts at Madison Square Garden. Duff is scheduled to return to the venue on August 6th before continuing with additional U.S. shows and later dates in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico.
Good Charlotte and Duff have not announced that their collaboration will become a regular part of the tour. Her Madison Square Garden set also included earlier songs such as “So Yesterday,” “Come Clean” and “Anywhere But Here,” along with material from luck… or something. Duff ended the first concert with “What Dreams Are Made Of” as balloons fell over the audience.