Festival under fire after Patti Labelle ‘struggles’, catches water during performance Video

The good folks of Sacramento, California were thrilled to see R&B legend Patti LaBelle take center stage at their annual state fair. The singing icon, who turned 80 earlier this yr, was set to headline the Toyota Concert Series on the 2024 California State Fair on Saturday, July 20.

Despite extensive promotional and marketing efforts to draw fans to the Golden 1 stage, nobody prepared for the new weather that might pose a challenge for his or her special musical guest.

The maximum temperature that day reached 103 degrees Fahrenheit, and when the veteran singer took the stage to start his performance at 8 p.m., the temperature was still 88 degrees Fahrenheit.

Like any skilled, LaBelle handled it well.

However, during one among her most iconic songs, she became noticeably parched. TikTok Video It captures the moment when LaBelle, in a raspy and strained voice, asked for “water” while singing “Somebody Loves You Baby.”

Viewers expressed immediate concern. One person shouted, “Lord Jesus.” Another said, “You’re about to go viral.”

Finally someone asked, “Is she okay?” and one other voice confirmed it was hot by saying, “It’s fucking hot in here.”

As the clip circulated on social media, fans were outraged, criticizing the production team for failing to be sure the Grammy-winning singer had every part she needed, especially water, given the acute heat and demanding nature of her performance.

“Why didn’t they have Patti LaBelle water?” one X user asked he asked. Another joked: “My people are so frivolous about everything. Aunty up there with the desert throat and sister saying ‘it’s a bit hot in here’.”

Expressing despair and helplessness, one person posted a GIF of SpongeBob SquarePants with the caption: “Aunt Pattie, oh my god.”

A fourth fan highlighted the singer’s health, writing: “They know Aunt Patti is diabetic. Keeping her out in the SUMMER heat without proper hydration is rude.”

LaBelle gave it her all during her hours-long performance.

Dressed in a white, green, black and blue polka dot cotton poncho, she sauntered across the stage, giving an unforgettable performance.

In one other clip, just before singing “If You Asked Me To,” she was presented with a big bouquet of roses and joked with the gang about Celine Dion covering the song, saying, “Don’t confuse this, I did it first.”

When she performed her hit “Lady Marmalade,” LaBelle wore a yellow jumpsuit and a brief bob wig.

Despite the frog in her throat, fans noticed that it didn’t interfere with the complete show. LaBelle, ever the skilled, still gave a flawless performance.

“Multiple Grammy Award winner Patti LaBelle had a coughing fit during her performance at the California State Fair on Saturday,” one fan wrote. he wrote on Facebook. “But the 80-year-old singer didn’t let that stop her from performing a powerful and unforgettable set that included her hits ‘If Only You Knew,’ ‘On My Own,’ ‘Lady Marmalade’ and ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.'”

Now in her 80s, LaBelle shows no signs of slowing down. She’ll be reserved at Primm Valley Casino Resorts for one night only (August 10) and one other show on the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona (August 11).

September can be even busier, because the artist can be on tour from September 7-12, with stops in smaller towns just like the Atlanta suburb of Mableton, Georgia, and Biloxi, Mississippi.