The Paris Olympics closing ceremony was packed with surprises on Sunday, featuring performances from Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, H.E.R., and Phoenix.
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| Billie Eilish, H.E.R. and Snoop Dogg perform at 2024 Paris Olympics closing ceremony and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics handover celebration. Emma McIntyre/Getty; FRANCK FIFE/Getty; Emma McIntyre/Getty |
Phoenix, originally from France but now based in the U.S., opened the event with their 2009 hit “Lisztomania,” setting the stage as athletes danced and sang along to the indie anthem.
Their performance included unexpected appearances by French synthwave artist Kavinsky and Belgian singer Angèle for a rendition of “Nightcall,” a track famous from the Drive soundtrack (with Angèle stepping in for CSS singer Lovefoxxx from the original version).
Rapper VannDa joined Phoenix for a lively rendition of “Funky Squaredance,” while fellow French indie legends AIR performed their hit “Playground Love” alongside the band. The surprises continued with Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig, who joined in to perform “Tonight,” his collaborative track with Phoenix.
The set wrapped up on a high note as frontman Thomas Mars jumped off the stage to mingle with the Olympians in the crowd.
Following the handover for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, H.E.R. delivered a powerful performance of the national anthem. Tom Cruise made a dramatic entrance, diving from the Stade de France onto the stage, where he shook hands with athletes as H.E.R. played a bluesy guitar riff. Simone Biles, fresh off her gold medal win, then handed Cruise the U.S. Olympic flag, which he placed on a motorcycle before driving away in a cinematic exit.
A pre-taped clip featuring Tom Cruise, set to the music of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, showcased him riding his motorcycle through the streets of Paris, boarding a plane to Los Angeles, and skydiving near the Hollywood Sign.
The segment, shot by Fulwell 73, the production company co-run by James Corden and known for The Kardashians on Hulu, added a cinematic flair to the handover event.
To celebrate Los Angeles' role as the host city for the 2028 Olympics, a series of live performances took place at Will Rogers Beach. The Red Hot Chili Peppers energized the crowd with their 2002 hit "Can’t Stop," while Billie Eilish delivered a stirring rendition of "Birds of a Feather" from her recent album Hit Me Hard and Soft. Snoop Dogg, who has been a prominent figure in NBC's primetime coverage of the Games, returned to his hometown with performances of his iconic tracks "Drop It Like It’s Hot" and "Gin & Juice," joined by Dr. Dre for a memorable collaboration.
The ceremony concluded on an elegant note with French singer Yseult performing "My Way," a song famously popularized by Frank Sinatra but originally performed in French by Claude François before being translated into English by Paul Anka.
