Photo: jenndphotography
John Fogerty proved exactly why he's a legend at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival presented by Capital One in Las Vegas on Saturday (September 20).
The 80-year-old veteran musician put on a masterclass of a performance during the second night of the festival, cementing his legacy as a songwriter and commanding the T-Mobile Arena crowd with a continuous loop of some of his biggest hits from his years in Creedence Clearwater Revival, most of which are featured on his new album Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years.
He kicked off his set with "Bad Moon Rising," backed by a moody scene of dark clouds passing over a full moon with lighting strikes and tree branches blowing in the wind. The performance came after he cheekily poked fun at the track earlier in the night while speaking with iHeartRadio prior to taking the stage.
Fogerty worked the crowd and got them dancing along to the upbeat nature of "Up Around The Bend" before keeping with the CCR theme with "Down On The Corner."
Photo: jenndphotography
After an incredible saxophone solo backed by the numerous guitarists, Fogerty introduced some special guests performing alongside him on stage: his sons Shane and Tyler, both of which were following in their dad's musical footsteps on guitar. He also revealed that his wife, Julie, was just off stage watching her family perform to the Vegas crowd.
While introducing the next song, "Have You Ever Seen the Rain," Fogerty explained how the track reminded him of fans who supported him on his journey of reclaiming his old music, admitting that they help keep him going and sharing the heartfelt sentiment, "you've been a rainbow in my heart." The love he showed the crowd was reflected right back as he got the entire arena singing singing along with the final chorus.
Photo: Skyler Barberio
He took a break from songs he wrote with CCR to play "The Old Man Down The Road," from his 1985 solo album Centerfield. The guitar-heavy song allowed Shane to show off his impressive skills before the performance turned into a true family jam as Fogerty joined in for a fun face-off of sorts, ending in a hug between the father and son.
Fogerty wrapped up his performance with two more classics, first with "Fortunate Son," the crowd going wild as he belted the chorus, followed by "Proud Mary." After giving a champagne toast to the crowd, he kept on rolling through the final song of the night, once again garnering the complete attention from the audience to sing along before fireworks burst on screen to end the set.
Last month, Fogerty, the lead singer and co-founder of CCR, released Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years, a new album full of re-recorded tracks from the band's heyday. During a chat with Jim Kerr of iHeartRadio's Q104.3 New York in May, he explained his reason for putting a new spin on the classics, calling it "a birthday gift to myself."
"You know, when you turn 80, you kind of get to do whatever you want. I've recorded an album of songs from my Creedence time. The songs that I wrote back then... Of course it's a present to me, but hopefully it's also a gift to the fans, 'cause I want everyone to celebrate with me — the fact that I'm here, I've made this joyous record, and I want to share."
1 of 2 Photo: TODD OWYOUNG
2 of 2 Photo: TODD OWYOUNG
Fogerty was one of many incredible sets in a star-studded lineup that hit the stage on the first night of the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival. Other artists wowing audiences both in person and tuning in to iHeartMedia radio stations across the country over the two-day event include Ed Sheeran, Tate McRae, Maroon 5, LL COOL J, Mariah Carey, Bryan Adams, Diplo, Jelly Roll, Bailey Zimmerman, BigXthaPlug, Justice, Sammy Hagar, GloRilla, Tim McGraw and The Offspring.
In case you missed it, or just want to relive it all again, fans can tune in to an iHeartRadio Music Festival special, including highlights from the music mega weekend, on Hulu on Thursday, October 2nd.