People: Grateful Dead shows set attendance records at Chicago’s Soldier Field
The Grateful Dead is making Chicago’s Soldier Field come alive like no rock band ever has.
In a news release, Soldier Field said the 70,764 tickets sold for Friday night’s show broke a previous record for any event at the stadium when U2 sold 67,936 for a 2009 show.
That record lasted all of one day. On Saturday night, Soldier Field reported that 70,844 tickets were sold for the show. The band has one more show Sunday of what they say will be their last show ever as the Grateful Dead.
Soldier Field spokesman Luca Serra said the fans are getting their money’s worth. Both shows started at about 7:30 at night and Friday night’s show ended at 11:35 and Saturday night’s show ended at midnight.
Billy Joel wed in surprise ceremony
Billy Joel married girlfriend Alexis Roderick in a surprise ceremony at the couple’s annual Fourth of July party.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo presided over Saturday’s nuptials at Joel’s Long Island estate, the singer’s spokeswoman Claire Mercuri said. The small group of family and friends at the party didn’t know the couple planned to exchange vows. Among those in attendance were Alexa Ray Joel, his daughter with his second wife, model Christie Brinkley, and actor Kevin James.
People magazine first reported the wedding.
Joel, 66, and Roderick, 34, have been dating since 2009 and are expecting their first child. This is his fourth marriage.
Vanessa Williams married on Fourth
Vanessa Williams tied the knot with her fiance, Jim Skrip, on the Fourth of July.
A representative for the singer-actress said Sunday that Williams and Skrip wed a day earlier. No details of the ceremony were provided.
This is the third marriage for Williams, who was previously married to public relations consultant Ramon Hervey and former Los Angeles Laker Rick Fox. She has three children with Hervey and a daughter with Fox.
Williams earlier said she met Skrip, a former accountant, while traveling in Egypt.
The birthday bunch
Former first lady Nancy Reagan is 94. Singer-actress Della Reese is 84. The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is 80. Actor Ned Beatty is 78. Actor Burt Ward is 70. Former President George W. Bush is 69. Actor-director Sylvester Stallone is 69. Actress Shelley Hack is 68. Actor Geoffrey Rush is 64. Actor Grant Goodeve is 63. Country singer Nanci Griffith is 62. Rapper 50 Cent is 40. Actresses Tia and Tamera Mowry are 37. Comedian-actor Kevin Hart is 36.