The Paris Olympics concluded with a dazzling closing ceremony on Sunday, featuring a line-up of international music stars and a surprise appearance by Hollywood A-lister Tom Cruise.
French band Phoenix started the show with a high-energy performance, joined by special guests including Kavinsky, Angèle, VannDa, and AIR. The set culminated with frontman Thomas Mars mingling with athletes in the crowd.
Rapper VannDa joined the group for “Funky Squaredance,” while fellow French indie legends AIR performed their classic “Playground Love” with Phoenix. The set ended on a high note when Phoenix frontman Thomas Mars jumped off the stage to mingle with the Olympians in the crowd.
Following the handover ceremony for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, H.E.R. delivered a powerful performance of the U.S. national anthem. The moment was heightened by a dramatic entrance from Tom Cruise, who dove from the Stade de France onto the stage, shook hands with athletes, and received the U.S. Olympic flag from gold medallist Simone Biles. Cruise then placed the flag on a motorcycle and rode off, setting the stage for a pre-taped segment sound tracked by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The clip, shot by Fulwell 73, the production company behind The Kardashians featured Cruise riding through Paris, boarding a plane to Los Angeles, and skydiving onto the Hollywood Sign. The cinematic sequence set the tone for a series of live performances from some of L.A.’s most celebrated artists.
Broadcast live from Will Rogers Beach, the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed their 2002 hit “Can’t Stop,” followed by Billie Eilish, who sang “Birds of a Feather” from her latest album Hit Me Hard and Soft. Snoop Dogg, who had been assisting NBC with primetime coverage throughout the Games, brought the house down with his classics “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “Gin & Juice,” joined onstage by Dr. Dre for a memorable homecoming.
The ceremony concluded on a poignant note with French singer Yseult delivering a rendition of “My Way,” the iconic song popularised by Frank Sinatra, originally performed by Claude François and translated to English by Paul Anka, bringing the Paris Olympics to a close with elegance and style.
