Hilary Duff offered a subtle reference to her past marriage to former NHL player Mike Comrie during her headlining performance at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. Addressing the crowd, Duff remarked on her history with the venue, stating, "I went to a lot of hockey games here, but now, I’m headlining MSG, baby." The comment drew cheers from the audience.
Duff, who was married to Comrie from 2010 to 2016, shares a 14-year-old son, Luca, with him. Comrie played for the Pittsburgh Penguins during the early years of their marriage, a team that frequently plays at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. The couple divorced in 2016, having separated in 2014 due to irreconcilable differences.
Duff acknowledged the significance of the moment, expressing gratitude to her fans. "You guys have all made this entire thing possible for me," she said. "I just want to say, I love you and I can’t tell you how much it means to me that we get to spend this night together."
Comrie's 10-year NHL career also included stints with the Oilers, Flyers, Coyotes, Senators, and Islanders. He was a fan favorite in Edmonton.
During the concert, Duff was joined on stage by Joel and Benji Madden of the band Good Charlotte. Duff and Joel Madden dated from 2004 to 2006, and have maintained a friendship.
Duff also shared a personal anecdote about her day leading up to the performance, revealing that her 5-year-old daughter, Mae, required stitches after an ER visit that morning. "It’s all good. But it’s very ‘our family-coded’ that I would be playing my first show at MSG and also be in the emergency room getting my kid stitched up," she recounted.
She also gave a shoutout to her four children, who were in attendance. "My kids are here tonight," Duff shared. "I can’t believe I get to show them this."