A frightening scene unfolded at the historic Ryman Auditorium when singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne collapsed onstage during his performance, prompting immediate concern from fans and crew members.
The 53-year-old musician was performing his “Jolene” near the end of his set when he suddenly sank to the stage. His team confirmed he didn’t have a heart attack, stroke, or any chronic condition. It was acute heat-related dehydration; specifically, his body overheated and ran out of fluids during a physically demanding performance in a hot venue.
Videos captured by fans show crew members rushing to his side before the show was called off early. As per his management team, the singer is “doing well now” and was treated by local emergency medical personnel for heat-related dehydration. Several attendees later described the venue as unusually hot that evening.
In the early sets of his performance, fans had noticed the artist struggling, as he twice stopped during “Hannah” after apparently losing his place.
LaMontagne is currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut album “Trouble” with a tour that features the album performed in its entirety. The Nashville shows were part of a rescheduled tour after previous dates were cancelled. Despite the frightening incident, LaMontagne’s team confirmed he expects to continue with the tour, with his next scheduled performance in Louisville, Kentucky.
2026-09-08 20:18:00
