It was already one of the most epic concerts in Michigan history … and then Eminem showed up and blew the roof off of the newly renovated Michigan Central Station.

MLive said the recipe was right for the legendary Detroit rapper to made a surprise appearance. And surprise he did, performing his new single, “Houdini” with Adam Blackstone, as well as “Dream On” with Jelly Roll, followed by “Welcome 2 Detroit” with Trick Trick and concluding the concert with “Not Afraid” with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

 

 

 

 

As you can imagine, the 15-20,000 in attendance delivered very loud cheers when Eminem took the stage, introduced by Bill Ford Jr.

Eminem was an executive producer of the concert, which was broadcast nationally on Peacock and locally on WDIV-TV. It will also be part of an edited primetime special on Sunday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m. on NBC.

Detroit and Motown legend Diana Ross kicked off the concert performing some of her biggest hits with “I’m Coming Out,” “Upside Down,” “Thank You” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

 

Other big performers at tonight’s monumental concert included: Jack White, Big Sean, Common, Slum Village, Illa J, the Clark Sisters, Sky Jetta and Theo Parrish. Melissa Etheridge, Fantasia and Jelly Roll did a 4-song tribute to Bog Seger.

 

Joining the performers at this concert throughout the evening were number of famous Detroit faces as presenters, like Barry Sanders, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jared Goff, Judge Greg Mathis, Loni Love, Sam Richardson, Taylor Lautner, Mike Epps and Sophia Bush. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Ford Jr. also addressed the crowd right before the concert began.

 

 

Michigan Central first opened back in 1913. It closed in 1988 where it lay abandoned until Ford purchased it in 2018. After a six year restoration, Ford just unveiled this week what the inside looks like.