Hilary Duff and Joel Madden duet at Madison Square Garden

Hilary Duff reunited with her former boyfriend, musician Joel Madden, for a surprise onstage performance during her sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The duet, which occurred two decades after their high-profile relationship ended, featured Madden and his twin brother Benji performing Good Charlotte's 2002 hit "The Anthem" with the pop star.

The 38-year-old singer, who is currently on her "Lucky Me" world tour in support of her first album in over a decade, introduced the Madden brothers as "two of my dearest friends" to an enthusiastic crowd. During the show, Duff also wore a vintage Good Charlotte t-shirt while performing her own song "Why Not." The concert was part of a two-night engagement at the venue, with a second show scheduled for Thursday, August 6.

Duff and Madden, now 47, dated from 2004 to 2006, a period that began when she was 16 and he was 25. The age difference has been a subject of public discussion in recent years. Duff has described the relationship as "so all-encompassing and so intense" in a past interview but has never publicly accused Madden of misconduct. In 2023, she stated they maintain a good...