Justin Bieber Returns to the Stage for the First Time in a Year With Hit-Filled Set at NHL All-Star Draft

In June 2022, Justin Bieber was scheduled to perform two shows at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. But just before his grand homecoming, the musician indefinitely postponed the Justice world tour before canceling it in its entirety to focus on his health. He’s only been seen on stage twice since then, until last night when he delivered a career-spanning redemption performance in Toronto for the NHL All-Star Player Draft.

“Here’s your JB eras performance,” Bieber’s wife, Hailey Biebe,r wrote on Instagram, sharing a video of the singer running through his 2010 single “Eenie Meenie.” The setlist also included his seminal record “Baby” and Justice tracks “Peaches,” “Ghost,” and “Hold On.” Bieber also slipped in a quick rendition of SZA’s hit “Snooze.” He appeared in the music video for the song last year and later recorded an acoustic duet version with the R&B songstress.

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Bieber’s return to the stage comes one year after his last public performances. In January 2023, the singer made a surprise appearance during The Kid LAROI’s set at the opening of OBB Media’s new studio lot, OBB Studios. But even then, a shirtless Bieber performed her verse on their collaboration “Stay” from a set of stairs at the side of the stage. Last night, he called out for The Kid LAROI to join him on stage for the song, but wasn’t able to locate him in time. Bieber also briefly performed with Don Toliver at last year’s Rolling Loud festival.

Last March, Bieber announced that he would take a break from touring for a while. “I’m going to be ok, but I need time to rest and get better,” he shared in a statement to fans.

“Earlier this year, I went public about my battle with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, where my face was partly paralyzed,” Bieber explained at the time. “As the result of this illness, I was not able to complete the North America leg of the Justice Tour.” He went on to perform six shows in Europe as well as a set at Rock in Rio before deciding that the strain was too much on his body. “After getting off stage, the exhaustion overtook me,” he said. “I realized that I need to make my health the priority right now.”

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