Ray LaMontagne’s September 5 concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium took an unexpected turn when the singer-songwriter collapsed while performing “Jolene.” The moment brought the performance to an abrupt stop as members of his team rushed to help him from the stage.
The incident came during the latter portion of the show, but there had already been a few unusual moments earlier in the performance. LaMontagne had stopped twice during another song before briefly leaving the stage. What happened in the minutes leading up to the collapse, and what did his team say afterward?
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Ray LaMontagne Suddenly Collapses During “Jolene”
LaMontagne was performing “Jolene” with his guitar when he suddenly sank and fell backward onto the stage.
Fan-recorded footage from the September 5 concert shows people near the singer, including members of his team, quickly moving in to assist him. He was subsequently helped away from the stage, and the concert ended early.
The performance was the second of LaMontagne’s two scheduled shows at the Ryman Auditorium. He had performed at the historic Nashville venue the previous night, September 4.
For those watching the September 5 concert, the collapse came after a performance that had already taken an unexpected turn.
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What Happened During “Hannah” Before the Collapse?
Earlier in the concert, LaMontagne stopped twice while performing “Hannah” after apparently losing his place in the song.
He apologised to the audience before continuing.
Later, he briefly left the stage. He eventually returned and began performing “Jolene.”
It was during that song that he collapsed.
The performance of “Jolene” was only partial, and the show was stopped afterward.
The sequence became a source of concern after footage of the incident circulated online. However, observations about what happened onstage are separate from the medical information released afterward.
That explanation came from LaMontagne’s management.
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Ray LaMontagne’s Management Releases Statement After Nashville Concert
Following the show, LaMontagne’s team issued an update through his Instagram Story.
“Thank you to everyone who came out to tonight’s show at the Ryman,” management wrote. “Ray is in good hands with the local EMS and is being treated for heat related dehydration, he is doing well now and is grateful for everyone’s understanding.”
The statement provided the first direct explanation for why LaMontagne had collapsed.
His management also addressed the singer’s next scheduled appearance, saying that LaMontagne:
“is looking forward to being onstage in Louisville tomorrow night.”
Some concertgoers also described the Ryman as unusually hot that evening in posts shared online. Those accounts provide context surrounding the conditions at the concert, but the confirmed medical information remains the statement from LaMontagne’s management.
There has been no public statement establishing any other medical diagnosis.
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What Songs Did Ray LaMontagne Perform Before “Jolene”?
The September 5 concert followed the format of LaMontagne’s Trouble 20th Anniversary Tour, which combines songs from across his catalogue with material from his debut album.
The documented set included:
| Stage of concert | Songs |
| Earlier portion | “We’ll Make It Through,” “It Takes Me Back,” “Yearning,” “Roll Me Mama, Roll Me,” “Step Into Your Power,” “Such a Simple Thing” |
| Later portion | “Trouble,” “Shelter,” “Hold You in My Arms,” “Narrow Escape,” “Burn,” “Forever My Friend,” “Hannah,” “How Come” |
| Final song | “Jolene” — performed only partially |
The collapse therefore happened near the end of a set that had already moved through a substantial selection of LaMontagne’s catalogue.
The September 5 performance was also part of a two-night Nashville run, with the singer having appeared at the Ryman on September 4.
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Why Ray LaMontagne Was Performing the Trouble 20th Anniversary Tour
The Nashville shows were part of LaMontagne’s Trouble 20th Anniversary Tour, which commemorates two decades since the release of his debut studio album, Trouble.
Originally released in 2004, the album established LaMontagne as a major singer-songwriter. It includes “Trouble,” “Hold You in My Arms,” “Hannah” and “Jolene.”
For the anniversary tour, LaMontagne is performing Trouble in its entirety alongside songs from throughout his catalogue. The Weather Station is serving as support.
The Nashville dates were among a series of shows rescheduled from the previous year.
LaMontagne’s 2025 North American tour dates were postponed following what venue announcements described as a lengthy healing process after unexpected oral surgery. The rescheduled 2026 tour was built around the 20th-anniversary celebration of Trouble.
That makes the Nashville performances part of a broader retrospective tour focused on the album that launched LaMontagne’s recording career.
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Did Ray LaMontagne Perform in Louisville After the Nashville Collapse?
The answer came the following night.
LaMontagne’s next scheduled concert was at the Louisville Palace in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 6. The show was officially scheduled for 8 p.m. and was part of the same Trouble 20th Anniversary Tour.
Available concert records indicate that LaMontagne did perform in Louisville on September 6.
His appearance followed the expectation stated by his management after the Nashville concert, when the team said he was looking forward to being onstage there the following night.
While the Louisville performance showed that the tour continued, LaMontagne’s representatives have not publicly provided a more detailed medical assessment.
Where Is the Trouble 20th Anniversary Tour Going Next?
The tour continues through September, with additional performances scheduled across the United States before its final dates in New York.
Current listings show LaMontagne scheduled to perform at venues including:
- Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater in Syracuse
- F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre
- The Met in Philadelphia
- DPAC in Durham
- Mershon Auditorium in Columbus
- Akron Civic Theatre
- Detroit’s Fox Theatre
- Boston’s Leader Bank Pavilion
- Portland’s State Theatre
- New York City’s Beacon Theatre
The September 5 Nashville performance was therefore an interruption to one concert rather than a cancellation of the wider tour.
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What Is Confirmed About Ray LaMontagne’s Nashville Collapse?
The publicly confirmed account stops at the information provided by LaMontagne’s representatives.
He collapsed while performing “Jolene” at the Ryman Auditorium on September 5 and was helped from the stage. His management said he was in the care of local EMS and was being treated for heat-related dehydration.
The team also said he was “doing well now” and thanked the audience for its understanding.
There has been no publicly confirmed indication from his team of a more serious underlying medical condition, and no additional diagnosis has been publicly disclosed.
Available concert records indicate that LaMontagne performed in Louisville the following night, September 6.
For now, those are the key confirmed details surrounding the Nashville incident.
Ray LaMontagne’s Tour Moves Forward After Ryman Incident
The collapse brought LaMontagne’s September 5 performance to an early end, but the tour continued with his Louisville appearance the following evening.
The incident occurred during a particularly significant run of concerts, as LaMontagne is currently marking the 20th anniversary of Trouble, the 2004 album that introduced him to a wider audience.
His management has publicly identified heat-related dehydration as the reason for his treatment by local EMS and said he was doing well. Beyond that, further medical details have not been disclosed.
The remaining Trouble 20th Anniversary Tour dates are currently scheduled to continue through September, with performances across the United States leading to the final New York shows.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available statements, official event information and contemporaneous reporting from the following sources. The precise medical details beyond the description of “heat related dehydration” have not been publicly disclosed by Ray LaMontagne or his representatives. No additional medical diagnosis has been added or inferred beyond the information publicly confirmed by his team.
Sources
- Consequence — original report on the Nashville collapse and management statement
- Ryman Auditorium / AXS — September 4–5, 2026 event listings
- Ticketmaster — Ryman Auditorium September 5 event listing
- Live Nation — Ray LaMontagne 2026 tour dates
- Ticketmaster — Louisville Palace, September 6, 2026
- NME — report on the collapse and management’s health update
- People — report on the heat-related dehydration and collapse
- iHeart — report reproducing the management statement
Featured Image Credit: Roberta / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
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