Foreigner, Bret Michaels to Perform on ABC’s Greatest Hits

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REO Speedwagon performing on the ABC TV series premiere of Greatest Hits. (Photo: ABC/Byron Cohen)

Update (July 14): Tonight’s episode at 9|8c features Poison’s Bret Michaels singing two songs (see below) including “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” Kenny Loggins reprising his #2 hit “Danger Zone” from Top Gun, Fun’s Nate Reuss singing with Foreigner on the latter’s “I Want To Know What Love Is” and more.

Many classic rock acts will be featured in the new ABC TV music series, Greatest Hits, that celebrates hitmakers of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Each episode will highlight a five-year period celebrating the biggest hits from that time. The series, hosted by Arsenio Hall and country singer Kelsea Ballerini, premiered June 30 at 9|8c on the ABC Television Network. It’s produced by longtime Grammy Awards executive producer Ken Ehrlich.

Among the artists that will perform on the six-week summer replacement series are REO Speedwagon, Rick Springfield, Chicago, Kenny Loggins, Kim Carnes and Foreigner. Each week, iconic music artists, as well as current music chart-toppers such as Meghan Trainor and John Legend, will take the stage and perform the songs that defined the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. The series also features special solo performances, never-before-seen duets and tributes.

The June 30 debut focuses on 1980-85 and will feature REO Speedwagon performing “Keep on Loving You,” Loggins singing “Footloose,” Carnes doing her 1981 #1 smash “Bette Davis Eyes” and Kool & the Gang performing their signature hit “Celebration.” In addition, Ray Parker Jr. will sing his 1984 #1 hit “Ghostbusters” and REO will duet with Pitbull to perform the latter’s current “Messin’ Around.”

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Ehrlich told Hits magazine: “For about 75-80% of the acts, we built packages to give background on the acts and the hits for the audience who might not be familiar with the songs,” he says. “One thing we purposefully did was booked audiences between 18 and 30. They were singing along with ‘Jessie’s Girl,’ right along ‘I Want to Know What Love Is,’ ‘Love Stinks.’ I don’t know if it surprised me or not, but I believe this is music that touches every generation.”