PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) \u2014 Philadelphia taxpayers are stuck footing the bill for a Fourth of July performance they never had the chance to see.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s clear Christina Aguilera had something special planned for the big finale of Philadelphia\u2019s \u201cOne Philly\u201d July Fourth concert on the Ben Franklin Parkway. \u201cWe poured so much heart and soul into this one,\u201d she wrote on Instagram<\/a> with video showing multiple days of rehearsal.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a little heartbreaking then, to see what she had planned: strings, dancers, patriotic music and big hits \u2014 all washed out in Saturday\u2019s torrential downpour. Still, Mayor Cherelle Parker\u2019s office said she will get paid, as per her contract.<\/p>\n Her post said, \u201cI hope to be back in Philly soon,\u201d but made no commitments.<\/p>\n Last year, when LL Cool J dropped out<\/a> of the July Fourth concert so as not to cross the striking city workers\u2019 picket line<\/a>, he came back and did a New Year\u2019s show<\/a>, for which the city paid an additional fee, though it declined to reveal how much. It\u2019s likely the city would welcome that kind of do-over from Aguilera, though officials have declined to comment on the matter.<\/p>\n The mayor also hasn\u2019t yet disclosed how much this year\u2019s concert cost, though she has pledged a full accounting at some point.<\/p>\n Other headliners, including the Roots, Kathy Sledge, Meek Mill, State Property, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith, did go on with the show after the rain. Smith told Instagram followers he too had left the Parkway during the storm, before returning thanks to Parker’s intervention. <\/p>\n \u201cThe mayor called and said, \u2018Would we come back and go on at midnight?\u2019\u201d he recalled. \u201cCome on man, this is me. I\u2019m going to make as much noise as I want in Philly.\u201d<\/p>\n CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said Aguilera would get her full fee. Officials clarified she will get paid, but it’s not yet known whether she will get her full fee or part of it.<\/p>\n