On July 20, 1991, the massive crowd inside the Metro Dome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, felt a wild energy in the air.
The city was hosting the Special Olympics World Summer Games, and athletes from all over the world had gathered to compete. It was already a beautiful, inspiring event. But the opening night was about to get a huge injection of pure star power.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed. The ultimate hometown hero stepped onto the stage.
It was Prince.
Backed by his brand-new band, the New Power Generation, he delivered an electrifying 15-minute set that completely blew the roof off the stadium. Weeks later, on August 15, 1991, millions more watched the magic at home when ABC-television aired the performance as part of a massive, two-hour special called Victory and Valor: A Special Olympics All Star Celebration.
Baby I’m A Star/Push (Special Olympics: Live at Metrodome, July 1991)
When a city hosts a global event, they want to show off their absolute best. For Minneapolis, that meant calling Prince. He was a global megastar, but he never forgot where he came from. He still lived and recorded right down the road at his famous Paisley Park estate. He was the natural choice to represent the city’s rich musical history.
But there was a deeper, sweeter reason why Prince was perfect for this show. Behind the scenes, Prince was a passionate, long-time supporter of organizations that helped children and adults with special needs.
He didn’t do it for the cameras or the good publicity. For years, he donated massive amounts of money, musical instruments and school resources to institutions that supported disabled students. When the Special Olympics asked him to play, it wasn’t just another gig for Prince but it was a cause that was incredibly close to his heart.
Prince’s Secret Philanthropy
Prince’s performance is historically famous just as much for what happened before the show as the actual event.
During the afternoon soundcheck, the Metrodome was completely empty. Most artists would just sing a few lines to check the microphones and walk off. Not Prince. He treated the empty stadium to a full, private concert. Dressed in all white and shredding on his famous custom Yellow Cloud guitar, he leaned into the microphone and jokingly shouted:
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called soundcheck!”
When the real show started later that night, the energy was off the charts. Prince treated the athletes and fans to brand-new, fresh music. He danced across the stage and played a high-velocity medley of “Baby I’m a Star,” “Push,” and his beautiful anthem, “Diamonds and Pearls.”
For Prince, the Special Olympics held a profound emotional value. His personal philosophy was built on the idea that every single individual possesses their own rare, unique inner beauty.
He famously looked at the athletes fighting to overcome personal and physical challenges and saw them as the ultimate definition of “Diamonds and Pearls.” To him, they were incredibly precious, brave, and beautiful human beings.
By taking the stage on global television, Prince used his massive platform to send a beautiful message of love, total acceptance and empowerment. He proved that you don’t need a traditional path to be a hero. Sometimes, all it takes is a big stage, a brave heart, and the confidence to let your inner light shine for the whole world to see.