Lady Gaga makes history with a record for the highest-attended concert by a female artist, drawing approximately 2.5 million fans to her free show at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
This monumental event surpassed the previous record held by Madonna, who attracted 1.6 million attendees at the same location in May 2024.
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Gaga’s concert marked her return to Brazil after more than a decade. The show featured a blend of her greatest hits and tracks from her recent album Mayhem. She expressed her emotional gratitude to the Brazilian audience, calling the night historic and celebrating the vibrant spirit of the country.
Despite a security threat – a planned bomb attack that police successfully prevented – the concert proceeded without incident. Authorities arrested two individuals, a man and a teenager, who were allegedly planning to use homemade explosives at the event.
The suspects were linked to an extremist group targeting Brazil’s LGBTQIA+ community. Lady Gaga’s team indicated they were unaware of the threat until learning about it through media reports after the concert.
Global Influence
The event underscored Gaga’s global influence and the passionate support of her fanbase, the “Little Monsters.” Her performance remains second only to Rod Stewart’s 1994 New Year’s Eve concert at Copacabana Beach. Sterwart drew an estimated 3.5 million people.
Lady Gaga returned to Brazil for the first time in 12 years, and fans began lining up early Saturday morning to claim prime spots for the historic show. “Tonight, we’re making history,” she told the crowd. “Thank you for making history with me… The people of Brazil are the reason why I can shine.”
Gaga kicked off the performance with her 2011 hit Bloody Mary. She delivered a mix of fan favorites like Poker Face and Alejandro, along with songs from her newest album, Mayhem.
She treated her fans to a new costume for the historic show by wearing a dress with the colors of the Brazilian flag.
As Lady Gaga makes history, her performance came on the heels of her headlining sets at Coachella and a string of sold-out stadium shows in Mexico City.
Next, she’s set to perform in Singapore. Fans are eager to know what the Mayhem Ball tour will look like. However, Gaga has yet to reveal whether it will mirror her Coachella production or take a different creative direction.
