Lady Gaga Makes History With the Highest-Attended Concert by a Female Artist

Before kicking off her new world tour, Lady Gaga sets a new record: with 2.5 million people in attendance, her show on Brazil’ Copacabana Beach is reportedly the biggest independent concert by a female artist ever.

On Copacabana Beach, Lady Gaga put on a sensational show on par with the one Madonna did on the same beach in May 2024. “Tonight we are making history. Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga said to a roaring crowd as she goes on stage around 10 pm on Saturday, May 3, kicking off the concert with the song Bloody Mary, which previously went viral through TikTok videos related to the Netflix series Wednesday.

During the song, Gaga was dressed in red, the skirt under which she stands is a giant cage full of professional dancers who, at a certain point, invade the stage as does Lady Gaga herself.

Between various wigs and long, puffed sleeves, sheath dresses and corsets, Lady Gaga sang her most famous songs, from Poker Face to Alejandro, from Born this way to Bad Romance to Shallow, captivating the audience of Rio de Janeiro for more than two hours, thanks to dance, music, art and special effects, including a cascade of fireworks exploded on the water, a few steps from the stage, for the grand finale.

“Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show—the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil,” Gaga wrote on Instagram on May 4. “The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. Your heart shines so bright, your culture is so vibrant and special, I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you. An estimated 2.5 million people came to see me sing, the biggest crowd for any woman in history.”

She continued, “I wish I could share this feeling with the whole world—I know I can’t, but I can say this—if you lose your way, you can find your way back if you believe in yourself and work hard. You can give yourself dignity by rehearsing your passion and your craft, pushing yourself to new heights— you can lift yourself up even if it takes some time. Thank you Rio for waiting for me to come back. Thank you little monsters all over the world. I love you. I will never forget this moment. Paws up little monsters. Obrigada. Love, Mother Monster.”

A large-scale show like this is part of an initiative promoted by the Municipality to boost the economy between Carnival, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and the celebrations of San Giovanni, which will last a month in June.

“This event brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season, filling hotels and increasing spending in bars, restaurants and shops, generating jobs and income for the population,” Osmar Lima, the city’s secretary of economic development, said in a statement released last month by Rio’s city council’s tourism department. Rio’s city council said Lady Gaga’s free show is expected to bring at least 600 million reais (about $106 million) to the city’s economy, with similar concerts scheduled every May until at least 2028.

Gaga-mania has led millions of people to not only arrive in the city several days before the concert, but also to sleep on the same beach in the hope of getting the best spot. Lady Gaga has not been in Brazil since 2012, and her concert was attended by many Brazilians as well as many international visitors. According to Guinness World Records, the largest free rock concert in history was that of Rod Stewart, attended by 4 million people at Copacabana beach in 1994.

This article was originally published by Vanity Fair Italy.