Lady Gaga performed to a record-breaking crowd in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday as the “Bad Romance” singer’s free concert on Copacabana Beach drew an estimated 2.1 million people.
According to the singer’s representatives, the gig marked the most-attended concert by a female singer in history, eclipsing the 1.6 million people Queen of Pop Madonna drew to the same venue last year.
It was a time of jubilation for Lady Gaga’s dedicated Brazilian fans, most of whom had not seen her perform in the country for over ten years. The anticipation was high, especially since her earlier scheduled performance in 2017 had been canceled due to health problems.
The Copacabana Beach concert was Gaga’s return to Brazil since 2012. Speaking of devoted fans—many of whom had shown up even for her soundcheck— she said, “I missed you so much. I know this isn’t my first show here, I know it’s just a rehearsal, but it feels like the real thing.”
The show included her critically acclaimed five-act “Gothic Opera,” the same theatrical production she performed during her headlining sets at Coachella and other tour dates on the Mayhem Ball tour.
After her appearance in Brazil, Gaga will play four shows in Singapore later this month before embarking on the North American Arena League leg of the tour in July.
