Madonna has always been known for her daring and groundbreaking choices, both in her music and her live performances. One area where she consistently takes risks—one which isn’t often talked about—is in her selection of tour openers.
Over the years, Madonna has selected a range of different kinds of artists to hype up crowds before she takes to the stage, from more traditional musical acts and DJs to comedians and even drag queens. Now, her highly-anticipated The Celebration Tour, which begins later today in London, continues this trend.
For The Celebration Tour, Madonna has chosen just one artist to open for her throughout the venture’s lengthy run: Bob the Drag Queen. For those who don’t know, Bob is, as his name suggests, a drag queen. He started in the New York City gay bar scene but quickly rose to international fame after winning RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Since he earned the crown and became one of the most famous drag queens in the world, Bob has gone on to release music, perform stand-up, as well as host TV shows, YouTube series and podcasts, building his brand and his audience project by project. Now, he’s set to open for Madonna worldwide, and he’s not the only unique selection she’s made.
One example that stands out among Madonna’s tour openings as particularly interesting is her choice to have renowned comedian Amy Schumer open for her during the Rebel Heart Tour. While humor and music are distinct art forms, Madonna recognized that entertainment and enjoyment are paramount during her shows. Schumer only played three shows—all in New York City—but that was enough to grab headlines at the time.
Another unexpected choice was actor and musician Idris Elba, who opened for Madonna during the same Rebel Heart Tour. Known primarily for his acting roles, Elba’s skills as a DJ and musician—which are too often overlooked—took center stage as he showcased his music in front of a massive audience. He started shows for the Grammy winner in both London and Berlin.
While Madonna has chosen unconventional openers in the past, the vast majority of her tour mates have been talented musicians, DJs and producers, as one would expect. She has worked with Paul Oakenfold on numerous tours, sometimes choosing him and only him for months on end. She has also recruited fellow electronic producers like Diplo, Kaytranada, Lunice, Martin Solveig and Benny Benassi, to name only a few.
Traditionally, major pop stars tend to select fellow musicians or bands as tour openers. This approach ensures a musical continuity that eases the transition from the opening act to the headliner. However, Madonna has frequently gone against this grain, opting for unconventional openers that inject an unexpected twist into the concert experience. It’s just one more way the superstar is mixing things up and making her own way.
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