In its more-than 30-year history, no Latin female artist had ever headlined Lollapalooza. That changed on Thursday, Aug. 3 when Colombian superstar Karol G closed out the festival performing a nearly two-hour set at the Bud Light stage. (J Balvin was the first Latino artist to headline in 2019.)
“Hey Chicago!” she said to a sea of fans exactly at 8:40 p.m. “Ay ay ay! How are we doing pues? We’re here to have a good time, yes or no? Trying with my English to say this is so amazing. Thank you for supporting Karol G. Let’s go!” Looking like the Bichota that she is wearing leopard-print bell-bottom pants and a Rolling Stones halter top, the woman of the hour — with her dramatically long pink hair and all — stepped foot onto her Mañana Será Bonito-inspired stage where flowers blossomed.
Karol G also blossomed into the superstar that she delivering anthem after anthem — powered by her all-women live band — in a setlist that spanned her albums KG0516 and Mañana Será Bonito. She kicked off with the empowering “TQG” and then went straight to the banger “Besties.” “Where are all my besties at?” she asked. Apparently, all her besties were in attendance and there to support their ruling Bichota.
Headlining the four-day Lollapalooza festival in Chicago — which this year is expected to have a daily capacity of 115,000 (compared to 100,000 in previous years) — is another milestone for the artist. Over the past years, Karol G hustled to cement herself as a leading force in Latin music. Last year, she made her Coachella debut on the main stage and also wrapped up 2022 with a record-breaking arena tour. After grossing $69.9 million and selling 410,000 tickets across 33 shows in North America, her $trip Love Tour became the highest-grossing U.S. tour by a female Latin act in history.
Furthermore, earlier this year, with Mañana Será Bonito, she became the first female artist to score an all-Spanish-language No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 – a landmark moment for women in Latin music. Her set at Lollapalooza served as a preview of what fans can expect at her first-ever stadium tour, which kicks off Aug. 11 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. That same day, she’s set to release her new album Mañana Será Bonito: Bichota Season.
Here are the best moments from Karol G’s history-making headlining set.
