The Special Tour

Missy Elliott Told Lizzo She Should Turn Her ‘Special’ Album Into A Musical

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Lizzo Missy Elliott 2019 VMAs
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Missy Elliott joined Lizzo to perform their Cuz I Love You track “Tempo” at Lizzo’s Special Tour stop in Los Angeles last month, and she saw all she needed to see. The hip-hop pioneer was part of Cuz I Love You, but she can’t stop raving about Lizzo’s Special era. Last week, we had Stevie Nicks opining about Lizzo’s potential political future, and now, Elliott is dreaming of a world where the Grammy and Emmy winner fronts a musical.

“What I really appreciate about Lizzo is that she is so diverse,” Elliott wrote for Lizzo’s capsule in Entertainment Weekly‘s “2022 Entertainers Of The Year” package. “There are so many levels to her. When she’s in the studio, she knows how to go into these different characters, she knows how to be heard, she knows how to sing, dance, rap, and it’s all amazing.”

The Songwriters Hall Of Fame inductee continued, “Take her song ‘Grrrls,’ that’s my fighting record. Listen, I ain’t out there fighting, but that’s my alter ego record that I go to — and I just love the structure of it. And then there’s ‘About Damn Time,’ which makes me just feel like I’m at Studio 54. I love that whole album. You put it on and you’re going to learn self-love, you’re going to love your friends, and you’re going to feel like a bad b*tch. The whole thing just makes me feel happy. It feels like a little bit of disco, a little bit of Grease, a little bit of hip-hop. Actually, I could see her doing a musical off of [Special]. I told her that at her concert, actually.”

Special was released in July as Lizzo’s follow-up to Cuz I Love You. The record has dominated the charts and spawned the aforementioned Special Tour, which will continue in 2023. Lizzo is nominated for six awards at the upcoming 2023 Grammys, including Album Of The Year, Record Of The Year, and Song Of The Year.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Crystal Flute Lizzo Played Was Owned By Pres. James Madison

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Lizzo Met Gala 2022
Getty Image / Sean Zanni

Lizzo made Sasha Flute proud. The classically trained flutist has remained loyal to her trusty flute named after Beyoncé’s alter ego, Sasha Fierce, but the flute bragged to its 317,000 Instagram followers about Lizzo playing former US president James Madison’s 200-year-old crystal flute at the Library of Congress’s Great Hall earlier this week.

Carla Hayden, the first-ever Black woman (the first non-white man, really) to be sworn in as the Librarian of Congress, tweeted at Lizzo last Friday (September 23) ahead of Lizzo’s headlining Special star’s tour stop in DC, inviting her to visit the Library of Congress and its 1,800 flutes — the largest in the world. “IM COMING CARLA! AND IM PLAYIN THAT CRYSTAL FLUTE!!!!!” Lizzo responded.

Madison served as the fourth-ever President of the United States from 1809-17. According to The Guardian, the crystal flute in question was customized in 1813 for Madison by French watchmaker and mechanic Claude Laurent ahead of Madison’s second inauguration.

Lizzo kept the historical moment going on stage at DC’s Capitol One Arena, where she played a few notes on Madison’s crystal flute while twerking and fully geeking out.

“It’s crystal. It’s like playing out of a wine glass, b*tch, so be patient,” she told her adoring audience in a video posted to Instagram. “B*tch, I just twerked and played James Madison’s crystal flute from the 1800s! We just made history tonight! Thank you to the Library of Congress for preserving our history and making history freaking cool. History is freaking cool, you guys!”

Lizzo couldn’t help but double-post about it, noting that she’s “the first & only person to play this presidential crystal flute” that is “literally an heirloom.”

Lizzo’s affinity for flutes also went viral in May for playing a $55,000 flute on the Met Gala red carpet. And the recent Emmy winner has had plenty to celebrate in the months since. Special, her first album in three years, dropped in July, the same month that lead single “About Damn Time” peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is her second-ever No. 1 single behind 2019’s “Truth Hurts.”

The Special tour kicked off on September 23 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, and hit Tampa before dazzling in DC. Lizzo’s next show is tonight (September 30) at Boston’s TD Garden. See her remaining tour schedule below.

09/30 — Boston @ TD Garden
10/02 — New York City @ Madison Square Garden
10/06 — Detroit @ Little Caesars Arena
10/07 — Toronto @ Scotiabank Arena
10/11 — St. Paul, Minn. @ Xcel Energy Arena
10/14 — Kansas City, Mo. @ T-Mobile Center
10/16 — Chicago @ United Center
10/18 — Indianapolis, Ind. @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
10/20 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
10/22 — Atlanta @ State Farm Arena
10/23 — Nashville @ Bridgestone Arena
10/25 — Austin, Texas @Moody Center
10/26 — Houston @ Toyota Center
10/28 — Dallas @ American Airlines Center
10/31 — Denver @ Ball Arena
11/02 — Salt Lake City, Utah @ Vivint Arena
11/04 — Portland, Ore. @ Moda Center
11/07 — Vancouver @ Rogers Arena
11/09 — Seattle @ Climate Pledge Arena
11/12 — San Francisco @ Chase Center
11/18 — Los Angeles @ Kia Forum

Lizzo Just Played A 200-Year-Old Crystal Flute Owned By One Of The First US Presidents At A Concert

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While in Washington DC during a stop on her Special tour, Lizzo paid a visit to the Library Of Congress. She was invited to the Library last week by Carla Hayden, the Librarian Of Congress, who offered to show her the library’s collection of over 1,800 flutes. One of those flutes includes James Madison’s crystal flute from 1813. In response to Hayden’s invitation, Lizzo replied, “IM PLAYIN THAT CRYSTAL FLUTE!!!!!”

Last night, during her show at the Capital One Arena, she was handed the flute and played a few notes on it while twerking.

In a video shared to her Twitter account, Lizzo says, “B*tch, I just twerked and played James Madison’s crystal flute from the 1800s. We just made history tonight. Thank you to the Library Of Congress for preserving our history. And making history freaking cool. History is freaking cool, you guys.”

The video is captioned, saying, “NOBODY HAS EVER HEARD THIS FAMOUS CRYSTAL FLUTE BEFORE. NOW YOU HAVE. IM THE FIRST & ONLY PERSON TO EVER PLAY THIS PRESIDENTIAL 200-YEAR-OLD CRYSTAL FLUTE– THANK YOU @librarycongress.”

Check out the clip from Lizzo’s DC concert above.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

What Is Lizzo’s Setlist Of Songs For ‘The Special Tour?’

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Lizzo Special Tour 2022
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This past weekend, Lizzo kicked off The Special Tour and so far, she has a couple of concerts under her belt, with a third one coming tonight (September 27) at Washington, DC’s Capital One Arena. It’s a relatively small sample size at the moment when it comes to setlists, but there’s still enough information to go off of to answer the question: What songs has Lizzo been performing on her 2022 tour?

Setlist.fm, the most comprehensive resource for concert setlists available online, has the answer. According to their data, both concerts had the same setlist, perhaps an indication that it will stay pretty much that way throughout the tour. The shows opened with “The Sign” and “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)” before closing with a two-song encore of “Juice” and “About Damn Time.”

As for album-by-album representation, Special is on top when it comes to songs from the album performed during the show, followed by Cuz I Love You and Coconut Oil. At both concerts, she has also covered Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman.”

Check out the setlist from Lizzo’s tour so far below.

1. “The Sign”
2. “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)”
3. “Soulmate”
4. “Grrrls”
5. “Boys”
6. “Tempo”
7. “Rumors”
8. “Scuse Me”
9. “Naked”
10. “Jerome”
11. “Break Up Twice”
12. “Doo Wop (That Thing)” (Lauryn Hill cover)
13. “Special”
14. “I’m Every Woman” (Chaka Khan cover)
15. “Like A Girl”
16. “Birthday Girl/Happy Birthday”
17. “Everybody’s Gay”
18. “Water Me”
19. “Cuz I Love You”
20. “If You Love Me”
21. “Coldplay”
22. “Truth Hurts”
23. “I Love You B*tch”
24. “Good As Hell”
25. “Juice” (encore)
26. “About Damn Time” (encore)

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Lizzo Receives An Invitation From The Library Of Congress To Check Out Their Flute Collection

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Lizzo Met Gala 2022
Getty Image / Sean Zanni

Emmy Award-winning singer, rapper, and flutist Lizzo may soon be able to add another feat to her incredibly stacked resume. Next week, the ‘About Damn Time’ singer will bring her Special tour to the Capital One Arena in Washington DC. Ahead of the show, she received a special invitation from the Library Of Congress to check out their incredible flute collection.

“The @librarycongress has the largest flute collection in the world with more than 1,800,” said Carla Hayden, the Librarian Of Congress, in a tweet. “It incl Pres James Madison’s 1813 crystal flute. @lizzo we would love for you to come see it and even play a couple when you are in DC next week. Like your song they are ‘Good as hell.’”

Lizzo replied to the tweet, saying, “IM COMING CARLA! AND IM PLAYIN THAT CRYSTAL FLUTE!!!!!”

Lizzo has been playing the flute since she was 12 years old. On an episode of The Late Late Show With James Corden, Lizzo showed off some of her flute skills in the show’s “Carpool Karaoke” segment, and also revealed that she named her personal flute ‘Sasha Floot,’ in honor of Beyoncé’s alter-ego, Sasha Fierce.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Who Is Opening Lizzo’s ‘The Special Tour?’

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Lizzo Today NBC 2022
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Earlier this summer, Lizzo released her highly-anticipated fourth album, Special. Now, the “About Damn Time” singer is embarking on The Special Tour of North America and it’s a big ticket concert at all stops.

The Special Tour begins on September 23rd in Sunrise, FL and presses on until mid-November for dates at San Francisco’s Chase Center and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. But who is opening for Lizzo on The Special Tour and what do you need to know about them?

Who Is Opening Lizzo’s ‘The Special Tour?’

The opener on Lizzo’s Special Tour is none other than Atlanta rapper and former Uproxx cover star Latto. You might remember Latto from winning the reality TV show The Rap Game in 2016. Back then, she went by Miss Mulatto, and her star hasn’t stopped soaring since. Latto’s latest album, 777, came out this past April and she’s best known for the single “Big Energy” which, has been a fixture on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track rides the same sample as Mariah Carey’s track “Fantasy” and the “Big Energy” remix version features Carey and DJ Khaled. Latto also appeared on Megan Thee Stallion’s track “Budget” from the album Traumazine.

Check out the full list of tour dates below.

09/23 — Sunrise, FL @ FLA Live Arena
09/24 — Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
09/27 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena
09/29 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
09/30 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
10/02 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
10/06 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
10/07 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
10/11 — St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
10/14 — Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
10/16 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
10/18 — Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
10/20 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
10/22 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
10/23 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
10/25 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center
10/26 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
10/28 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
10/31 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
11/02 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Arena
11/04 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
11/07 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
11/09 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
11/12 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
11/18 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Lizzo Will Perform Across North America On ‘The Special Tour’ In 2022

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Lizzo 2022 SXSW
Getty Image / Tim Mosenfelder

Lizzo had a big weekend, as she made a surprise appearance during Harry Styles’ Coachella set. Now, Lizzo has plenty more big weekends ahead, as she just announced a 2022 run of show, dubbed The Special Tour.

It kicks off with late-September shows in Florida before making its way across the continent, hitting major cities like Boston, New York, Toronto, and other usual suspects. The run, at least in terms of the currently announced dates, ends with a November 18 show in Los Angeles. Latto is set to open the tour.

Check out the full list of tour dates below.

09/23 — Sunrise, FL @ FLA Live Arena
09/24 — Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
09/27 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena
09/29 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
09/30 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
10/02 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
10/06 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
10/07 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
10/11 — St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
10/14 — Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
10/16 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
10/18 — Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
10/20 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
10/22 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
10/23 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
10/25 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center
10/26 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
10/28 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
10/31 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
11/02 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Arena
11/04 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
11/07 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
11/09 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
11/12 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
11/18 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.