logo
Beyoncé bids farewell to a chilly Chicago with a fiery final show and heartfelt thank you

Beyoncé bids farewell to a chilly Chicago with a fiery final show and heartfelt thank you

USA Today19-05-2025

Beyoncé bids farewell to a chilly Chicago with a fiery final show and heartfelt thank you
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter put on a scorching final show in Chicago, and despite the chilly temperatures in the the Windy City, the entire night was heated.
The Grammy-winning singer kicked off her third concert at Solder Field around 8:22 p.m. CT on May 18. The performance marked Beyoncé's last of three concerts in Chicago on her Cowboy Carter and Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour, after taking the stage May 15, May 17 and May 18.
Many fans made note of the cold temperatures on social media as they waited for Beyoncé to take the stage, and the singer even acknowledged them herself.
'Thank y'all for being here tonight. I hope y'all stay warm. We gone get it hot,' she told the crowd as the show began.
Beyoncé first debuted the highly anticipated show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 28 with 39 songs on the set list. She performed a total of five shows there, and the concerts proved to be revolutionary spectacle filled with fashion, different music genres and most notably country music and politics.
The energy certainly carried over to her three-night run in Chicago, where she introduced several new looks — most recently, a sparkly oversized No. 4 jersey paired with thigh-high boots on the third night.
Before closing the show, she took a moment to share her appreciation with the crowd.
"Chicago, I want y'all to know y'all may be the best audience. I can't believe y'all have so much energy,' Beyoncé said. "It's 50 degrees, they say it feels like 41. Y'all been out here giving me so much warmth."
As fans know, Beyoncé first released the 27-track project in March 2024. It has since made history and broken multiple records. As Beyoncé's first country album, she deliberately featured country legends and emerging Black country artists alike. She became the first Black woman to win best country album at the 2025 Grammys and also took home album of the year.
The nine-city tour will span the U.S. and Europe with the grand finale taking place in Las Vegas on July 26. Beyoncé has already made history with her scheduled tour dates, including by playing the most dates at SoFi Stadium of any artist.
Beyoncé heads to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for a total of five nights, starting May 22.
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

TikTok influencer targeted with criticism after viral video about 'unchic' fashion choices sparks backlash
TikTok influencer targeted with criticism after viral video about 'unchic' fashion choices sparks backlash

Fox News

timean hour ago

  • Fox News

TikTok influencer targeted with criticism after viral video about 'unchic' fashion choices sparks backlash

Lifestyle influencer Tara Langdale talked to Fox News Digital about how she received hurtful messages from critics after a not-so-serious fashion post describing what she views as "unchic" went viral, spawning a cascade of events that made her apolitical post a victim of attacks. The self-described stay-at-home working mom amassed some 250,000 views and found herself on the receiving end of some hate after an April 7 TikTok of her seated, drinking from a wine glass with nicely done hair, gold jewelry and manicured nails as she skimmed through a list of "unchic" fashion sins. Tattoos, Lululemon, baggy denim, camouflage and visible panty lines were just a few that made part one of Langdale's controversial "unchic" list, which drew backlash from seething critics who called her out with a political twist. "Voting for Trump is unchic," one said. "To her, privilege = chic. Hope this helps!" said another. A third said, "just say you're a republican and go lmao," while a slew of commenters took exception to her tattoo stance and ranted about classism. The video even caught The Guardian's attention, prompting an article that coined "chic" as "a shorthand for a type of conservative-coded aesthetic" and spoke of the "rigid and airbrushed" looks of Trump allies, sch as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Though Langdale diddles cribe herself as conservative when speaking to Fox News Digital, she insists not everything is about politics. "When I get dressed in the morning, I'm not thinking about my political party and how I should dress to showcase that," Langdale said. "I think conservativism is more of culture, religion – all of those things go into your conservativist mindset. Now, if you're talking about conservative style of dress… that's also going to be more like religion and culture," she went on. "Of course, if I'm going to church on Sunday, I'm dressing very conservative. I'm going to keep it classy, but if you see me in the street in my regular day-to-day, I am not at all conservative. I would never consider my style to be conservative. But am I conservative? Absolutely, so I can differentiate the two. I know that the internet has a hard time doing that." Langdale addressed the politicized dogma, saying she doesn't understand why TikTok users jumped to conclusions about "conservative" or "Republican makeup" as they did. "Because I'm blonde, because I have more of a natural look about me, I'm not fully glammed all the time… I'm really not sure how that makes me appear conservative, but, again, I just think when people don't agree with what you say, they have to find a way to discredit you, and that's just an easy tactic," she continued. At the same time, Langdale pushed back against the idea of her video implying that people too poor to afford expensive items are automatically "unchic," and pointed to brand-name items like athletic apparel brand Lululemon, Apple Watches and Golden Goose sneakers – all of which can be pricey – as evidence pointing to the contrary. "Just keep in mind that money talks and wealth whispers, and I don't know any wealthy people that are wearing Gucci across their chest," she said in her original post. Langdale explained that the TikTok trend of users showcasing "things I find incredibly chic" grabbed her attention as they began circulating on the app. She found them "pretentious and off-putting," so she felt compelled to take her own stab at the video. "Of course, my video came off as pretentious and off-putting as well, but it felt like a certain level of cringe for me, and I don't like to personally attack anybody on social media, so I wouldn't go after a specific creator. I just kind of wanted to hop on the trend… so that was my initial, 'Why I created the video.'" Langdale shared that her direct messages on the platform have been "insane" with threats and comments about her family since the video went viral. "It does make you step back and take a pause," she shared. "Like, is this really worth it for how crazy people react? And I would never want to put my family in danger, but I think a lot of it is just the keyboard pirates that are just back there behind their computer typing whatever they can to try to get more likes in the comments," Langdale added.

Biblioracle: Jess Walter's latest novel, ‘So Far Gone,' has echoes from his earlier books
Biblioracle: Jess Walter's latest novel, ‘So Far Gone,' has echoes from his earlier books

Chicago Tribune

timean hour ago

  • Chicago Tribune

Biblioracle: Jess Walter's latest novel, ‘So Far Gone,' has echoes from his earlier books

Jess Walter, author of the just about to be released 'So Far Gone,' is one of my favorite contemporary novelists. He's been something of a shapeshifter over the course of his career, first establishing himself as a crime writer, including in the Edgar Award-winning 'Citizen Vince.' 'The Zero,' from 2006, uses Walter's base in crime fiction set against the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the service of a kind of hybrid noir that, through the lens of one character, brilliantly captures our collective disorientation in those first weeks and months post-attack. 'The Financial Lives of Poets' (2009) is a medium-dark domestic comedy about a journalist who (sort of) turns to crime to make ends meet as his profession collapses around him. 'Beautiful Ruins' (2013) is my favorite of Walter's novels, a sprawling tale across time, the 1960s to the present, and place, the glamour of Italy and the glitz of Hollywood. 'The Cold Millions' (2020) explores nascent labor activism in the logging industry of the Pacific Northwest at the turn of the 20th century. The DNA of 'So Far Gone' has elements from across Walter's oeuvre. Like 'The Financial Lives of the Poets,' the central character, Rhys Kinnick, is a journalist who has left the profession, retreating from it and his family to a hermit-like life on some ancestral family land in a cold-water cabin in Washington state. Rhys is drawn back to the world when his 9-year-old and 14-year-old grandchildren (Asher and Leah) are brought to his door and he finds out his daughter, Bethany, has gone missing. Rhys has retreated because his profession, his marriage and his relationship with Bethany all appeared dead, the separation kicked off by Rhys punching Bethany's increasingly devout, increasingly radical second husband (and Leah's father), Shane, in the face over political stances entirely divorced from reality. Rhys thinks he's a failure, a drag on his loved ones. Bethany feels as though he's abandoned his family. This psychological baggage and the way it defines the characters are the center of the novel. Rhys brings the kids to what is supposed to be Asher's junior chess tournament, but quickly loses his grandchildren when they are confronted by members of the Army of the Lord, a radical sect to which Shane sort of belongs. Rhys now needs help, bringing him back into the lives of others. Walter taps into his crime origins to bring us his penchant for snappy dialogue and expert quick establishment of these secondary characters, including Lucy — once Rhys' girlfriend just before and just post-divorce, and still an editor at the paper Rhys left — and Chuck, Lucy's ex-boyfriend and an ex-cop who is looking to get back into Lucy's good graces while also having a particular enmity toward the Army of the Lord. The story careens on from there as different characters are lost and then found throughout. This is, as expected, a very well-done novel. Rhys is winning and interesting even in the midst of a pathetic moment. Walter delves straight into strange territory, asking how some significant portion of people can choose to detach themselves from reality in the name of trying to find solace in a hostile world. There are laugh-out-loud moments of comedy and dark incidents of violence. It's not clear why, ultimately, I wasn't more satisfied by this book. I think it's me, and these times. Walter is trying to paint a route through what seems to be a kind of collective madness to reconnection and a return to community and dignity. It's a story I want to be true. But right now, I don't trust it. I hope someday it does come true. John Warner is the author of books including 'More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI.' You can find him at Book recommendations from the Biblioracle John Warner tells you what to read based on the last five books you've read. 1. 'Antarctica' by Claire Keegan 2. 'Dream State' by Eric Puchner 3. 'Table for Two' by Amor Towles 4. 'Just Mercy' by Bryan Stevenson 5. 'Fatherland: A Memoir of War, Conscience, and Family Secrets' by Burkhard Bilger'Eat the Document' by Dana Spiotta is a great character study rooted in two eras simultaneously, late '60s early '70s political radicals, and the suburbs of the 1990s. 1. 'Middle of the Night' by Riley Sager 2. 'Think Twice' by Harlan Coben 3. 'The Quiet Librarian' by Allen Eskens 4. 'James' by Percival Everett 5. 'Presumed Guilty' by Scott TurowAnybody who looks like they enjoy a good twisty thriller is a good candidate for one of my favorites of the last several years, 'Who Is Maud Dixon?' by Alexandra Andrews. 1. 'The Sympathizer' by Viet Thanh Nguyen 2. 'Crazy Brave' by Joy Harjo 3. 'Parable of the Sower; Parable of the Talents' by Octavia E. Butler 4. 'Braiding Sweetgrass' by Robin Wall Kimmerer 5. 'Born to Run' by Bruce SpringsteenI think Adele is a great candidate for Lorrie Moore's strange and powerful 'I Am Homeless if This Is Not My Home.' Get a reading from the Biblioracle Send a list of the last five books you've read and your hometown to biblioracle@

He did a marathon with 24 hours notice thanks to his wife. Experts advise against it.
He did a marathon with 24 hours notice thanks to his wife. Experts advise against it.

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

He did a marathon with 24 hours notice thanks to his wife. Experts advise against it.

He did a marathon with 24 hours notice thanks to his wife. Experts advise against it. "It was fun to poke the bear and then eventually the bear bit me," Logan Goodspeed said with a chuckle. Show Caption Hide Caption Husband runs marathon with no training and 24 hour notice Maisie Todd documented her husband's marathon-running journey, after she signed him up and notified him only 24 hours before! Logan Goodspeed had never run a marathon. He's not even a runner or someone who regularly works out. But last weekend, the 32-year-old participated in his first marathon with just 24 hours' notice. On Sunday, June 1, Goodspeed participated in the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon thanks to his wife, Maisie Todd, who secretly signed him up back in April. And the entire journey, from Goodspeed learning the news to crossing the finish line, was documented on TikTok, garnering nearly 40 million collective views as of June 5. "I thought it would be funny just to say, 'Oh, I signed my husband up for a marathon with no notice.' That's kind of it. And then so many people wanted updates. I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off on Sunday trying to find him, follow him around, film it, edit it and upload," Todd told USA TODAY. In the end, Goodspeed completed the marathon, half running and half walking, in five hours and 58 minutes, finishing 5,081 out of 5,935 participants, per the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon website. And though he was a bit sore the day after the race, Goodspeed told USA TODAY on June 3 that he was surprised at just how good he felt. Despite how Goodspeed felt after the race, health experts and running coaches strongly advise against participating in a marathon with zero preparations, as short- and long-term injuries can be serious, or even fatal. Here is Goodspeed's story and journey to the finishing line. How it started So why did Todd sign up her lounging husband for a marathon without any clues? "Logan just kept saying that he could wake up and ... complete a marathon," Todd said. "Everyone was like, 'Come on, Logan, there's no way that you're going to wake up and complete a marathon with 24 hours' notice,' but he kept bringing it up and kept saying he could do it." Goodspeed isn't a fitness guru who "never runs, never swims, (never) bikes." Todd described him as "more of a lounge by the pool and read type of guy." So when Goodspeed was adamant he could take on the challenge, Todd decided to call him out on it. "It was fun to poke the bear and then eventually the bear bit me," Goodspeed said with a chuckle. In a TikTok video with 9.4 million views, the first of the series, Todd wakes Goodspeed up, with a bright camera flash, to let him know he has 24 hours to prepare for the race. "Okay, can't wait," Goodspeed says groggily in the video. As for preparations, there wasn't enough time for the recommended plan to gradually build up mileage over several weeks and months. Rather, Goodspeed needed race snacks and, more importantly, running shoes. After a trip to a nearby second-hand store, Goodspeed ended up with a pair of Adidas Climacool Bounce sneakers, which Adidas markets as "casual running or light workouts." "For more intense training or long-distance running, you might want to consider a shoe with a more responsive midsole," the Adidas website states about its Bounce line. Though the shoes may not have been designed for marathon running, Goodspeed said they were comfortable and did the job. Finishing with time to spare The goal, Goodspeed said, was to complete a full marathon, which is 26.2 miles, in seven hours or less. The key was to complete the marathon, not necessarily run the entire race. At five hours and 58 minutes, Goodspeed said he ran about half the marathon: 13.1 miles. Is it safe to run a marathon with no prep? In addition to the countless comments on TikTok asking for updates, there were also plenty that advised Goodspeed from participating in the race with zero training. Several warned about the risk of rhabdomyolysis, an injury that occurs when muscles break down and release the protein myoglobin in the blood, per the Cleveland Clinic. Rhabdomyolysis can be fatal. Goodspeed said he avoided these comments ahead of the race and knew if he started to experience pain, he would tap out. Fortunately, he didn't, aside from typical soreness. Nonetheless, health experts and running coaches don't recommend tackling a marathon with no training. In 2023, running coach Helen Gaunt told Runner's World that the body is not built to go from zero to 26.2 miles without training. The length of the marathon alone can put stress on various organs, including the heart and lungs. Gaunt advised that beginners start with a 16-week training program to gradually increase mileage. More marathons in the future? Despite the overall success of his first marathon, Goodspeed said he doesn't have plans to sign up, or be signed up, for any more marathons anytime soon. If he were to run a marathon again, Goodspeed said he'd enjoy doing so with a group of friends that could make the race more fun, rather than participating solo. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store