Shakira Launches US Leg of World Tour in Charlotte

International pop star Shakira kicked off the US leg of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour in Charlotte on Tuesday night with a concert at Bank of America Stadium.

Though the show’s start was delayed for nearly 40 minutes for unknown reasons, the weather held off as the 48-year-old singer and dancer served the packed stadium with hit after hit.

It didn’t matter if the lyrics were in Spanish or English, most fans in attendance knew every word, and Shakira gave them plenty of opportunities to take the lead role — pointing the microphone outward and giving a big grin in return multiple times.

There were plenty of outfit changes, too. At one point, the camera followed the singer below the stage as she sang while being changed by what looked like a NASCAR pit crew’s worth of people — changing her skirt, her top, her shoes and then fixing her hair before sending her back out to finish the song.

While a few songs from her extensive setlist were from her 2024 album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, she also dug deep into the archives for songs from her third and fourth albums — both released in the 1990s.

“Antología” from her third album, Pies Descalzos, might have gotten one of the night’s biggest reactions, with singalongs from her Latin fans as she performed acoustically at the end of the stage thrust. “Ojos asi,” from her fourth album, Dónde Están los Ladrones?, got the slowed down treatment, giving Shakira plenty of opportunities to shake her hips.

It’s no surprise that dancing was a central theme for the night, and not just during “Hips Don’t Lie,” which saw opener Wyclef Jean join her on stage. Shakira was constantly shaking, gyrating, shimmying and moving her way around the immense stage.

She also found opportunities to surprise the crowd, including during “La tortura,” which saw singer Alejandro Sanz join her on stage for the pop-reggaeton hit. A massive inflatable wolf appeared before the show’s penultimate song, “She Wolf.”

Performing at least part of nearly 30 songs during a set that clocked in at around two hours long with a little break and plenty of dancing was impressive. The rhythms were infectious. The singing was live and strong. It was a tour opener worthy of the city’s largest stage — and clear evidence of why this show needed to move out of its originally scheduled location of Spectrum Center last November.

People of all ages walked away wondering why it’s taken so long for Shakira to not only tour again (this was her first tour since 2018) but actually perform in Charlotte (this was her first time here).

Hopefully, her visit to the Queen City left a lasting impression as she surely did for so many in attendance.

Shakira setlist
La fuerte
Girl Like Me
Las de la intuición / Estoy aquí
Empire / Inevitable
Te felicito / TQG
Don’t Bother
Acróstico
Copa vacía / La bicicleta / La tortura (with Alejandro Sanz)
Hips Don’t Lie (with Wyclef Jean)
Chantaje
Monotonía
Addicted to You / Loca
Soltera
Última
Ojos así
Pies descalzos, sueños blancos
Antología
Objection (Tango)
Underneath Your Clothes
Whenever, Wherever
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)
She Wolf
BZRP Music Sessions #53

Be sure to check out Queen City Nerve’s Soundwave, Charlotte’s most comprehensive live music listing, so you don’t miss out on any shows or concerts coming up. And hell, if you’re looking for something else to do, you can check out our events page as well, which runs the gamut of things to do in Charlotte. You don’t ever have to be bored again. You can check out more of Jeff’s pics and live reviews here.