In a sold-out Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Shakira kicked off a historic week with a performance that blended nostalgia, empowerment, and record-breaking achievements. The Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour, which has become the highest-grossing tour by a Latin artist with $421.6 million in ticket sales as of January 2025, is a celebration of her decades-long career. The show featured hits from every era, from her 1995 breakout album Pies Descalzos to her latest work.
A Pack Reunited
Shakira opened with a CGI desert scene, emerging in a silver-sequined outfit to the roar of the crowd. "There's nothing like when a she-wolf reunites with her pack," she howled, referencing her iconic song "She Wolf." The audience, adorned in Colombian soccer jerseys and traditional vueltiao hats, sang along to her multilingual catalog.
The tour's title comes from her 2023 collaboration with Bizarrap, which broke 14 Guinness World Records. The lyric "Las mujeres ya no lloran / Las mujeres facturan" ("Women don't cry any more / Women make money") encapsulates the tour's theme of resilience and financial independence.
World Cup Week
Shakira's Newark show was a prelude to her headlining the first ever World Cup final half-time show on Sunday, sharing the stage with Madonna, BTS, and Coldplay at New York New Jersey Stadium. She performed a medley of her World Cup anthems, including "Waka Waka" and her latest, "Dai Dai," which features Burna Boy and topped the Billboard Global 200 chart.
During the set, she transitioned from "Las de la Intuición" to "Estoy Aquí," reminding fans of her early days as an 18-year-old star in Latin America. A medley of "Empire" and "Inevitable" showcased her rock roots, with Shakira playing a glittering white guitar.
Surprise Guest and Emotional Moments
The highlight of the night was a surprise appearance by Wyclef Jean for "Hips Don't Lie," which brought the house down. The song, a staple of Latin pop, features the lyric "Refugees run the seas," a nod to Wyclef's Haitian roots. Earlier, Shakira acknowledged her personal struggles, quoting author Isabel Allende: "Women alone are vulnerable, but together we are invincible."
She also performed "Don't Bother," a track from her English-language crossover album, and "La Tortura," which ignited the reggaeton scene with Colombian vallenato influences. The set included a full salsa jam session for "Chantaje" and a belly dancing showcase for "Ojos Así."
A Career of Reinvention
Shakira has navigated multiple personas—from rockera to pop sex symbol to feminist icon—and the tour celebrated each iteration. She is now the sixth most-streamed artist globally and the first to top Spotify in both English and Spanish. The encore featured an inflatable wolf and fake hundred-dollar bills raining down, a playful nod to her commercial success.
The tour continues through October, closing with 12 nights at Estadio Shakira in Madrid. For now, Shakira's pack in Newark roared with her, celebrating a woman who has turned pain into triumph.
