Lady Gaga’s Free Concert on Rio’s Copacabana Beach Draws a Record-Breaking 2.5 Million People

Lady Gaga has performed the biggest concert of her career.

The “Abracadrabra” singer held a free concert on Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Copacabana Beach, and drew a record-breaking crowd of 2.5 million people.

According to concert organizers, Gaga now holds the record for the highest-attended concert by a female artist in history – a record previously held by Madonna, who drew 1.6 million.

Gaga fever had hit Brazil ever since the singer announced the special show. Fans had been camping outside the hotel where she had been staying since Tuesday night, singing her songs, waiting and hoping to get a glimpse of the star. On Friday night, Gaga treated fans by rehearsing on the stage, giving them a teaser of what was to come. Gaga told her audience, “I’ve missed you so much. I know that this is not the first show here, I know this is just a rehearsal, it feels like it’s the real show.”

It had been 12 years since Gaga last performed in the country, and fans started queuing early on Saturday morning to secure a good spot for the show. “Tonight, we’re making history,” she said. “Thank you for making history with me… The people of Brazil are the reason why I can shine.”

She opened the show with her 2011 track “Bloody Mary” and performed her classic hits, including “Poker Face” and “Alejandro,” as well as tracks from her latest album, “Mayhem.”

Gaga treated her fans to a new costume for the historic show by wearing a dress with the colors of the Brazilian flag.