Dua Lipa Brings Out Chaka Khan at U.S. Tour Kickoff

Dua Lipa stunned fans in Chicago on Friday night (Sept. 5) when she brought out music legend Chaka Khan during the opening U.S. stop of her Radical Optimism World Tour.

The pop star kicked off a two-night run at the United Center with dazzling visuals, elaborate costumes, and a 22-song setlist spanning her career. But the night’s biggest moment came midway through the show, when Lipa welcomed the legendary singer to the stage for a powerful duet of the 1983 classic “Ain’t Nobody.”

The collaboration added to Lipa’s track record of sharing the spotlight with iconic musicians during the world tour. Earlier this year, she performed with Crowded House’s Neil Finn in New Zealand and Jamiroquai in London.

The Chicago shows mark the official start of her U.S. run, following European and Canadian dates earlier this summer. From here, Lipa will head to major cities including Boston, Miami, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Seattle.

Released last year, Radical Optimism is Lipa’s third studio album, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single, “Houdini,” held the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart for 17 weeks, fueling anticipation for the tour since it launched in late 2024.

Last month, Lipa shared an update on Instagram where she officially became a citizen of Kosovo and let fans know she’s really “lovinggggg lifeeee.”

“It completes the duality I have always had within,” Dua told the BBC. “I love this country, and this means so much to me and my family.”