When The Queens: 4 Legends, 1 Stage tour, featuring in alphabetical order, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, and Stephanie Mills, many, including me, wondered who would close the show with four women who have made music professionally for more than a century combined?
Perhaps it was the sampling of her “Through the Fire” by hip-hop superstar Kanye West for his debut single in 2003, “Through the Wire,” or the popular remakes of her hits “Sweet Thing” on Mary J. Blige‘s 1992 debut album What’s the 411? or “I’m Every Woman” by Whitney Houston from The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack album, also released in 1992, but Khan was the closing act for the tour’s first date in Las Vegas, and she did not disappoint.
Chaka Khan rolls through her hits
The 10-time Grammy Award winner performed those three classic hits and some of her other massive hits, including “Tell Me Something Good.” “What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me,” “I Feel For You,” and “Do You Love What You Feel.”
“It’s so nice to be up here with all my girls, all my women in song, let’s have a hand for everyone,” Khan said to the crowd while greeting them, acknowledging the three legends who performed earlier.
As if the four icons on their own was not more than enough for a performance that will provide memories that will last for a lifetime, perhaps the greatest living singer, songwriter, and musician walking the face of the earth today, Stevie Wonder, joined Khan on stage to perform “Tell Me Something Good” at the Los Angeles show. Yet another reason, as if you needed another, to make sure you are at the Queens tour when it touches down in or near your city. You never know what additional legend or icon may touch the stage.
The incomparable Knight, followed by an energetic Mills, opened the show. LaBelle immediately preceded Khan.
The first leg of the Queens tour continues in Baltimore on Thursday, Brooklyn on Friday, Chicago and Cincinnati at the end of May, and Indianapolis on June 1.
The second leg kicks off on Sept. 19 in Greensboro, N.C., and will stop in Atlanta, Atlantic City, Cleveland, Detroit, Memphis, Milwaukee, Newark, N.J., and Washington, D.C.
