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Dua Lipa and Nile Rodgers Team Up for Chic Classic ‘Le Freak’ at MSG Show in New York

The pop star welcomed the iconic musician during the third show of her four-night run in NYC.

Dua Lipa and Nile Rodgers Team Up for Chic Classic ‘Le Freak’ at MSG Show in New York

Nile Rodgers and Dua Lipa perform Chic's "Le Freak" during the pop star's concert at New York's Madison Square Garden on September 20, 2025.

Madison Phipps

Dua Lipa is continuing her streak of teaming up with iconic artists on her Radical Optimism World Tour.

On Saturday night (Sept. 20), the 30-year-old British pop star delivered the third show of her four-night run at New York’s Madison Square Garden, where she surprised fans by bringing out legendary musician Nile Rodgers for an electrifying performance of Chic’s 1978 disco classic “Le Freak.” Watch it here.


Lipa has become known for performing a locally inspired cover at stops on her Radical Optimism tour, which launched its U.S. leg at Chicago’s United Center earlier this month.

During her previous MSG shows, the “Dance the Night” singer paid tribute to the city with covers of New York staples, including Alicia Keys’ “No One” and Blondie’s “One Way or Another.”

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“Here in New York, I’m actually spoiled with the choice,” Lipa told the crowd before her Blondie cover.

At the tour’s U.S. kickoff in Chicago, Lipa brought out hometown legend Chaka Khan to perform a powerful rendition of the 1983 hit “Ain’t Nobody.”

The tradition of regional covers began earlier in the year during her stops in Australia and New Zealand, where she performed songs by artists such as AC/DC, Lorde and Kylie Minogue. She also welcomed special guests including Troye Sivan, Tame Impala and Crowded House’s Neil Finn.

While the trend continued less frequently during the European leg, she did perform Enrique Iglesias’ “Hero” in Madrid. In London, she brought out Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay for “Virtual Insanity” at Wembley Stadium, followed the next night by a guest appearance from Charli XCX for her hit “360.”

Other notable tributes included The Zutons’ “Valerie” with frontman Dave McCabe in Liverpool, The Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” and a heartfelt performance of “Nothing Compares 2 U” in Dublin in honor of late Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor.

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Lipa is set to wrap up her four-night MSG stint on Sunday (Sept. 21) before continuing the North American leg with stops in Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, followed by a run of dates through South America and Mexico.

After a brief break in August following two months of shows across Europe, Lipa resumed touring in North America with back-to-back shows in Toronto on Sept. 1–2.

The Radical Optimism World Tour supports Lipa’s third studio album, Radical Optimism, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in 2024. The album produced several hits, including lead single “Houdini,” which spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.

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Quote The Raven
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Quote The Raven

FYI

Music News Digest: MusicNL Week Is Ready To Roll, Quebec City's Le Phoque OFF Festival Announces Its Lineup

Also this week: Massey Hall's charity fundraiser presents Canadian stars, hard-rocking Juno nominee Lindsay Schoolcraft releases a new single and PEI troubadour Al Tuck tours Ontario.

Festival News

MusicNL Week officially kicks off today (Nov. 12), launching five days of performances, professional development, and community celebration across downtown St. John’s. From Nov. 12-16, more than 40 artists will take the stage across five venues:- The Rock House, The Ship, The Black Sheep, the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland and the St. John’s Convention Centre. Scheduled events include eight showcases, a Songwriters’ Circle, a Music Business Conference, the MusicNL Industry Awards, and the MusicNL Awards Gala.

Topping the MusicNL Awards nominees list are Mallory Johnson with six noms, followed by Quote The Raven with five nods and XIA-3, Natasha Blackwood, Justin Fancy, and Mick Davis and Thin Love, with four nominations each. The Awards Gala is held on Nov. 15 at the St. John’s Convention Centre, and Gala tickets can be purchased at the Mary Browns Box Office here. Full schedules, artist lineups, conference schedules, and tickets are available at musicnl.ca.

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