Taylor Swift performs in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 17, 2023.Photo:Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty
Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty
Taylor Swiftperformed “Bigger Than the Whole Sky” on Sunday night’s Eras Tour stop in Brazil.
The pop superstar, 33, returned to the stage at Estádio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro after postponing Saturday’s show amid “extreme heat” following thedeath of 23-year-old fan Ana Clara Benevides Machado, who left Friday’s concert due to feeling unwell.
During Sunday’s show,Swift performed the emotionalMidnights (3am Edition)trackas one of her nightly surprise songs — and fans think she may have chosen the ballad to honor Machado.
Swift gave the song its live debut with a piano version, and while the Grammy winner didn’t mention Machado’s name on stage, fans posted to social media afterward and wondered about a connection.
Taylor Swift performs in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 17, 2023.Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty
“I know Taylor is a professional but the amount of strength it must’ve taken to sing Bigger Than The Whole Sky without completely breaking down is unfathomable. I think she knew she needed to do it for Ana, the Brazilian Swifties and herself,” wrote on fan onX (formerly Twitter).
Taylor Swift fans outside the stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 18, 2023.TERCIO TEIXEIRA/AFP via Getty Images
TERCIO TEIXEIRA/AFP via Getty Images
Swift postponed Saturday’s show due to unusually “extreme heat” in the city. Friday’s temperature topped 102F, with humidity at more than 70%, a combination that made it feel as if it was actually 138F, according toPBS.org. The postponed show is now taking place Monday.
Her decision to reschedule came after confirming Machadodiedahead of Friday’s concert. Event organizer Time for Funsharedin a poston X that the young adult had died after feeling unwell at the venue.
According to the post, which was shared in Portuguese, first responders attended to Benevides Machado, and she died after being transferred to the local Salgado Filho Hospital.
“I can’t believe I’m writing these words, but it’s with a shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show,” Swiftwrote on her Instagram Friday.
“I want to say now I feel this loss deeply and my heart goes out to her family and friends,” she wrote. “This is the last thing I ever thought would happen when we decided to bring this tour to Brazil."
Taylor Swift performs in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 17, 2023.TAS2023 via Getty
TAS2023 via Getty
Temperatures finally cooled down on Sunday after days of heat topping 100 degrees paired with dangerously high levels of humidity — a record for mid-November in Rio.
source: people.com
