Addison Rae closed out the North American leg of her international tour on Wednesday, October 22 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Before embarking on the Australian leg of the tour, the 25-year-old made sure to go out with a bang, shocking the crowd by bringing out Brat songstress Charli XCX to perform collaborations like “2 die 4” and “Von dutch.” She also surprised fans with an encore performance of “Nothing On (But The Radio),” which hadn’t made it onto the setlist of any other city. It was an electrifying performance that felt alive and nonstop, solidifying the devotion of fans who knew every lyric while making new fans out of the curious attendees who heeded the rumblings of Rae becoming the next big thing.
Addison Rae’s Debut Album
No one expected a TikTok star to successfully reinvent themselves as a Grammy contender for Best New Artist, but Addison Rae has never been confined by anyone else’s limitations. She had a vision for the pop star she intended to be, and she met that vision with taste and discipline, seeing it through with perfect execution.
Following a few lukewarm attempts at separating herself from the one-dimensionality of her internet fame, the stars finally aligned when Rae released “Diet Pepsi” in August 2024, the first single to build out the immersive universe of her debut self-titled album, Addison. Marking her first entry into the Billboard Hot 100, “Diet Pepsi” was a scientifically perfect pop song, tender and ethereal. Paired with black-and-white visuals directed by Sean Price Williams, it effortlessly encapsulated the dizzying rush of young romance.
“Diet Pepsi” was then followed by Addison’s second single, “Aquamarine.” Unexpectedly, it was a complete departure from the soft pop tone that was set, offering something much more ballroom, demure, and Madonna-esque. Rae was intent on proving the limitlessness of her ability as an artist, which is why each single that followed (“High Fashion,” “Headphones On,” “Fame is a Gun,”) was distinctly different sonically. The through line in every song, however, was the exploration of girlhood, complete with nuance, insecurity, arrogance, and desire. Completely produced and co-written alongside Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser, everything about Addison is de-centered from the male gaze. It’s written solely by three women willing to be the centers of their own universe, even when it’s messy and uncontained. It’s reminiscent of Hilary Duff’s Metamorphosis and Britney Spears‘ In The Zone, fun and bare-skinned.
Exemplifying a master class in album rollout, the debut project immediately received an influx of critical praise, earning an impressive 8.0 from Pitchfork. Rolling Stone praised its “distinctive, dreamy soundscape,” while Billboard claimed Rae’s “rise to main pop girl is equal parts master class and modern spectacle.” The project received 13.4 million streams on Spotify on its first day, successfully marking Rae’s territory in the pop girl realm.
Addison Rae Live Review
A major album is typically accompanied by a major tour, and Rae made it very clear that she had every intention of bringing this music across the world. Growing up as a competitive dancer, she’s been well-trained when it comes to commanding the spotlight on stage, and she was now given the chance to build an entire show out of an album that served as an extension of her inner spirit. Spanning 32 shows across North America, Europe, and Australia, the Addison Tour marks Rae’s first concert tour. The demand from fans was certainly there, as several cities sold out instantly once tickets were released in June 2025. So much so that extra dates had to be added, including LA’s October 22 closing show at the Greek Theater.
The last of three LA slots, The Greek show brought out several celebrity audience members, from fellow pop songstress Adéla to Grammy-winning musician Steve Lacy. Charli XCX served as a very fitting on-stage guest, being that both stars have collaborated on each other’s projects and individually had a massively successful year creatively. The entire venue exploded as XCX stepped in for the latter half of “2 die 4,” as two crowd members were then chosen to come on stage and join in Rae’s signature “Von dutch” scream. A showgirl in every sense of the word, Rae bottles femininity in a siren-like manner. Though every millisecond of the hour-long show is choreographed and perfectly manufactured, she’s able to maintain a buoyant sense of flow and fluidity, as if we’re just peering through a window as she dances around her bedroom by herself.
“Headphones On” was a near-spiritual live experience, though “Money Is Everything” was an unexpected standout, as a canon drowned the audience in Addison Dollars. “Aquamarine” seamlessly faded into the “Aquamarine” remix, with a sea of onlookers performing the music video choreography in unison. Rae’s art has clearly transcended the digital, with defining cultural totems that will the studied for decades to come. Though she’s accompanied by her team of dancers throughout the show, she closed out with “Diet Pepsi” completely alone amid a backdrop of burning lights. Just her and the mic, every audience member screamed every syllable and Rae sealed the night leaving no doubt that she is the true showgirl of the moment. As a performer, she is devoted to giving you a good show and gives every bit of herself in an effort to do just that.
It’s impossible to deny that Rae’s magnificence on stage pays homage to her predecessor, Britney Spears. Everything from her choreography to her costuming serve as a nod to the foundation Spears built for her, who at Rae’s age was touring her fifth album, Blackout. At the time, she had just released hits like “Gimme More” and “Piece of Me,” further proving there is so much overlap in the way both acts have found themselves through their music. Their catalogs perfectly encapsulate womanhood and belonging to themselves, without compromising on bubbly, pop landscapes. Being that both women also come from Louisiana, their southern, small-town girl radiance meets their sexual command and sensuality to create captivating stage presences.
As Rae forwards Spears’ legacy in the emerging pop renaissance, she’s certainly proven she’s well-capable of holding the baton.
