SZA’s Graceful Recovery After Near-Fall Steals Spotlight on Grand National Tour Opener with Kendrick Lamar

The Grand National Tour, co-headlined by SZA and Kendrick Lamar, launched with a spectacular opening night at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, drawing nearly 50,000 fans. While the show dazzled with innovative staging and electrifying performances, a brief moment stole headlines: SZA narrowly avoided a fall during a choreographed move, showcasing her professionalism and resilience.

The Grand National Tour, a 39 date stadium spectacle, marks a milestone for SZA and Kendrick Lamar, two of music’s most influential voices. Supporting Lamar’s chart topping 2024 album GNX and SZA’s SOS Deluxe: Lana, the tour spans North America, Europe, and the UK, with stops in Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Berlin, and Stockholm, concluding on August 9, 2025. 

The Minneapolis opener showcased a dynamic format, with SZA and Lamar alternating sets every 5–7 songs and uniting for collaborations like “Luther,” “Gloria,” “30 for 30,” and their 2018 hit “All the Stars.” Their chemistry, honed over a decade of collaborations since SZA’s 2014 EP Z and the 2018 TDE Championship Tour, captivated the audience, setting a high bar for the tour’s remaining dates.

SZA’s performance was a highlight, blending soulful vocals with theatrical staging. Her set featured hits like “Love Galore,” “Good Days,” and “Kill Bill,” accompanied by nature inspired visuals, including a praying mantis video during the latter and an animatronic ant she rode for “Kitchen.” Billboard praised her “willowy yet commanding” presence, particularly in “Low” and “All the Stars." 

While Variety noted the contrast between her lush, insect-themed production and Lamar’s stark, urban aesthetic. Lamar, riding the success of GNX and his record-breaking Super Bowl LIX halftime show (133.5 million viewers), delivered intense renditions of “Not Like Us” and “Squabble Up,” earning “ear-splitting screams” from the crowd. The show’s centerpiece, a black Buick GNX draped in vines, symbolized the artists’ intertwined narratives, earning accolades for its creative execution.

The near-fall sparked a range of responses online. Fans celebrated SZA’s poise, with X posts calling her recovery “iconic” and “effortless.” However, some social media chatter speculated about the dancer’s role, with TikTok users debating whether SZA missed a cue or the dancer faltered, though most agreed the moment was a minor hiccup. Unfortunately, the incident drew negative attention, with Daily Mail reporting body shaming comments aimed at SZA, prompting swift backlash from supporters.