Tour Talk: Meghan Trainor’s Biggest Tour Yet Sells Out Madison Square Garden, Heads To The Forum

Meghan Trainor never expected to headline Madison Square Garden on her own. In fact, prior to her run on “The Timeless Tour,” she was unsure about taking the stage for a full-fledged tour ever again. Following the wrap of each of her previous tours, Trainor had to undergo throat surgery, and she stayed off the road for nearly eight years.

When conversations came about returning to the stage, she eased into it. In March she announced a June release date for her new album, Timeless, and that her first tour in seven years would start in September. Trainor admits she wasn’t sure about headlining Madison Square Garden or the Forum as she didn’t believe she’d be able to sell out the arenas, and she remarked as such on stage during her Sept. 25 sold-out show at MSG.

“I never, ever, ever thought I would get to play there,” Trainor told Pollstar ahead of the MSG show. “I’m excited to play such a giant venue and hopefully sell it out. I’m going to cry the whole night – my goal is to not cry tears of joy all night because I’m not Beyoncé, I can’t sing pretty when I cry. I’m also wearing an outfit made fully by Sally LaPointe, which I don’t believe because she’s such an icon. I feel like Beyoncé and I am going to look so good, and when you look good, you feel good.”

Walking into Madison Square Garden on Sept. 25, countless Megatronz (fans from young kids to their older parents) were decked out in royal blue sequins, matching the theme of Trainor’s new album. The arena was packed out early, allowing for a nearly full crowd to sing along to special guests Chris Olsen, Paul Russell and Natasha Bedingfield (who made sure to play the hits “Pocketful of Sunshine” and “Unwritten”). Trainor’s brother Ryan introduced his sister and queued up Chappell Roan’s “Hot To Go!” and “Pink Pony Club,” as well as Olivia Rodrigo’s “bad idea right?” before Trainor took the stage.

Her 3-year-old son, Riley, introduced “The Timeless Tour” as Trainor makes her way on stage and onto the lift, sporting a royal blue sequined bodysuit, blue tights and blue boots. With her sublime voice and soulful phrasing, Trainor launched into “Mother,” then dived into “Don’t I Make It Look Easy” with her dancers. Trainor’s other brother, Justin, set up the music for this tour so Trainor could have eight dancers in lieu of a band. Onstage, she thanks him for working behind the scenes to ensure her vision could come to life, and she notes her entire family is involved with the tour.

Trainor and her team, which includes her managers Tommy Bruce and Sali Kharazi at Full Stop Management, solidified the trek at the beginning of this year. Kharazi praised Trainor for being the type of artist who gives her 120%, whether it’s a friend, “a good cause or something she can pour her heart into.” Kharazi adds, “I think part of being able to do all the things we’ve done is because she rarely ever says no when someone really needs her. We’ve built that relationship with the Forum, we’ve built that relationship with MSG. She’s the person you come in contact with and will always have a good experience. She will always be kind to you. She will always take a selfie with you or for your kid, or send a video for your kid and say their name. In a way, it’s a testament to how good of a person she is that people are willing to move some things around.”

Toward the end of the show, fans at Madison Square Garden were surprised by the appearance of Paris Hilton. The iconic socialite walked onstage in her own sequined silver outfit.

“We have a song together, ‘Chasin’,’ so we’re going to perform that for the first time ever,” Trainor says. “Then we’re going to sing [Hilton’s 2006 song] ‘Stars Are Blind,’ which I could cry and throw up because I grew up loving that song. I can’t believe I’m singing it with her now. Nothing feels real, everything’s a dream. She’s the hardest working mom I ever met, she inspires me to keep going.”

While the younger crowd was less familiar with Hilton, the parents and older fans in at- tendance were blown away. As Hilton exited the stage, she made sure to say her classic catchphrase: “That’s hot.”

The setlist contained songs from Trainor’s new album such as “Criminals” (which recently gained popularity on the TV show “The Perfect Couple”), as well as classic hits “About That Bass,” “Dear Future Hus- band” and “Me Too.” The show closed out with “Made You Look,” Trainor blowing confetti all over the floor of Madison Square Garden.