By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Known for her songs, “Let it Go”, “Heart Attack”, “Skyscraper” and her most recent single, “Neon Lights”, American singer and actress Demi Lovato comes to Barra da Tijuca’s Citibank Hall tonight, Sunday, April 27th for the first of her two back-to-back shows in Rio.
Lovato arrives as part of ongoing “Neon Lights Tour”, named for the third single released from her fourth studio album entitled, Demi. Big screens, various montages and heart-to-hearts moments with fans are reportedly highlights of the ongoing tour.
The singer began the South American leg of the tour with three shows in São Paulo. During the first performance on April 22nd, Lovato reportedly told the sold-out crowd in São Paulo’s Citibank Hall with its capacity of 7,500; “I know I should not say this kind of thing, but you are one of my favorite countries in the world.” She added later; “No one supports me the way my Brazilian fans support me.”
Lovato has visited Brazil numerous times before, including a 2009 show when she was 17 years-old. Born in 1992, Lovato first entered the public spotlight as an actress in the children’s television show “Barney & Friends”. It was a role in the 2008’s TV movie “Camp Rock” that lead to the signing of her first record deal and the release of her debut studio album entitled, Don’t Forget, in September of that year.
Mostly co-written and produced by pop band the Jonas Brothers, Don’t Forget made its debut at the number two spot on the Billboard 200 charts. Well received by most critics and embraced by fans worldwide the album with its singles including “Get Back” and “La La Land”, Don’t Forget would go on to be certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
In 2009, Lovato released her sophomore album, Here We Go Again and the Disney Channel sitcom “Sonny with a Chance” premiered with Lovato as the lead character, a role she later departed in 2011 due to personal issues. That year she also released her third studio, Unbroken.
In 2012 Lovato returned to acting and also became a judge on the American version of the television singing competition, “The X Factor”, which was recently canceled. She is also scheduled to appear in six episodes of the fifth season of Fox’s hit musical comedy “Glee”.
The now 21-year-old Lovato, after performing in Rio tonight and on Monday, April 28th, will also play Brasília on the 30th, Belo Horizonte on May 1st and Porto Alegre on May 3rd.
Who: Demi Lovato
When: April 27th and 28th 8PM
Where: Citibank Hall , Av. Ayrton Senna, 3000 – Barra da Tijuca. Tel.: (21) 2156-7300
Entrance: R$220-R$500 Available online here
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