Taylor Swift’s Sunday Night Show in Nashville Goes On Following Hours-Long Storm Delay

Ashley Iasimone
·4 min read
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Due to a lightning advisory, Nashville’s Nissan Stadium issued a shelter in place warning Sunday night (May 7) just an hour before Taylor Swift‘s first opening act of the evening, Gracie Abrams, was to take the stage for that night’s Eras Tour concert.

“For those in Nissan Stadium, please proceed to the shelter areas as directed by staff. Please remain calm and proceed to the covered and interior areas of the stadium,” the venue first posted in a severe weather alert on social media at 5:40 p.m. local time.

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“At this time, lightning is approaching Nissan Stadium. Please move to the covered areas of the concourses or ramps, or shelter areas as directed by stadium officials. All guests currently in cars, please remain in your vehicle. If you are currently approaching the entrance of Nissan Stadium, please quickly proceed to any open gate and seek shelter immediately,” Nissan, an open-air stadium, followed up in another tweet.

The stadium then posted: “Hang in there, Swifties! We appreciate your patience as we wait out this storm. More updates to come. P.S. Keep singing your favorite songs in the concourse! We hear y’all and we love it!”

By 6:57 p.m. CT, Nissan Stadium communicated that a delayed start time for Swift was expected.

“Due to lightning in the area, Nissan Stadium will remain under Shelter in Place until the current storm passes,” a tweet read. “We anticipate Taylor Swift taking the stage at a delayed start time. More information will be released ASAP.”

Billboard reached out to a representative for Swift for comment on Sunday night.

On The Eras Tour, Swift has historically been taking the stage at approximately 7:50 p.m., or just after. Her more than three-hour set follows two openers (on this night, it was to be Abrams and Phoebe Bridgers). Sunday night’s show is the last of three Nashville tour dates on her Eras schedule, and then she heads to Philadelphia next weekend.

At 7:54 p.m. local time on Sunday, Swift checked in with fans on social media, sharing live concert photos from this weekend. She performed at the venue both Friday and Saturday night.

“Even though we have one last show in Nashville tonight I just have to post these photos causeeeee… it’s been WILD. I got to announce Speak Now (my version) is coming on 7/7, got to perform ‘Nothing New’ with boss genius/baby angel face @phoebebridgers for the first time, and have been so moved by these beautiful, generous Nashville crowds!!!! I just can’t believe it. PS I know there’s talk of a rainy weather vibe tonight but I’m ready to play, see you sooon!!” she wrote in the update.

At 9:03 p.m., the venue published an update on Twitter that indicated the show just might go on: “We are still Shelter in Place to keep you safe. You will see production working as we prepare for the show. Please stay under covered areas. We will keep you updated on when you can re-enter the stadium and head to your seat.”

At 9:27 p.m., fans on site reported that venue staff was allowing them to go to their seats.

Minutes later, Nissan Stadium confirmed that the production was moving forward: “Drop everything now! Meet me in the pouring rain! Shelter in Place has officially been lifted! Fans, please start safely making your way to your seats. Once production wraps up, Taylor Swift will hit the stage!”

And at 9:50 p.m., the venue gave the warning to “get to your seats now.” They wrote, “We’re getting ready to start The Eras Tour Night 3! Please make your way to your seats.”

Though opening sets from Abrams and Bridgers were cut, at 10:11 p.m., Swift finally took the stage with her “It’s been a long time coming” intro, to a roar of screams and applause.

“We’ve been waiting for hours to play for you,” she said to the crowd early on in the set. “You’ve been waiting for hours. The mutual love between us right now. You waiting and doing that for us is making me feel fantastic, Nashville.”

“It’s officially a rain show,” Swift declared later on in the show.

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