Olympics 2024: Lady Gaga Channels the Moulin Rouge With Jaw-Dropping Opening Ceremony Performance

Lady Gaga is living for the applause, applause, applause in France.

The “Bad Romance” singer dazzled while taking the stage along the Seine River at the Opening Ceremony during the 2024 Olympics in Paris July 26.

Gaga channeled a Moulin Rouge Can-can dancer in a skintight, black corset, black tights and black gloves for the show-stopping performance as backup dancers dressed in all black fluttered pink, frilly pom-poms around her. She topped off her look with a fascinator of black features.

As for her glam, the Grammy winner looked stunning in bold, red lipstick with her blond hair up in a tight bun.

Making her performance even more impressive was that she sang entirely in French while captivating the audience with a cover of Zizi Jeanmaire‘s “Mon Truc En Plumes.”

“I feel so completely grateful to have been asked to open the Paris @Olympics 2024 this year,” Gaga wrote on X (fomerly known as Twitter) afterwards. “I am also humbled to be asked by the Olympics organizing committee to sing such a special French song—a song to honor the French people and their tremendous history of art, music, and theatre.”

Gaga also revealed they “rented pom poms from Le Lido archive—a real French cabaret theater” and worked with French designer Dior on the outfits.

“I hope you love this performance as much as I do,” she concluded. “And to everyone in France, thank you so much for welcoming me to your country to sing in honor of you—it’s a gift I’ll never forget!”

The Opening Ceremony marks Gaga’s first televised performance since her stripped-down rendition of “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick at the 2023 Academy Awards, which was nominated for best original song. The “Bloody Mary” singer, who’s teased an upcoming album, hadn’t been on stage as of late since she was busy filming Joker: Folie à Deux, which will be in theaters Oct. 4.

But the A Star is Born actress isn’t the only star performing, with R&B star Aya Nakamura taking the stage ahead of Gaga. And Celine Dion is expected to make her first musical appearance since canceling her tour and taking a step back from the spotlight after being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome in 2022.

This year’s Opening Ceremony will be one to remember: After all, it’s being held outside for the first time in history. Instead of athletes walking out, they weighed anchor, taking the parade onto the Seine River. The nautical tour will begin at the Austerlitz Bridge and conclude by the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower, adorned with the iconic Olympic rings.

And there will be several familiar faces stepping out for the Paris Games: Two decades after entering the Olympics, LeBron James is serving as flag bearer for Team USA, co-leading the team with tennis star Coco Gauff, who becomes the first tennis player to hold the honor.

“I never thought in a million years I would have the honor of carrying the American flag for Team USA in the Opening Ceremony,” the U.S. Open champion said in a July 24 statement from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. “I could not be more proud to lead my teammates with LeBron as we showcase our dedication and passion on the biggest stage there is – at a moment where we can bring athletes and fans together from around the world.”

Read on for more photos from the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony.