Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-04-05
Kidjo’s newest album, HOPE!!, due April 24
Five-time GRAMMY Award winner Angélique Kidjo comes to McCarter Theatre Center on Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 PM for what promises to be an electrifying evening of music spanning her extraordinary career. The performance is part of a limited six-city U.S. tour before Kidjo heads to Europe for a run of international festival appearances.
The performance arrives alongside the announcement of Kidjo’s newest album, HOPE!!, due April 24 on Warner Music Group’s Parlophone label. The highly anticipated release follows her 2021 GRAMMY Award-winning album Mother Nature and further solidifies Kidjo’s place as one of Africa’s most influential and internationally celebrated artists.
Featuring 16 new tracks, HOPE!! is a vibrant and expansive work that channels joy, resilience, and connection in difficult times. The album includes collaborations with a wide range of artists, including Pharrell Williams, who produced three songs, as well as Quavo, Ayra Starr, Davido, Nile Rodgers, Charlie Wilson, IZA, and PJ Morton. Dedicated to Kidjo’s late mother, the album reflects both personal and global themes of hope and unity. The result is a groove-driven, galvanizing release that transcends genre while showcasing Kidjo’s larger-than-life presence and captivating voice.
“I started singing when I was six years old, and I’m grateful every day that I still get to live my passion,” Kidjo says. “With this album, I wanted to put some fire back in people’s hearts and show how much we need joy and hope to keep our humanity going.”
Kidjo’s recent honors include being named to Time’s 100 Most Influential People list and receiving the Polar Music Prize in 2023. She also performed “Jerusalema” at the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral in 2024.
A dynamic live performer known for her commanding stage presence and powerful voice, Kidjo brings a genre-defying sound that bridges African traditions with global influences. Her appearance at McCarter Theatre Center offers audiences the opportunity to experience beloved songs from across her remarkable career alongside new music from HOPE!! in an intimate setting.
For tickets and more information, visit mccarter.org or call Patron Services at (609) 258-2787.
