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Raye’s Triumphant Tour Sparks “Changing of the Guard” Talk

Raye

Variety Music·May 16, 2026·via Variety Music

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May 16, 2026 2:58pm PT

Has Raye Already Busted Into the Pantheon of Great 21st Century Entertainers? This Year’s Smashing Tour Has Told the Tale

Wrapping up her U.S. tour at the Greek, Raye showed why it's not premature to put her up there. Hans Zimmer put in a surprise appearance... surprising most of all to her.

By Chris Willman

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Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

ChrisWillman

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Adele was in the audience for the closing night of Raye ‘s U.S. tour this week at the Greek Theatre, which naturally led to all kinds of murmurings about torches being passed. One imagines Adele being the type to give up a torch only when it’s pried out of her cold, dead hands, but it’s safe to say that a certain flame is now at least being shared . It’s not casual hyperbole to say that with this tour, the 28-year-old British singer has crossed some kind of threshold to earn a place in the pantheon of great 21st century entertainers. The barrier to entry may seem like it’s lower than it used to be, for what constitutes a first-rank diva, but in her current prime Raye meets all the bars, past and present.