For more than four decades, Cyndi Lauper has blazed her own vibrant, uncompromising trail—fusing music, fashion, activism and theater into a singular career that has influenced generations. Now, with her “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour,” the Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning icon is taking a final bow from touring—but not from the stage—offering fans a kaleidoscopic celebration of a life lived loudly, proudly and unapologetically.
In this tour, Lauper is not just revisiting the past—she’s reframing it. With an electrifying production, poignant storytelling and moments of powerful reflection, she’s inviting audiences into a shared space where joy, resistance and resilience converge. From the political urgency of “Sally’s Pigeons” to the emotional unity of “Time After Time,” each performance is a reminder that her voice—both literal and symbolic—has always been a force for change.
As she reflects on a career that broke barriers and defied norms, Lauper is also looking forward, with new projects like a Broadway musical version of Working Girl on the horizon and a lifelong commitment to activism that continues to inspire. This farewell is not a goodbye—it’s a milestone in a journey that’s far from over.
INTERVIEW >>>
Your “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour” is a celebration of an iconic career. What does it feel like to take this final lap with your fans across the world?
It feels really good, better than I even imagined. I worked really hard with my team to create a special show, from the stage screen visuals to the costuming to the glam. The set list, which was really hard to narrow down! And to leave spaces throughout the show where we can all stop and take in a moment together. The fans have been really awesome. Lots of folks dress up. Everyone’s singing, dancing, really being present. It’s been great.
You’ve been a voice for individuality and inclusion since day one. How have those values shaped this farewell tour, both in your performance and your message?
It’s who I am, so expressing it just comes natural to me. I like to look out into the crowd and see all different types of people. I want everyone to feel welcome at my shows. And I think I’ve carried that message from day one. It shows. Every night, I see the whole rainbow–young, old, black, white, Latinx, Asian, men, women, non-binary, gay, straight. It’s really beautiful. Diversity and inclusion is really just saying: I see you and you are welcome to be here and to be who you are.
From She’s So Unusual to your Broadway success with Kinky Boots, your artistry has always evolved. Looking back, what do you consider your boldest creative risk?
Sticking up for myself early on. They tried to make me the next so-and-so, tried to not let me write, tried to not “let me” do a lot of things.
I always said what I was thinking, good or bad, and I fought for myself and my voice. That was risky way back then. That could have been grand opening, grand closing. But I think it worked out in the end.
You’ve always blurred the line between music, fashion and theater. How are you using this final tour to bring all those worlds together on stage?
Living art has always spoken to me. Using your life as art. Art and music, expression, are not a separate entity. So for me, it’s writing, it’s designing clothing and sets, it’s been directing videos, it’s painting the bottom of my shoes, it’s having a vision for how you want the whole thing to come together. The look, the sound, what you want the audience to experience and feel. Luckily, for the tour creative, I had a great partner in Brian Burke. He helped make my vision become a reality. And I have a manager, Lisa, who might not always understand my kooky vision, but supports me and helps bring these things to life.
Your influence spans generations. Are you seeing younger fans at these shows, and how does that intergenerational love impact your performances?
I love seeing the young fans at the show. Sometimes it’s young adults, sometimes it’s little kids. Parents and grandparents with their kids. I love it. Rock ‘n’ roll can change the world and music can inspire, but mostly it has incredible power to unite people across time, generation, even language. When you’re on stage in a country where English is not the first, second or third language and the entire arena is singing your song back to you, it’s really mind-blowing.
With your recent documentary, Let the Canary Sing, fans got a deeper look at your personal and artistic journey. How has revisiting your past shaped how you show up on this tour?
Doing the doc so recently helped me to sort of go through what I’ve done over the years and really see where I want to go now with the show.
I remembered a lot of things that I always wanted to do and never got a chance to do, and now I get that chance. It also helped me figure out the set list, which was really hard to narrow down. It let me walk back through those memories of my early shows, what merch I’ve done throughout the years, and even thinking about the way post-show meet-and-greets were handled and how to tailor things now. You want to give the fans the best of all worlds but still protect your energy and health. Covid is really real. But anyway, thinking back helped me fine tune what we were planning this time around.
This tour spans continents and decades of hits. Are there songs that have taken on new meaning for you as you perform them one last time?
Well to be clear, I will still be performing but I won’t be touring. Touring really takes a lot out of you, but this is not the last time I’ll be performing these songs. But I can say that there are these moments that I didn’t realize would be so big. When I first come out on stage, the quiet moments in the middle when I do “Sally’s Pigeons” and “I’m Gonna Be Strong”. To be performing “Sally’s Pigeons” right now during this climate and everything that’s going on politically is really emotional. And the moment when I do “Time After Time,” and we all hold our lights up, sharing our light with one another. It’s magical.
Your farewell isn’t an end—it’s a transition. What are you most excited to explore creatively after the final curtain call of this tour?
I go right into Working Girl after this. I’m in the middle of it actually right now. But to bring that to the stage during this political and social climate is going to be really important.
You’ve championed causes from LGBTQ+ rights to women’s empowerment. How does your activism continue to fuel your work and inspire the next generation of artists?
It really is just who I am. I’ve always stuck up for anyone who I felt was being treated unfairly. This goes back to watching my mom, aunts and the women in my old neighborhood in Queens. It was a different time, and women were not allowed to do a lot of things–open a bank account, have a credit card.
I still talk about that because it was not that long ago. Same with LGBTQ+ rights. I don’t like different rules for different people. I don’t want anyone telling me who I can be and who I can love, so I’m not going to put up with it when I see other people being treated unfairly. I said when I testified in front of Congress, Don’t pray to God to change your kid. Pray to God to change your heart. Anyway, I just am who I am, which allows me to lead by example. And I hope it gives other people the courage or the permission to do the same.
When fans look back at this tour and your legacy, what do you hope they remember most—not just about your music, but about who you are as a person and performer?
I want people to look back and remember that I made them feel welcome and included, that they could come to my show and feel safe and happy. And I hope they remember to look out for one another and to use their voice when they see something unjust going on in the world. Also, make sure you register and VOTE! It matters. Don’t give away your power.
