Ciara made a grand entrance at the 2024 ESPY Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 11. The 38-year-old R&B singer served as the opening musical act for the annual ceremony, setting the stage on fire with her energetic performance.
The night began with Ciara performing her 2004 hit single, “Goodies,” a track that marked her debut in the music industry and was also the title track of her first album. As she transitioned into a medley of her popular hits, including “1, 2 Step” and “Level Up,” the audience’s excitement reached new heights.
Adding to the thrill, tennis legend and host of the night, Serena Williams, 42, made a dynamic entrance through a line of girls dressed in her iconic performance outfits. The duo’s electrifying show earned a standing ovation from the audience, with notable cheers from Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin and other NFL players.
Ciara and Williams had teased their performance a day before the ESPYs by posting a selfie on Instagram with the caption, “This dynamic duo has something up their sleeves for the ESPYS this year 🏆.” In a video from the same post, Williams hinted at a surprise for the show’s opening slot, with Ciara making a playful appearance behind her.
The excitement extended beyond the stage, with Ciara’s husband, NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, sharing their selfie on his Instagram Stories, soundtracked to her hit “Level Up” and accompanied by heart emojis.
This year’s ESPY Awards featured an impressive performer lineup, including rapper and Louisiana State University basketball player Flau’Jae Johnson. The event was graced by celebrities such as GloRilla, Quinta Brunson, Nikki Glaser, and Rob Lowe, alongside athletes like Draymond Green, Lindsey Vonn, Allyson Felix, and Damar Hamlin, who all took on presenting roles.
Ciara’s participation in the ESPYs comes amid her tour with Missy Elliott on the latter’s Out of This World Tour, which kicked off in Vancouver, B.C., on July 4. She also recently collaborated with Christian rapper Hulvey on a remix of his 2023 song “Altar,” released in June.
Speaking to PEOPLE about the collaboration, Ciara expressed her enthusiasm: “It was really important to me to be able to use my platform to share this song, because I believe songs like ‘Altar’ have the opportunity to inspire, instill hope in people, and spread love. This is honestly one of my favorite features I’ve ever been a part of!”
The 2024 ESPY Awards aired live on ABC, showcasing a night of spectacular performances and heartfelt moments, celebrating the best in sports and entertainment.
