Harry Styles Opens MSG Residency with New Songs and Dolly Parton Tribute
Harry Styles kicked off his 30-show Madison Square Garden residency with a revamped setlist, including the live debut of 'The Waiting Game' and a rare performance of 'Carolina'. He also paid tribute to the late Dolly Parton and was joined by celebrities such as Zoë Kravitz and Drew Barrymore. The residency represents his only U.S. shows this year for the Together, Together tour.
Styles’ 30-show residency at Madison Square Garden marks his only U.S. appearances this year, following a three-year touring hiatus. The revamped setlist drew heavily from his March album *Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally*, while also reaching back to older material like “Carolina” from his 2017 solo debut. His 2022 banner in the arena’s rafters reflects 15 prior shows there, and he recalled kissing the floor on his first MSG visit with One Direction in 2012. Celebrities in attendance included Gayle King and Drew Barrymore, who joined fans in a flashlight tribute to Parton.
The Dolly Parton homage came just a day after her death, with “I Will Always Love You” serving as an emotional centerpiece. Styles’ fiancée Zoë Kravitz watched from the pit, and the crowd’s loudest reaction greeted “Kiwi,” a fan favorite from his debut album. The residency’s opening night also featured opener Jamie xx, setting a celebratory tone for a run that will define his U.S. concert presence this year.
This residency could reinforce Harry Styles’ role as a major live-music draw, potentially boosting New York’s concert economy and local tourism. The Dolly Parton tribute may deepen public mourning and appreciation for her legacy, while the celebrity attendance could amplify media coverage. Fans unable to attend may feel heightened FOMO, but the event’s exclusivity might also strengthen community among those who secured tickets, shaping how artists approach limited-run, city-specific residencies in the future.