With nearly 585 million streams on her viral hit “Love Me Not,” American R&B singer-songwriter Ravyn Lenae will grace campus with smooth, danceable tunes as the headliner for the Cornell Concert Commission’s Homecoming Concert on Sunday.
The Sunday concert will unfold in Bartels Hall’s Ramin Room, where doors will open at 2 p.m., and the concert will begin at 3 p.m. Tickets for the concert start at $27 for Cornell students, faculty and staff, and $42 for the general public.
The concert is a part of Cornell’s larger Homecoming weekend, which kicks off with a laser show on Friday and wraps up after the Sunday concert.
Artist Tkay Maidza will open the concert with her signature hip-hop, pop and electronic style, according to Julia Minogue ’27, selections director for the CCC. Maidza was originally scheduled to open for CCC’s Flo Milli concert on campus in 2022, but couldn’t attend, Minogue added.
Following the opener, Lenae will headline, performing neo-soul and R&B jams for concert-goers.
1,500 attendees are expected to attend the concert, though the CCC “would love as many people as possible,” wrote CCC Executive Director Areli Esparza ’26 in a statement to The Sun.
About the headliner
Headliner Lenae made waves on social media and in the music scene earlier this year.
Peaking at No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100 list this August, Lenae’s most-streamed song, “Love Me Not,” has gathered over 584 million streams and has been used in approximately 500,000 TikToks since its 2024 release.
The singer boasts collaborations with big-name artists, including Steve Lacey on “Skin Tight,” Kali Uchis on “Cry about it!,” Doechii on “Xtasy (remix)” and Childish Gambino on “One Wish.”
This year, Lenae claimed the title of Billboard's R&B Rookie of the Year with around a decade of R&B experimentation under her belt. Blanketed in purple lights, Lenae also performed at this year’s Black Entertainment Television Awards.
“[Lenae] brings a unique sound and blends multiple genres (R&B, pop, and afrobeats) that each draw different audiences, making her a name that resonates with a wide part of the Cornell community,” Minogue wrote.
About the opener
Throughout her career, opener and Zimbabwe-born Australian artist Maidza has won numerous music awards, including the Australian Recording Industry Association award for Best Soul/R&B Release in 2024 with her album, Sweet Justice. Her most-streamed song, “24k,” has amassed over 28 million streams since its 2020 release, and she featured on Martin Solveig’s electronic song, “Do It Right,” which has over 165 million streams.
“[Maidza gives] us even more genre representation and [she’s] someone who can really hype up the crowd before Ravyn Lenae’s performance,” Minogue wrote. “We’re thrilled to finally have her on campus.”
‘A fun and memorable stress-free time’
Historically, the CCC has hosted its Homecoming concert on the Saturday of Homecoming weekend, but this year it decided to switch it up. Esparza wrote that the CCC hopes the new Sunday timeslot will give attendees “the flexibility to enjoy the concert while having the rest of the afternoon to relax and study.”
Ultimately, with the concert’s performers and new time, CCC member Anna McDevitt ’28 wrote that she expects a “lively” atmosphere on Sunday, where attendees can just have fun — whether they’re dancing, socializing or just vibing.
“As long as people are coming together and enjoying the music, that’s what we’re here for,” McDevitt wrote. “The main thing we can hope for is that people leave having had a fun and memorable stress-free time with their friends.”
Varsha Bhargava is a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is a news editor for the 143rd Editorial Board and can be reached at vbhargava@cornellsun.com.
