These 7 Singers Have Surprising Pre-Show Rituals

When considering everything singers do to prepare for a show, it feels like we don't give them enough credit. We, the public, judge them harshly for cracking a note, daring to forget the words to our favorite songs, lip syncing (sometimes horribly), and then we graciously respond to an impromptu fall down a flight of stairs by rushing to upload the video to YouTube or any form of social media. Perhaps we feel the criticism and insensitivity singers receive is warranted simply because many of them earn a ridiculous amount of money to keep us entertained. As a result, there's this expectation for them to be pitch perfect and hit every step of choreography, for fear of us discovering that they are not, in fact, perfect. For this reason, it's no wonder many celebs turn to crazy pre-show rituals — they're under a ton of pressure.

Stage fright is real, and coming from someone who begins to shift uncomfortably if I think too many people are staring, I can't help but wonder what other measures our favorite singers take to overcome the threat of sudden paralysis, or the urge to shiver and sob uncontrollably in the face of such huge crowds.

Aside from pretty basic stuff like vocal warm-ups, drinking lots of water and laying off the booze, singer John Legend revealed on The Today Show that one of his pre-show rituals is eating rotisserie chicken. It doesn't sound all that crazy, but I'm kind of disappointed that his regimen doesn't include kissing a photo of his wife Chrissy Teigen before he hits the stage, simply because she's the inspiration behind some of his sappiest love songs.

On the other hand, some of the following celebrities' pre-show rituals are quite unique.

LORDE EATS SEAWEED

According to the singer, napping and eating berries or seaweed helps her fight off nausea before she hits the stage. Also, the way her performance outfit makes her feel makes it sound like it has superhero properties.

ADELE PUKES

...which is totally understandable. She also revealed to Vogue that she deals with some other digestive issues that thankfully, are resolved well before she belts out those beautiful notes in front of an audience.

SELENA GOMEZ ROCKS OUT TO BRITNEY SPEARS PERFORMANCES

Gomez also takes bike rides around the stadium with her dancers, who also serve as pre-performance hype men. No word on if they join her for her tasty tour meal of Cheetos and pickles.

RIHANNA HUDDLES AND PRAYS WITH HER DANCERS

No, it's not because she's cold. Rih holds hands with her dancers, and everyone raises their hands in the air, then they say a little prayer. For someone known as a bad gal, this pre-show ritual sounds kinda tame.

PINK GETS SOME NIPPLE LOVE

In addition to getting rid of bad energy and pissy attitudes by burning sage, Pink claims she has her nipples pinched right before she takes the stage. Hey, whatever works.

MADONNA WORKS OUT

Madge doesn't spend all her time at the gym to get those ridiculous muscles. Her backstage ritual of lifting free weights sounds pretty insane, but she tones it down by indulging in facials and massages.

MILEY CYRUS' LITTLE SISTER CHECKS HER VAG

With the crazy outfits Cyrus dons onstage, this pre-show ritual is most necessary. A nip slip is one thing, but a vag slip? I'm not quite sure we're ready for that.

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