Words + Interview / Jesse Roth
photos / Minaam Baseer
Before taking the Lovergirls Tour to Brooklyn, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Nashville, Molly Grace squeezed one more stop into her New York itinerary—an afternoon at the iconic Trash & Vaudeville in the East Village.
Nestled between racks of leather jackets, leopard print, and towering platform boots, we wandered the store, stopping every few feet to admire another pair of shoes or pull something off the rack. Grace was exactly as she appears onstage—warm, endlessly enthusiastic, and just as likely to stop mid-conversation to gasp over a pair of platforms as she was to dive into the logistics of self-managing a tour.
The tour, which kicked off in Los Angeles before making its way across the country, was intentionally designed to be different. Local queer DJs opened each night, LGBTQ+ organizations were spotlighted in every city, and Grace made a point to meet fans after every show, often staying until the venue closed. The result was a glitter-soaked, dance-floor-first pop experience built around connection as much as performance.
Throughout the month, Grace documented the Lovergirls Tour exclusively for LADYGUNN, capturing everything from hometown reunions and late-night pizza runs to unforgettable crowds and the quiet moments in between. What follows is her diary from the road, in her own words.
Dear Diary: Inside Molly Grace’s Lovergirls Tour
Are you there, LADYGUNN? It’s me, Molly Grace!
Welcome to my tour diary—a place where I will share the glowing moments of pop stardom and the intimate secrets of a rising artist on the road.
It’s finally June, which means it’s officially tour month! I’ll be traveling to Los Angeles, Boston, New York City, DC, Chicago, and Nashville on the Lovergirls Tour for six shows filled with dancing, high notes, and body glitter.
The idea for the Lovergirls shows came to be at the start of this year. A girl like me doesn’t stay off the road for too long, and with a particularly free June on the horizon, I knew it would be the perfect time to plan a few shows. The concept is simple: a few shows in a few major cities where the point is to dance, feel good, and celebrate ourselves. Instead of the traditional opener, we would source local queer DJs. Instead of a traditional Molly Grace set with ballads and acoustic moments, it would be completely danceable the whole way through. I would head to the merch booth after every show and talk to fans until the venue shuts down. I would partner with local LGBTQ+ organizations to give the party some purpose.
My dream event! I’m really hoping these shows are everything I dreamed of and more. I am so excited to sing again, see my fans, and celebrate this community we’ve built over the last few years.
LADYGUNN:
Since your last headline tour, what inspired you to get back on the road before your next project?
Molly Grace: Since my last headline tour supporting my album, I’ve been between projects, and I really just wanted to be on the road again. I wanted to see my fans and also try out some new material. At each show, we’re partnering with a local LGBTQ+ organization, which has made the whole experience feel even more meaningful.
El Cid
Lovergirls LA was a smash! The perfect way to kick off this tour.
LA is actually my new home as of a few weeks ago, so it was really special to celebrate this next chapter of my life with a killer show.
This show also marked my first time self-tour managing. For the folks at home, that means it was basically my first time doing everything myself. I definitely felt like I was drinking from the firehose, but the Lovergirls and I really got the job done.
(Someone play “The Giver” by Chappell Roan.)
LADYGUNN:
You’re debuting new songs on this tour. What’s it like testing them in front of an audience for the first time?
Molly Grace: It’s been really fun. I have two new songs in the set, and it’s always exciting to see how they translate live. Every time I perform a song in front of an audience, it changes a little bit. The live show teaches you something new every night.
Sonia
I mean… how could you not have the best show ever when your soundcheck goes perfectly (shoutout Joey at Sonia!) and your sweet baby niece comes by to give you big hugs in the green room?
I grew up outside of Boston, so playing here is always extra special. I got to see my family, my choir and drama teachers from middle and high school, old friends from my childhood, and all of my beautiful fans—some of whom have now been to fourteen shows.
I felt on fire tonight. Some nights your vocals feel amazing, the choreo is effortless, and the on-stage banter is just flowing.
Tonight was one of those nights.
We stayed after the show talking forever. It was so, so special.
NEW YORK CITY
I’m feeling like such a pop star diva today.
We drove bright and early from Boston and I pretty much immediately jumped into press. I spent all day buzzing around New York City in my heels and leopard print tights talking with so many incredible people (especially Jesse!) about my music.
What a dream.
On the train ride home, we were standing next to a group of high school theatre kids. I’m going to be vulnerable—I was really hoping one of them would recognize me.
Maybe next time.
Purgatory
Picture this lineup:
Knicks historic win.
Incredible DJ set.
Molly Grace show.
Dancing and yapping into the night.
A slice of Joe’s Pizza.
Tonight was an all-timer!
This show was so late at night, which felt so strange at first. We’re used to loading into a venue around three, and for this show we loaded in at ten. We felt like true rockstars.
Our DJ, Janae, had us grooving with a capital G, and the girls and I made ourselves giggle by slipping “Knicks in 5!” into the set every chance we got.
LADYGUNN:
You and your dancers also create your own choreography. What does that collaboration look like?
Molly Grace: Usually I’ll come into rehearsal with a rough idea, and then we’ll workshop it together. Everyone is such a great dancer, so they’ll throw out ideas too. The choreography process is honestly one of my favorite parts of getting ready for a show.
DC9
Today started with a blue and orange dyed New York bagel. What more could a girl want?
I had been so excited for this DC show. When I parked the minivan outside the venue, I ran into fans dressed head to toe in their Lovergirls garb and got to hug them before the show.
It’s so surreal to me to see fans out in public. Like, you planned your whole day around this. You’re here getting dinner before my show.
How crazy is that?
It’ll never get old.
The show itself had such killer energy. It was unbelievably hot, and I had sweat pouring down my fake lashes, but I was dancing my little heart out.
It was a magical night.
Subterranean
A little secret about the Chicago show—it wasn’t originally supposed to happen.
When I planned the tour initially, I was only going to the East Coast and LA, but Chicago went crazy in the comments when I teased Lovergirls, so I knew I had to add a show.
And wow, wow, WOW am I so glad that I did.
Tonight’s show was absolutely electric.
I actually found myself getting emotional talking to fans after the show. Chicago was the second city I ever toured, and so many people from that very first show came back.
I feel so, so lucky to have such a strong community.
Nashville Pride
Nashville Pride will go down in history as one of my favorite days of my career so far.
Today we debuted the all-girl band, along with an all-girl behind-the-scenes crew, and it was simply the best day ever.
I was a bit worried about the rain, but I must have a friend in the universe because the sprinkles stopped right before my set and then the skies opened up right after.
It felt so great to be onstage with a full band.
I felt completely present during this show. All I could think about was how much fun I was having and how I wanted to live in this moment forever.
I ended the night at the lesbian bar (Lipstick, of course).
LADYGUNN: You described Lovergirls as “a party with a purpose.” Why was it important to build that into the tour?
MOLLY GRACE: When I was putting this tour together, I knew I wanted it to be about more than just playing shows. I’ve been between projects, and I really wanted to get back on the road, see my fans, and try out new material. Partnering with a local LGBTQ+ organization in every city made the whole experience feel even more meaningful.
Love, Molly
I don’t know if my fans realize how special these shows have been for me.
I’m walking away feeling inspired, revitalized, and so, so, so filled with love.
It’s moments like these that remind me of my true purpose—making music I love and creating a community where people can escape for a while and feel good about themselves.
Lovergirls Tour, you will always be famous.
Thank you for following along this month, and thank you for indulging my Carrie Bradshaw fantasies.
See you at the next tour?
Xoxo,
Molly Grace