With mud-caked boots, a pigeon headpiece, and a crowd ready to lose its mind for “CRANK,” Slayyyter transformed her Governors Ball debut into a delirious celebration of DIY pop stardom, camp, and Pride Month catharsis.

Stream: “CRANK” – Slayyyter

She knows how to crank it.

The St. Louis-born singer built a career on being unapologetically tacky, gas station grimy in a campy way (complimentary.) I’ve heard some compare her music to Kim Petras, especially in her STARF***ER era.

“Belladonna, electrona,
glamorous in me.
Donatella, money spender,
drink some more champagne,
Poison flower, love and power,
make him wanna stay,
I make him wanna stay.”

– “Miss Belladonna,” Slayyyter

Slayyyter feels very hands-on and DIY as an artist, so a lot of her own ideas and personality shines through. She makes a lot of her own costumes and helps direct her music videos.

Now, Slayyyter’s discography and, as a result, career has taken on a life of its own. By taking a more “authentic” approach to WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA, songs like “DANCE…” and “CRANK” went viral on social media.

That same artist who once felt like a best-kept secret for pop fans now commands crowds large enough to fill an entire festival field.

In 2026, Slayyyter performed for the first time at Governors Ball in New York City, appearing on the same lineup as chart-topping artists like KATSEYE, A$AP Rocky, Lorde, and Blood Orange.

In 2024, it was Chappell Roan who drew one of the biggest crowds in the festival’s history despite not having top billing. For Sunday, Slayyyter felt like a similar moment.

Some fans camped out at the barricade since the gates opened, others shuffled in after catching Rachel Chinouriri’s set. A few were even lucky enough to catch one of the Slayyyer-themed flags being thrown into the audience.

Then, right as she was scheduled to perform, the teal “storms in the area” message on the stage’s screen flashed bright red, reading, “Lightning in the area. For safety, the show has been temporarily paused.”

An announcement over the loudspeaker said, “please stay away from the stages and structures,” which led to plenty of attendees running to find shelter. But the rain passed quickly and less than an hour later, it was time to crank it.

Slayyyter pounced onto the stage in her mud-covered boots and a Vegas showgirl-esque headpiece. Upon closer examination, the feather headpiece was actually a pigeon (very New York) and her outfit had a similar color scheme.

She later traded her headpiece for an “I Heart NYYYC” cap, sharing her love for the city and the crowd.

“You want to dance with me today? You better show me what you’ve got Gov Ball,” Slayyyter said before launching into “Cannibalism.”

Most of the setlist songs were from her new album WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA, which perfectly matched the visuals and set pieces (spray painted t-shirts hanging on a clothesline.)

What everyone was clearly waiting for, though, was “Crank.” As soon as the first notes started, people started screeching. There were mini-mosh pits in the GA area with fans absolutely losing their minds for the chorus.

Slayyyter responded with just as much energy, sprinting up and down the catwalk, flinging her hat off and whipping her blonde hair around. Admittedly, it didn’t look as insane as the Coachella crowd, but hearing that song during Pride Month right after a rainstorm was magical.

Overall, the performance was exactly what you’d expect from the wor$t girl in America: Headbanging, screaming, and tons of gag-worthy moments. We can’t wait to see what’s next.

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 © Paigge Warton

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