As Kanye West’s devoted fans await the release of the rapper’s long-anticipated tenth studio album, Donda, West has come up with a wild plan to host his third listening party. Would it even be Kanye if this wasn’t the case? The Chicago native is building a replica of his childhood home right in the center of Soldier Field. The party is scheduled for August 26, and the big question now is, will soon-to-be-ex-wife Kim Kardashian be attendance?
West Sub Ever tweeted a photo of the house going up on Soldier Field, where the Chicago Bears just hosted a preseason football game this past Saturday. That’s a lot of work to turn the football stadium into a replica of Kanye’s childhood home in a matter of days but, again, completely on brand for the man whose album is named for his late mother and whose younger daughter’s name is Chicago. Check out the progress below:
Although Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kanye West in February after six years of marriage, the couple has been hanging out again lately, grabbing lunch last week in Malibu and taking their four children — North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm — to the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Kardashian was also present at West’s previous two Donda listening parties, begging the question of if she’ll attend the big event in Chicago, and no doubt fueling speculation that the couple might reconcile — especially now that West is single again.
At the last listening party — both of which were held in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which Kanye West made his temporary home — Kim Kardashian matched her estranged husband's outfit in an all-black Balenciaga ensemble. West updated the lyrics in “Love Unconditionally” to include what sounded like a plea for forgiveness, rapping, “I'm losing all my family, darling come back to me.” He also debuted a new song with lyrics that implied Kardashian’s presence at the show was a sign that there’s hope yet for the couple: “Time and space is a luxury, but you came here to show that you're still in love with me.”
Kimye also coordinated their outfits for the first Atlanta listening party with Kim Kardashian zipping into a red leather bodysuit to match the rapper’s all-red ensemble. It’s been reported that Kardashian’s continued support of Kanye West was encouraged by her mother, Kris Jenner, who continued to successfully co-parent with Robert Kardashian after their divorce. And to their credit, co-parenting seems to be something the Kardashians do pretty well, considering Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner have also maintained close relationships with exes for the sake of their children.
As far as the public knows, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are still going through with their divorce, which was chronicled on the final season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. But Thursday’s listening party in Chicago will certainly be an emotional night for West, evoking very literal images of his childhood. How Kardashian continues to show her support will be very interesting to watch. After its release date was pushed back in July and again earlier this month, Donda is now scheduled to be released August 27, one day after the Chicago event.
