Dreams have come true for two Tauranga stars as they get to share the same stage as superstar Beyonce.
Tauranga's Stan Walker and Ria Hall are this week opening for the Queen of Pop as she plays four shows at Auckland's Vector Arena.
The first of Beyonce's New Zealand shows was held on Wednesday and Hall told the Bay of Plenty Times the experience was a dream come true.
Hall and Walker are from the same Tauranga Moana family and Hall features on Walker's new album Inventing Myself. "It was an amazing and very humbling experience. None of us have got to meet her, it's all hush hush and we don't know much," Hall said. "A lot like Stan, Beyonce is the person I base my vocals around. I've followed her since the mid 90s when she was in Destiny's Child, I've always been inspired by that." She said the experience was something she could tick off her bucket list and said one of Beyonce's back up singers joined her back stage for a singalong. "She was incredible. I got to watch the show as well, it just doesn't get better than that."
A large number of the pair's family members will be going to tonight's show and Hall said the family were proud to have two Tauranga Moana singers representing the area on an international stage.
Walker has taken to social media to talk about the experience, posting on both Twitter and Instagram.
Some of his posts include: "Thankyou Jesus ... Best life ever ... Faaaah actual still in shock of what is happening ... #blessed", "Dont matter what any body says cos at the end of the day I am opening for Beyonce and theres nothing u can do 2 change it hahaha yeeeeah ..." and "Best night of my flippen life ... thankyou Jesus and thankyou my darling Beyonce ;)".