It might have only been getting started on an otherwise typical Thursday, but Grant Park was packed to the max for the kick-off to the long weekend of Lollapalooza, which boasts over 170 artists through Sunday, August 4. 

That’s because there were so many firmly established or rapidly rising A-listers, each ideally aligned back to back, including Megan Thee Stallion becoming a somewhat short notice substitute for Tyler, The Creator, who pulled out without a specific explanation.

Given the fact she already sold out two nights at the United Center, it gave Chicago an opportunity for an encore of a sizzling “Hot Girl Summer” on the heels of her hotly anticipated full-length project, simply titled “Megan.”

Add in tracks from “Traumazine,” her platinum debut “Good News,” loads of standalone singles or those originally cut as collaborations, and they kept more than an hour moving just as briskly as her distinctive rap flow. 

All the while, the headliner was sexy, assertive and unstoppable, twerking her way around “Thot S***,” “Kitty Kat,” “Cognac Queen,” “Body,” “Savage” and so many others before bowing out to the adoration of both her dedicated or casual Chicago hotties.

A little earlier, Benson Boone brought all the feels from “Fireworks & Rollerblades” in his debut American festival appearance, sparking endless sing-a-longs and sharing the intensely personal stories behind them, ranging from the brotherhood of “Friend” to losing a loved one throughout the especially eloquent “In The Stars.”

The heartfelt troubadour and keyboard player, who bravely landed a couple signature backflips, introduced the unreleased “Pretty Slowly,” which miraculously managed to hold an entire field’s attention on the way to his enormous breakout “Beautiful Things.”

Even so, the talk of the town was unquestionably Chappell Roan, who could’ve easily filled Solider Field across the street and then some with a possible record-breaking crowd, at least as far as a late afternoon act was concerned.

On a set mirroring a boxing gym where weightlifters flanked a live band, she more than rose to the occasion during key tracks from the instantly iconic “The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess,” including “HOT TO GO!,” “Red Wine Supernova,” “Good Luck, Babe!” and “My Kink Is Karma.”

Whether longtime listeners or newly obsessed, everyone joined the “Pink Pony Club” by the end and surely had her ingeniously crafted indie/alternative/synth-pop staying with them all well beyond the communal conclusion of this history-making moment.

It was practically a lifetime since firmly established pop queen Kesha last played Lollapalooza, which meant she logged a massive amount of additional hits, as well as gut-wrenching personal experiences that have since turned her into just as much of a self-assured superstar. 

The “Animal” turned “Cannibal” and “Warrior” slid right into dance floor classics such as “TiK ToK” (with lyrics defiantly changed to “f*** P. Diddy),” “Timber” and “Your Love Is My Drug,” all accompanied by a chiseled cast of dancers and a mixture of musicians.

The power ballad “Praying” not only let her emotive vocals shine through the clearest, but also spoke of the inner strength gleaned in light of her newly acquired “Gag Order” independence, while “We R Who We R” featured local drag queens and saluted the LGBTQ community.

England’s singer/songwriter/producer Labrinth blended pop, R&B, hip-hop and electronic elements for riveting renditions of solo selections and the supergroup LSD’s “Genius” that was started alongside Sia and Diplo LSD, culminating in his own “Never Felt So Alone.”

South Africa’s Tyla was absolutely stunning delivering her personally-penned brand of sophisticated R&B, particularly when she poured virtual “Water” over the sweaty but nonetheless swaying and satisfied masses.

Much of the above action took place on the Main Stage (T-Mobile), which turned out to be the first of its kind at any festival to ever have all the sound, lights, video and general production powered exclusively by a hybrid battery system, adding yet another trailblazing concept to the consistently trendsetting event.

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Lollapalooza continues at Grant Park through Sunday, August 4. For additional details, visit Lollapalooza.com.