Shakira stages surprise album release gig in Miami

Pop superstar Shakira surprised fans in Miami, Florida over the weekend by staging a pop-up show to celebrate the release of her new album El Dorado.

Fans of the Hips Don't Lie hitmaker were alerted to the free last-minute gig at The Wynwood Yard in an announcement on social media on Friday night (26May17), and devotees rushed to the venue to secure a spot in the audience.

Shakira didn't arrive until just before 1am on Saturday (27May17), after attending her official album release party nearby, but she delighted the audience by hitting the stage for a short set.

She performed Toneladas, which she revealed was her son Milan's favorite track, and her current single, Me Enamore, and also spent time shaking hands with her devotees.

The singer posted video footage of the show on Instagram on Saturday, and captioned one photo of the packed crowd, "Still feeling emotional from last night!!! IT WAS EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shak".

The mother-of-two has been spending time away from her boyfriend, Spanish soccer star Gerard Pique, and their boys Milan, four, and Sasha, two, to promote her new album, her first in three years, and Shakira admits being away from her loved ones has been tough.

Even just leaving her family to hit the recording studio made her feel like a bad mom.

"I didn't want to abandon my role as a mother, and I started to feel guilty for like the first few weeks," she told Entertainment Tonight. "But the conflict got resolved at some point, and I started making songs."

And it's Shakira family ties which have prevented her from returning as a coach on hit U.S. talent show The Voice, after previously serving as a panellist on season four in 2013.

"I wouldn't (go back), because it's so hard to be away from my family," the singer shared, insisting it was a "great experience".

"Right now, (I'm) back into making music, and I'm gonna be going on tour pretty soon at the end of the year," she added. "I miss all that."