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The Best Surprise Performances at Coachella This Year

From Billie Eilish to Olivia Rodrigo to Shakira, here are some of the most unexpected guests from the festival’s first weekend

Coachella 2024

Colombian singer Shakira performs with Argentine record producer and songwriter Bizarrap on the Sahara Stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, on April 12, 2024. VALERIE MACON/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

The first weekend of Coachella 2024 wrapped on Sunday, capping off a jam-packed few days filled with A-list performances and surprise guests. In addition to a stacked lineup that featured tons of acts we were counting down to see, some of pop music’s biggest stars made the festival even more memorable by popping in for unexpected appearances onstage: Shakira shocked the crowd and announced a gigantic world tour during Argentinean producer Bizarrap’s set; Olivia Rodrigo pulled up to belt out “Bathwater” with Gwen Stefani during No Doubt’s spectacular reunion; and 21 Savage, Teezo Touchdown, and A$AP Rocky all came out when Doja Cat shut things down on the last night of Weekend One.

There’s still another whole weekend coming up, but here are some of the best surprise moments that have made Coachella 2024 particularly unforgettable so far.

From Rolling Stone US

Juvenile

 Jon Batiste played a packed set on Saturday, but he had a few special surprises up his sleeves: The crowd roared when he welcomed hip-hop legend Juvenile for “Back That Azz Up.”

Arcángel

The Puerto Rican reggaeton and trap star Arcángel hopped out with Peso Pluma to perform the self-referential single, titled “Peso Completo,” or “Heavyweight.” The song will appear on Peso’ upcoming album, Éxodo.

Kesha

After the cast of The L Word introduce Renée Rapp, the singer also brought up Kesha . Together, they performed Kesha’s breakthrough hit “Tik Tok.” Instead of singing “Wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy,” the pair screamed “Fuck P. Diddy” to cheers from the audience.

21 Savage

Rapper and January Rolling Stone cover star 21 Savage, joined Doja Cat to perform their 2024 track, “H. N. I. E.” off his latest LP American Dream. Bashfully wielding a bouquet of baby’s breath, Teezo Touchdown also joined Doja for a live debut of their new song “Masc.”