Lady Gaga scored a majestic homecoming to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday. This was her first appearance at the storied festival since making her debut there in 2017. The pop sensation blasted off into 2025 with a truly cosmic announcement. She announced her debut project, “Mayhem,” which was highly anticipated, with the lead singles “Disease” and “Abracadabra.” Reimagining her music, this new music revealed her growth and maturity as an artist, but still lit a fire in fans with a combination of her most iconic songs.
Gaga’s Coachella performance wasn’t merely a celebration of her music — it was a glimpse into her artistic vision as a whole. The setlist was a one-two punch of bangers, showcasing Where I’m Meant to Be paired with the classic hits and crowd favorites off her earlier albums. Yet it included no songs from “Artpop,” “Joanne,” or “Chromatica.” Rather than penning a new theme, she instead looked back at her seven consecutive number-one albums, stretching from “The Fame” to “Born This Way.”
Earlier in the year, Lady Gaga had already captured the spotlight by performing alongside Bruno Mars at the Grammy Awards and later hosting and performing on Saturday Night Live. Her performances laid the groundwork for a legendary Coachella show. Once again, she lived up to her reputation as an industry maven.
Gaga’s set production served as an homage to her origins. It was filled with tributes to the signature styles that earned her a legendary status in the fashion world. She fearlessly restaged her unforgettable Alexander McQueen gown from the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards—but this time in an absolutely breathtaking ivory incarnation. On top of that, she threw in the awesome leg brace armor from her “Paparazzi” music video. This combination of memory and futurism struck a chord with the audience, adding a surprising depth to the show.
Her performance, as it was revealed, was a narrative divided into four acts with a grand finale. She closed out the evening with a high-octane mashup. It included “Vanish Into You,” “Shallow,” and her signature anthem, “Bad Romance.” Her dynamic show left fans eager for more and showcased her ability to captivate an audience with both her voice and visual artistry.
Adding to her accolades, Lady Gaga won the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance trophy for her collaboration “Die With a Smile,” further solidifying her status as a leading artist in contemporary music.