Karol G makes history
Karol G became the first Latina artist to headline Coachella, taking the festival’s main slot on Sunday, April 12. (hollywoodreporter.com). She shared the day with acts including BIGBANG, FKA twigs, Clipse and Suicidal Tendencies, with multiple outlets framing her set as the standout storyline of Weekend One. ( )
Karol G closed Coachella on Sunday night as the first Latina artist to headline the festival’s main stage in its 25-year history. (hollywoodreporter.com) Her set capped Weekend One on April 12 in Indio, California, where she led the final night’s main billing over a lineup that also included BIGBANG, FKA twigs, Clipse and Suicidal Tendencies. (latimes.com) The performance included guest appearances from Becky G, Mariah Angeliq and Wisin, and Rolling Stone reported that Karol G also premiered a song with Cigarettes After Sex during the set. (hollywoodreporter.com, rollingstone.com) The Desert Sun’s published setlist showed a show built around reggaeton, Latin pop and crossover hits, including “Tusa,” “TQG,” “Mamiii,” “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” and a “Mi Tierra” cover. (desertsun.com) Coachella has booked major Latin acts for years, but the top line of the poster has remained harder to crack. Pitchfork noted that Karol G was the first Latina to top the main-stage billing since the festival began in 1999. (pitchfork.com) Karol G arrived at that slot after a run that pushed her beyond reggaeton radio into arena-level pop stardom. Her 2023 album “Mañana Será Bonito” became the first all-Spanish-language album by a woman to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200. (billboard.com) She has also been one of the biggest touring draws in Latin music. Pollstar reported that her “Mañana Será Bonito Tour” became the highest-grossing Latin tour by a woman. (pollstar.com) By Monday morning, several outlets were treating her set as the defining image of Coachella’s first weekend, not just Sunday’s closer. The Los Angeles Times put her history-making headline in its live report, and The Desert Sun spun out her full setlist as a standalone story hours later. (latimes.com, desertsun.com) Weekend Two runs April 17 to April 19, with Karol G scheduled to return to the same Sunday headlining slot. After Sunday night, that repeat booking now carries a first-of-its-kind marker in Coachella history. (pitchfork.com, yahoo.com)
