Susan Sarandon was one of the notable names who joined Sabrina Carpenter for her impressive performance at Coachella in the desert. The 26-year-old pop star was the first headliner of this year’s California music festival, taking the stage on Friday night (10 April).
Her performance, themed around Old Hollywood, transformed the stage into “Sabrinawood,” creating a nostalgic and cinematic atmosphere. The set featured surprise appearances from several stars, including Susan Sarandon, Will Ferrell, Corey Fogelmanis, and actor Sam Elliott from Landman.
Sarandon, in particular, stood out during the show. The 77-year-old actress delivered a dramatic monologue that lasted nearly seven minutes, playing an older version of Carpenter. Dressed in a crisp white shirt and sitting in a classic car, she reflected on what it was like to be a star in her prime and pondered what a future niece might think of her. Fans took to social media to praise the moment, calling Sarandon and Carpenter an “iconic” duo.
However, not everyone was impressed with the extended scene. According to Variety, the segment—featuring Carpenter’s Girl Meets World co-star Corey Fogelmanis as a waiter at a drive-in theatre—“brought the pop show to a screeching halt.” Some audience members reportedly left the event due to the prolonged break.
Sarandon has been in the news recently after speaking out during an emotional press conference about being blocked by Hollywood for advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. She was subsequently fired by her agency in 2023.
Will Ferrell also made a surprise appearance, playing the role of a grumpy on-call electrician after the power “short-circuited.” This added another layer of humor to the already eclectic performance.
Carpenter opened her Friday night set with a black-and-white short film that depicted her singing along to Kool & the Gang’s “Hollywood Swinging” as she drives down a highway at night in a 1950s classic car. In a scene reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, she is pulled over by a suspicious police officer played by Elliott. After getting back on the road, she eventually arrives at a drive-in that is revealed to be the Coachella festival site. Emerging from the car, Carpenter kicked off the show with a rendition of her hit single “House Tour.”
One famous face that was notably absent was Madonna, who had been rumoured to appear as the chosen celebrity to be “arrested” in what has become a signature moment in Carpenter’s shows. Previous stars who have appeared in this playful segment include Millie Bobby Brown and Nicole Kidman.
This year’s Coachella took place across two weekends, from Friday (10 April) to Sunday (19 April). The festival was headlined by Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G. Other artists scheduled to perform include The xx, Disclosure, Teddy Swims, Sexyy Red, Katseye, Central Cee, Ethel Cain, The Strokes, Addison Rae, David Byrne, Iggy Pop, and FKA twigs.
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