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After weeks of rumors about a possible appearance, Madonna returned at the second weekend of the Coachella festival back to the desert. She performed in the middle of Sabrina Carpenter’s headlining set on Friday night.
Madonna appeared on stage during Carpenter’s performance of “Juno” – the song where she traditionally “arrests” another celebrity on her Short ‘n Sweet tour. Amid a flash of lights and surrounded by backup dancers, the pair walked through a duet of the 1990 classic “Vogue” before performing a new song that appears to be from Madonna’s upcoming album “Confessions II.”
Then Madonna took the microphone, let the mood settle for a moment and addressed the thousands of fans in the audience and everyone watching the live stream. “Sabrina, thank you so much for inviting me to your show,” Madonna said. “No thanks needed, Madonna. You can have whatever you want,” a visibly thrilled Carpenter replied.
Madonna’s emotional review
“I need to get a few things off my chest: Exactly 20 years ago I was on stage at Coachella. I was in the Dance Tent – and it was the first time I played ‘Confessions on the Dance Floor’ Part One in America,” Madonna continued. “It was an incredible experience for me. So you can imagine what it means to come back 20 years later – in the same boots, the same corset, the same Gucci jacket that I wore before. It’s a real full circle moment, very meaningful for me.”
After a surprising lesson in astrology, Madonna advised: “So let’s try, no matter what, to get along for the rest of the month” – adding: “The great thing about music is that it brings people together, right? It’s the one place where people need to put their differences aside, drop their shit and just have a good time together.”
“So I’m thrilled to be part of this healing experience of bringing people together,” she said — before breaking out into a stunning duet of “Like a Prayer” with Carpenter.
“Confessions II” arrives in July
Madonna’s performance at Coachella follows the recently announced, highly anticipated follow-up to her 2005 album Confessions on a Dance Floor – titled Confessions II – due out July 3rd.
“People think dance music is superficial, but they are completely wrong,” Madonna said in a statement. “The dance floor is not just a place, it is a threshold: a ritual space in which movement replaces language.”
The pop legend also presented a first taste of the album: “I Feel So Free”. iHeartRadio’s Pride Radio premiered the single exclusively on Friday, April 17th.
Carpenter dominated both weekends
By the first Coachella weekend, Carpenter had the festival firmly in his hands. Their set included the live premieres of “When Did You Get Hot,” “Sugar Talking” and “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” from Man’s Best Friend, as well as the limited edition bonus track “Such a Funny Way.”
In 2024, Carpenter appeared at Coachella for the first time – back then in the early evening – and announced at the end: “Coachella, see you again when I headline.” Having now taken the huge festival by storm as Friday headliner on both weekends, the Grammy winner has more than fulfilled her promise.
