American singer Lady Gaga made a triumphant return to a massive live audience for the first time in eight years, headlining the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday night.
Known for her electrifying performances, the pop icon dazzled the crowd by dancing with model skeletons, battling a dancer dressed as a monster, and delivering a surprise encore.
“Welcome to my house of mayhem,” Gaga proclaimed from the stage.
Throughout the two-hour set, she seamlessly blended songs from her 2025 Mayhem album with beloved classics like “Judas,” “Born This Way,” and “Poker Face.”
Between songs, she repeatedly told fans, “I love you,” creating an intimate connection with the massive crowd.
True to her flamboyant style, Gaga raced through a series of dramatic costume changes, including a striking red gown, a black leotard, a feathery white dress, and shimmering metallic armor complete with a cape.
Fans matched her dedication to spectacle with their own bold fashion choices. Jay Green from Florida, attending with a group of friends, wore a glowing giraffe headband.
“I love her artistry,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve seen her live.” Diane Leeds from Northern California, a Coachella regular, sported a giant flower headband. “She is definitely the highlight of this year for me,” Leeds shared.
Gaga, a longtime LGBTQ+ icon who affectionately calls her fans “Little Monsters,” is celebrated for her activism and openness about her bisexuality.
During the show, men in the audience hugged, kissed, and shouted their love for the 39-year-old singer.
Her 2011 hit “Born This Way” became a defining “gay anthem,” inspiring the launch of her Born This Way Foundation, which focuses on ending bullying and promoting mental health awareness, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community.
Known for her genre-spanning sound — blending electropop, dance, rock, house, jazz, and experimental elements — Gaga continues to push boundaries.
She is now gearing up for her 2025 MAYHEM Ball tour in support of Mayhem, which debuted at number one on both the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart.
Top singles from the album include “Die With a Smile,” a high-energy collaboration with Bruno Mars, and the spellbinding track “Abracadabra.”
Lady Gaga previously headlined Coachella in 2017, stepping in for Beyoncé after doctors advised the “Cowboy Carter” singer to scale back her schedule during pregnancy, according to an official festival statement.
