SZA Shuts Down Rumor She Was a Backup in Case Justin Bieber Canceled Coachella Performance
Rumors that SZA may step in at Coachella 2026 are being ignored. The singer of "Good Days" dispelled rumors that she was compensated to serve as the festival's backup act in the event that Justin Bieber, who is headlining alongside Sabrina Carpenter and Karol G, withdraws.
“Lmao who made this up?” in a comment on an April 10 Instagram post, SZA (born Solána Imani Rowe) stated that she will serve as a stand-in for the “Sorry” singer should he be a no-show at his April 11 and April 18 performances. “I’ve seen this 4 times now. I’m in New York no one paid me a dime. Wishing everyone the best.”
A photo of the "Kill Bill" vocalist was included in the joint post by Blind Items and Music Life, along with the headline, “SZA ALLEGEDLY PAID SIX FIGURES TO STAY COACHELLA-READY IN CASE JUSTIN BIEBER DROPOFF.”
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Fans in the comments section continued to anticipate that SZA, who worked with Justin on an acoustic version of her 2022 smash song "Snooze," would make an appearance during Justin's performance, even though SZA put that idea to rest.
“Did yall forget bieber is in one of her videos / songs… she might pop up on his set atp,” in the comments, one admirer commented, and another said, “@sza baby girl just come we want to see you.”
Although it's still unclear if Justin will make any unexpected cameos during his eagerly awaited performance, he already gave fans a sneak peek at what he has planned for his musical session.
"I’m gonna do the whole, both [SWAG] projects, probably,” last October, he stated during a livestream on Twitch, “and just find a way to merge some of the old songs in where I can and, like, I haven’t performed these songs live yet, and that’ll be kind of the first time I really do them all live like that."
The "Yukon" musician revealed on the webcast that Coachella was a safe place for him, although expressing some nervousness about possible touring. "It soothes the soul," he said.
Bieber mania has already swept through the Coachella grounds, even though Justin hasn't even taken the stage as the main act. After all, prior to his performance, the "Baby" singer's friend Kylie Jenner made a few dress choices influenced by Justin.
In fact, the Kardashians star flaunted an enormous tank top that exposed Justin's face to commemorate her arrival in the desert. In addition, she posted on Instagram Stories that her floral manicure was an homage to the singer's 2025 track "Daisies," saying, "It's giving Bieberchella."
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