Pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter transformed the Coachella stage into "Sabrinawood" during her headline performance on Friday night, 10 April 2026, with a star-studded lineup of surprise guests. The 26-year-old singer's Old Hollywood-themed set featured appearances from Will Ferrell, Corey Fogelmanis, Sam Elliott, and most notably, veteran actor Susan Sarandon.
Susan Sarandon's Standout Monologue
Susan Sarandon delivered a nearly seven-minute dramatic monologue that became the talk of the festival. The 77-year-old actor, dressed in a crisp white shirt while seated in a classic car, portrayed an older version of Sabrina Carpenter, reflecting on "what it was like to be a star" in her prime and contemplating how a future niece might perceive her legacy.
Mixed Reactions to the Performance
While fans on social media praised the pairing as "iconic," industry publication Variety reported that the extended scene, which also featured Carpenter's Girl Meets World co-star Corey Fogelmanis as a drive-in theatre waiter, "brought the pop show to a screeching halt" with "lots of people leaving" the performance area.
Sarandon's appearance comes after she made headlines earlier this year for speaking out about being blocked by Hollywood for advocating a ceasefire in Gaza, which led to her agency firing her in 2023.
Additional Celebrity Appearances
Will Ferrell made a surprise cameo as the festival's grumpy on-call electrician after a staged power short-circuit. Sam Elliott appeared as a suspicious police officer in a black-and-white short film that opened Carpenter's set, reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, where Carpenter sang along to Kool & the Gang's "Hollywood Swinging" while driving a 1950s classic car.
Notable Absence and Signature Moments
Madonna was notably absent from the performance, despite rumors she would appear in Carpenter's signature "arrest" segment, which has previously featured celebrities like Millie Bobby Brown and Nicole Kidman. Carpenter instead kicked off her live show with her hit single "House Tour" after arriving at a drive-in that transformed into the Coachella festival site.
Coachella 2026 Lineup
Taking place across two weekends from 10 to 19 April, Coachella 2026 is headlined by Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G. The festival, North America's largest music event, also features performances from The xx, Disclosure, Teddy Swims, Sexyy Red, Katseye, Central Cee, Ethel Cain, the Strokes, Addison Rae, David Byrne, Iggy Pop, and FKA twigs among numerous other artists.
