Coachella 2025 Lineup Sparks Backlash as New Headliner Deemed ‘A Nightmare’

The announcement of Coachella 2025’s lineup has not been met with great reception. With heated reactions pouring in, the iconic festival has found itself in a whirlwind of criticism.

Next year’s headliners include Green Day, Post Malone, and Lady Gaga, set to take the stage at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in April. Travis Scott is also part of the list with a segment intriguingly titled “Travis Scott Designs the Desert.”

Despite the star power, the reaction has been far from glowing. One fan on X didn’t mince words, declaring, “This has to be the worst Coachella lineup I’ve ever seen.” Another complained, “All these artists ARE RUINING COACHELLA.”

The disappointment kept pouring in. A first-time attendee wrote, “First time going to Coachella and deff disappointed [sic].” Others flatly announced their decision to skip the festival, with posts like, “I’m not going anymore” and “We won’t be attending anymore.”

On Facebook, one user summed up their thoughts bluntly, “Not gonna lie this is pretty terrible.” A significant portion of the backlash has been aimed at Malone, whose return as a Coachella headliner marks his first appearance at the festival since 2018.

Some fans didn’t hold back their disdain. One commenter wrote, “I think I speak for everybody when I say nobody asked for Post Malone.” Another questioned his relevance, stating, “Who even listens to Post Malone anymore!!!!!! Coachella do better!!!!!!!! [sic]”

The criticism grew harsher. One user described him as, “a drunk stumbling mess on stage.” Another declared, “Post Malone headlining Coachella, yeah at this rate, that festival will never see me.” A third user wrote, “Post Malone heading Coachella… literally a nightmare.”

There were also objections to the artist’s genre, with some commanding, “We don’t want country music.”

Despite the criticism, Malone’s fans jumped to his defense. “Excited to see Post Malone as Coachella 2025 headliner. It’s going to be an epic show,” wrote one user. Another added, “Deserved. He’s so good!.” Someone else commented, “Post Malone headlining Coachella 2025 is going to bring an unforgettable vibe to the festival!”

The Coachella lineup is traditionally revealed closer to the event. However, this year’s acts were announced earlier than expected. The reveal followed Malone’s stadium tour announcement, which included Coachella dates on the promotional poster.

Lady Gaga is set to headline both Friday nights at the festival. She will be joined by artists like Missy Elliott, Benson Boone, FKA Twigs, GloRilla, The Prodigy, Tyla, Yeat, and Three 6 Mafia. Sharing her excitement on Instagram, Gaga revealed she had long dreamed of creating an unforgettable night in the desert.

She noted that a previous vision for Coachella couldn’t materialize due to unforeseen challenges. However, the singer promised fans she was ready to make it happen this time. Gaga encouraged attendees to prepare for a night of singing, dancing, and chaos as she kicks off the weekend.

Green Day will headline both Saturdays. The band will lead a lineup featuring Charli XCX, Clairo, Japanese Breakfast, Keinemusik, Beth Gibbons, and T-Pain.

In their announcement on social media, the band expressed enthusiasm about headlining, urging fans to mark their calendars for April 12th and 19th. They promised a chaotic and unforgettable performance in the desert.

Scott, also a headliner, took to Instagram to hint at his unique plans for Coachella. He described it as a new chapter with an all-new performance and a reimagined Coachella experience. He urged fans to prepare for April, assuring them he’s ready to deliver something groundbreaking.

Post Malone is set to close out both Sunday nights at Coachella 2025. He’ll share the day with other notable acts, including Megan Thee Stallion, Basement Jaxx, Rema, and Shaboozey. This year’s lineup follows Coachella 2024, which was headlined by Tyler, The Creator, Lana Del Rey, and Doja Cat.

Earlier this week, Malone found himself under intense scrutiny again. His solo performance at the CMA Awards, one of country music’s biggest nights, drew widespread criticism.

Malone took center stage at the 2024 Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday, November 20, delivering a solo rendition of his latest track. The performance aimed to capture the audience’s attention with an acoustic setup with violins and guitars.

Malone embraced the country aesthetic, blending into the evening’s vibe in a purple embroidered suit and cowboy hat. However, his performance sparked an online debate, with reactions ranging from disappointed to downright brutal.

“Beautiful lyrics but man…that was hard to listen to!” a much-liked comment kicked off the critique. “So many better performances. His voice was weak tonight,” chimed in a Facebooker. Another disappointed fan wrote, “It was terrible! Worst performance I’ve ever seen from him.”

“I love Post but that was really off today which made me sad,” lamented a netizen. “Great song. Not so great singer,” added a disillusioned viewer.

The criticism continued to pour in. One viewer didn’t hold back, claiming, “Well, I mean he is talentless anyway.” Another remarked that the artist was “Off key, off pitch,” adding, “Is that how he always sounds? I can’t figure out why he’s famous.Tonight was my first time hearing him sing.”

Not everyone dismissed the effort entirely. One user shared, that they liked the song but called the performance “terrible.”

Malone’s artistry also fascinated many. One user commented, “Posty made this song!! Gotta [sic] love him for his talent. Welcome to country music.”

Before taking the stage for a solo performance, Malone opened the 2024 CMA Awards with a high-energy show alongside Chris Stapleton. The pair delivered “California Sober,” their recent collaboration from Malone’s “F-1 Trillion” album, setting the tone for the night.

For Malone, tapping into country music has been a dream nearly a decade in the making. In 2015, he tweeted, “WHEN I TURN 30 I’M BECOMING A COUNTRY/FOLK SINGER.” Now 29, the rapper-turned-singer is making good on that promise.

His latest album, “F-1 Trillion,” released just months ago, features 18 tracks, including collaborations with country icons such as Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, and Brad Paisley.

Speaking to Apple Music, Malone revealed, “I’ve always wanted to make a record like this, but for the longest time, it seemed so inaccessible, because I didn’t know how the hell it worked.”

Though unfamiliar with Nashville’s music scene at first, Malone’s country influences run deep. His mom’s favorites, like Hank Williams and George Strait, and his dad’s love for ’90s stars like Paisley and McGraw, shaped his appreciation for the genre.

Those early influences eventually brought him to Nashville, where he worked alongside some of country music’s biggest names.

In 2022, Post Malone made it clear during an appearance on “The Howard Stern Show” that he refuses to be confined by genres. “To be honest, there’s nothing stopping me from taking a camera or setting up in my studio in Utah and just recording a country album and putting it on YouTube,” he said. “I’m allowed to do that.”

When Stern asked him why he hadn’t taken that step, Malone explained the balancing act of his commitments. “I am happily obligated to do concerts and show love to my fans,” he said adding that he also prioritizes writing music, making beats, and taking care of his family.

He admitted that time is the biggest hurdle in pursuing his country music dreams fully. “It’s a lot of time, and it’s about finding that space to allot that time,” Malone added. He then hinted that if he ever had a year to himself, he might finally make a country album.