Madonna joins Sabrina Carpenter in a surprise Coachella appearance

Mike Snider, USA TODAY Sat, April 18, 2026 at 3:20 PM UTC

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Madonna made a surprise return to the Coachella stage, joining headliner Sabrina Carpenter for a trio of songs.

During the latter part of Carpenter's performance Friday night, April 17, at the festival, after a shortened version of the song "Juno," a backlit Madonna emerged from a stage lift for a duet of "Vogue," a single released in 1990.

Thousands of smartphones rose to capture the scene. The performers then sang a new Madonna song, "Bring Your Love" (according to Setlist.fm), from Madonna's upcoming album "Confessions II," due out July 3.

Next, they took time to talk to the crowd about their admiration for each other – Madonna, 67, has been an influence on Carpenter, 26, who has performed "Like A Virgin," and "Material Girl" during concerts.

1 / 0See Sabrina Carpenter, Madonna, Slayyyter, more artists at Coachella Weekend 2Sabrina Carpenter performs on the Coachella Stage as seen on the big screens at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on Friday, April 17, 2026.

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"Twenty years ago today, I performed at Coachella," Madonna told the crowd. "I was in the dance tent, and it was the first time I performed Confessions on a Dance Floor part one in America. And that was such a thrill for me, so you can imagine what a thrill it is to be back 20 years later."

Noting that she was wearing the same boots and corset she wore then, Madonna called the appearance "a full circle moment (and) very meaningful." She and Carpenter followed that up by singing Madonna's big 1989 hit "Like A Prayer," during which they cavorted while holding hands.

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Before Madonna descended back into the floor, the two shared a hug, leaving Carpenter grinning from ear to ear.

“Thank you for inviting me to your show, what a gas,” Madonna told Carpenter, who had also delivered a headlining set on Friday, April 10.

Carpenter apologized to concertgoers after that performance, during which she heard what she thought was yodeling, but was a zaghrouta, an Arabic call of celebration.

"My reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended. could have handled it better! now i know what a Zaghrouta is!" Carpenter wrote on X on April 11, adding, "I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out."

Sabrina Carpenter brings Madonna out onto the stage with her during her headlining set on the Coachella stage during Weekend 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., Friday, April 17, 2026.

Madonna did make another Coachella appearance in the past. Back in 2015, during rapper Drake's set, she performed her songs “Human Nature” and “Hung Up" before planting a kiss on Drake.

Contributing: Brian Blueskye, Niki Kottmann and Shad Powers, Palm Springs Desert Sun

Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Madonna makes surprise Coachella appearance with Sabrina Carpenter

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