Day 3 at Coachella 2025: Megan Thee Stallion’s Star-Studded Spectacle & Sunday Highlights
By Mark Miller, Coachella Valley Local News Contributor
Indio, CA (April 14, 2025) – Coachella’s first weekend wrapped up last night with a finale full of surprises, genre-blending performances, and high-energy moments to thrill the desert crowd. Sunday’s lineup delivered on all fronts: Megan Thee Stallion led the charge with a show-stopping, guest-filled set with everyone talking, while Post Malone closed the night by putting a country twist on his biggest hits. Day 3 gave festival-goers a little of everything, from K-pop idols to hip-hop luminaries. Below, we dive into the key highlights of an unforgettable Coachella Sunday.
Megan Thee Stallion Unleashes a Star-Studded Spectacle
Megan Thee Stallion’s Sunday night performance was nothing short of explosive. The Houston rap queen turned the Coachella stage into her own Hot Girl playground — complete with an army of dancers and even some Bigfoot-like creatures grooving onstage. The vibe was fierce and unapologetic from when she launched into a medley of her hit songs. Megan commanded the stage with relentless energy, strutting in high-fashion outfits (with multiple quick changes) and delivering rapid-fire bars that kept the crowd bouncing.
The real jaw-droppers, however, were Megan’s surprise guests. Midway through her fiery hit-song marathon, she dashed off one side of the stage — and suddenly Queen Latifah appeared in her place amidst the dancers. It took a moment for the audience to register (after all, the legendary Latifah rarely performs live these days), but when they did, the field erupted. Megan reemerged to embrace the hip-hop icon, and together they launched into Queen Latifah’s 1993 anthem “U.N.I.T.Y.”, a cross-generational duet that felt like a passing of the torch. Fans went wild witnessing this multi-generational girl-power moment, as the two rappers gave Coachella a lesson in hip-hop history.
And the guest list didn’t stop there. Megan welcomed R&B singer Victoria Monét onstage, the pair getting up close and personal in a choreographed dance with fans cheering. For “Rock Steady,” Megan brought out another star: Ciara. The crowd lost it as the two combined Megan’s track with Ciara’s classic “Goodies” in a mash-up with everyone dancing. Ciara paused to shout out her admiration — “I love you so much and I’m so proud of you,” she told Megan, voice full of emotion — before the two shared a hug and Ciara strutted off to rapturous applause.
By the time Megan hit her finale, she had effectively turned her set into a star-studded party celebrating powerful women in music. She pushed the envelope to the very end – literally. Caught up in the excitement, Megan ran about two minutes over her allotted time, and festival organizers promptly cut the sound. In true entertainer fashion, Megan didn’t miss a beat: she kept dancing her heart out on stage even with the music silenced, dropping it low and giving fans a final fierce pose as the crowd roared in support. It was a dramatic and triumphant exit, proving that even technical cut-offs couldn’t dim her shine. Without a doubt, Megan Thee Stallion’s set was the talk of Day 3 — a perfect mix of showmanship, sisterhood, and pure hot-girl energy.
Post Malone’s Country-Fried Finale
Post Malone closed out Sunday night – and Weekend 1 – with a headlining set that took the festival in a delightfully unexpected direction. The 29-year-old genre-blurring superstar sauntered onstage, red Solo cup in one hand and a cigarette in the other, looking every bit the laid-back rockstar. In a twist that only Posty could pull off, he remixed his pop-rap anthems into down-home country jams. Kicking off with twangy renditions of “Texas Tea,” “Wow” and “Better Now,” Post Malone had the main stage crowd two-stepping and hollering along as if Coachella had momentarily turned into Stagecoach.
It was a bold move that paid off big. Backed by a live band, Post leaned into his recent Nashville influences (his 2024 venture into country music rubbing off) and gave his hits a fresh southern flair. Fans sang along to every word, astonished and thrilled to hear chart-toppers like “Circles” and “Sunflower” transformed with pedal steel guitars and a honky-tonk swing. The massive audience – many in cowboy hats and boots for the occasion – swayed under the desert sky, phones in the air capturing this unique musical moment.
Despite the cowboy vibes, Post didn’t abandon his hip-hop roots; he seamlessly alternated between soulful acoustic segments and bursts of his signature rap-sung vocals. The production amped up as the set went on: pyrotechnics and a cascade of golden lights matched the energy when Post delivered rock-tinged bangers like “Rockstar.” By the final songs, he had the entire field belting the choruses in unison. Post Malone’s 90-minute finale set felt like a victory lap that showcased his range – equal parts heartfelt country crooner and tattooed hip-hop rebel. As fireworks (and maybe a few tears) lit up the night's close, Post thanked the crowd warmly and strummed his guitar into one last chorus. It was an end-of-weekend spectacle that left everyone buzzing, perfectly encapsulating Coachella 2025’s willingness to embrace genre-crossing creativity.
Jennie Brings K-Pop Glamour to the Desert
Earlier on Sunday, Jennie from BLACKPINK proved that she could hold her own as a solo star and then some. The K-pop idol’s late-afternoon set on the Outdoor Theatre drew a massive, devoted crowd that nearly overflowed the venue. Blinks (BLACKPINK fans) and curious festival-goers alike packed in to see Jennie’s much-anticipated solo showcase, and she did not disappoint. She packed the Outdoor Theatre and delivered a set far beyond clubby pop, showing off an impressive range of musical styles, choreography, and stage charisma.
Dressed in a dazzling red ensemble with a cadre of skilled backup dancers, Jennie opened with high-energy tracks, with the crowd dancing from the get-go. But she also slowed it down and demonstrated her vocal chops on R&B-infused ballads and even an acoustic segment. The eclectic song selection and genre-blending proved Jennie’s versatility: one minute she was serving fierce hip-hop attitude, the next she was delivering ethereal vocals under soft lights. Each transition was seamless, keeping the audience enthralled.
The stage production was also top-notch – pulsating LED visuals, pyrotechnic flares, and sharp choreography highlighting Jennie’s superstar presence. Notably, she even included a track from the soundtrack of The Idol (the HBO series in which she had a role), further cementing her crossover appeal. By the time she closed with her hit single “Solo,” Jennie had the entire crowd waving their arms and singing along to the chorus. It was a huge credit to her that she managed to command one of Coachella’s biggest stages solo, packing it to the brim and showcasing regal pop prowess all her own. For many, her set was a standout of the day – a blast of K-pop glamour and talent under the Indio sun.
Ty Dolla $ign’s All-Star Hip-Hop Party in the Sahara
Over in the Sahara Tent, L.A.’s own Ty Dolla $ign turned his show into a full-blown hip-hop block party – complete with a wild stage design and a guest list of rap collaborators. In one of the most elaborately themed performances of the weekend, Ty Dolla $ign emerged “locked up” in a faux prison yard on stage. The entire Sahara Tent was transformed with chain-link fences, barbed wire, bunk bed props, and even guards, creating a scene from a music video. Ty played the part by coming onstage in handcuffs and a face mask like an inmate ready to break free. Once the beat dropped, he did exactly that — ripping off the shackles and kicking off a set packed with hits and surprises.
As a prolific collaborator in the hip-hop/R&B world, Ty Dolla $ign made sure to bring along some friends. One by one, he welcomed a parade of fellow artists to join him: West Coast rapper YG hyped up the tent with “Toot It and Boot It,” then Tyga jumped in on their joint track “Chosen” alongside rising star Blxst. Not stopping there, Ty lit up a certain herbal with Wiz Khalifa as they performed the mellow jam “Something New,” drawing huge cheers when Wiz appeared onstage. He even spotlighted singer/actor Leon Thomas, letting him croon his breakout single “Mutt” for a moment of smooth R&B vibes amidst the party.
Between guests, Ty Dolla $ign kept the crowd bouncing with his bangers like “Paranoid” and “Or Nah,” reminding everyone why he’s one of the industry’s go-to hitmakers. He also teased a few tracks from Vultures, his recent collab album with Kanye West – though Kanye himself didn’t show up for a surprise appearance (that was one cameo too far, perhaps). No matter – Ty’s set was already overflowing with star power. The packed Sahara Tent loved every minute, from the hardcore fans in the front row to those vibing in the back under the neon palm tree lights. In a fun twist, Ty Dolla $ign even got to push past Coachella’s usual curfew a bit – he ran over five minutes past his scheduled end time without issue, giving the hyped crowd a little something extra. (In contrast, Megan Thee Stallion’s sound was cut right at the two-minute mark on the main stage – timing is everything in the desert!) By the end of Ty’s performance, the Sahara felt like a celebration of West Coast hip-hop unity, with one of L.A.’s finest orchestrating the whole thing. It was the kind of only-at-Coachella moment with people still talking about it on the way out.
A Finale to Remember: Coachella Sunday in Full Swing
As the music wound down and the last fireworks fizzled in the sky, Sunday was a grand finale befitting Coachella’s reputation. The day’s eclectic mix – from Megan Thee Stallion’s empowering hip-hop showcase to Post Malone’s genre-bending country experiment – highlighted what makes Coachella special. Where else can you experience rap royalty, pop divas, rock legends, and EDM titans all sharing the spotlight in one day? (Not to mention a K-pop superstar commanding a desert stage of her own.) Even dance music fans had plenty to cheer, with electronic heavyweights like Zedd and Tiësto keeping the late-night crowds moving in their respective sets. It was a day that truly had something for everyone.
Despite it being Day 3, the crowd’s energy never waned. By Sunday afternoon, some festival-goers lounging by the art installations looked a little sun-soaked and weary, but as soon as the sun set and the breeze picked up, a second wind swept through the Empire Polo Club. The weather cooperated as well – after a scorching start to the weekend, Sunday evening brought a pleasant desert warmth with a light cooling wind, making it comfortable to dance long after dark. Local Indio residents know that a Coachella Sunday often comes with traffic jams on the way out, and sure enough, after the final encore the roads were packed with thousands of cars inching back toward the 10 Freeway. But it was a small price to pay for the magic everyone had witnessed. In the fields, strangers hugged goodbye, new friends exchanged socials, and the collective buzz of “Did you see that?!” could be heard in dozens of excited conversations about the day’s surprises.
For those of us in the Coachella Valley, there’s a special pride in seeing our annual festival end on such a high note. Weekend 1 of Coachella 2025 will be remembered for its boundary-pushing performances – from Megan Thee Stallion bringing out icons of eras past to Post Malone uniting country and hip-hop fans under one tent (or rather, one massive open sky). It was a night of joy, unity, and musical innovation that exemplified what Coachella is all about. As the last campers departed the grounds and Indio’s quiet Monday sunrise arrived, one thing was certain: this Sunday finale set the bar sky-high for Weekend 2. If you’re lucky enough to do it all again next week, you’ll chase the electric atmosphere that Sunday delivered. And for everyone else who experienced it, Day 3 was a fitting climax to an unforgettable festival weekend – the kind of night that will go down in Coachella lore for years to come.