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Benson Boone brings out Brian May

Benson Boone did a few “Beautiful Things” during his Coachella set Friday.

The up-and-coming pop superstar, with his signature dark mustache and flamboyant stage presence, is frequently compared to Freddie Mercury online. But on Friday evening at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, the Grammy nominee really leaned into the comparison during his set.

Performing in front of a crowd of more than 50,000 fans with the backdrop of the California desert, Boone wore an all-white jumpsuit with light blue straps on his pants and shirt, which was without sleeves.

“Do you like it?” Boone asked the crowd with a smile.

Who is Benson Boone? The backflipping Grammys best new artist nominee

Early in the set he backflipped off a platform on the stage, similar to his stunt at the 2025 Grammy Awards in February. Then, Boone made an obvious ode to the late Queen frontman: he asked the crowd to repeat after him as he briefly sang Queen’s “Ay-Oh,” as Mercury did at the legendary Live Aid concert in 1985.

Boone later brought out Queen guitarist Brian May onstage to help him perform one of Queen’s most popular songs, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The crowd erupted, then collectively sang along.

Boone, 22, patrolled the stage like a seasoned pro. May stayed on and played guitar as Boone closed with his biggest hit, “Beautiful Things,” as pyrotechnics shot into the sky.

May also took to his Instagram on Friday to post a picture with Boone, writing “Do we look happy ? !!! Gonna treasure this moment on the plane with @bensonboone – a truly golden 22 year old prodigy. I’m proud and happy to say we are now officially pals.”

Brian May’s Coachella appearance comes after ‘minor stroke’

May’s appearance comes after he revealed harrowing health news in September. In the fall, the beloved British musician revealed on his website that he suffered a “minor stroke,” calling the incident a “health hiccup.”

But at the time, he had a happy update for fans, too.

‘The pain is relentless’: Queen’s Brian May hospitalized after tearing buttocks while gardening

“The good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days and I say this because it was in some doubt because that little health hiccup that I mentioned happened about a week ago,” May said, while also addressing his recently aired BBC documentary “Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me.”

April 13, 2025
See the list of releases, stores

Music lovers who swear by vinyl LPs always want to add another disc to the stack and Record Store Day on April 12 is a day to get some coveted special releases.

About 330 new and limited-edition vinyl releases featuring artists ranging from Gracie Abrams to Waxahatchee are planned to hit nearly 1,600 record shops across the U.S. on Saturday. And, yes, there’s something from Taylor Swift, too.

Vinyl remains a special format for many music lovers. Even though the century old-LP was expected to be replaced by compact discs, digital downloads and streaming music, spending on vinyl records has increased each of the last 18 years, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Vinyl sales rose 7% in 2024 to $1.4 billion, surpassing CDs, which sold $541.1 million, RIAA said. Paid music subscriptions ($11.7 billion) rose 5% and made up 79% of music spending.

AC/DC: Hard rockers storm back on Power Up tour, the band’s first US trek in nearly a decade

For many, vinyl makes music special. “We get a lot of younger people coming in that show interest in it and there’s a lot of big pop stars that have started taking over the vinyl market,” said Sam Reiman, assistant manager at Shuga Records in Chicago’s Logan Square. “Taylor Swift is definitely a big example of that. She kind of dominated that over the past couple years. People have definitely shown a bigger interest in it than ever before these past several years.”

Record Store Day is usually one of the busiest days of the year at Shuga Records, he said. Local artists and bands will perform all day at the company’s main location in Wicker Park. Customers can buy special Record Store Day T-shirts, too.

“We always have people lining up at the door in the morning,” Reiman said. “But, you know, people always like, shuffle in throughout the day to look for anything that’s left over.”

Record Store Day 2025 highlights

Here’s a snapshot of a dozen Record Store Day releases. For the full list of releases and stores, go to the Record Store Day website. Happy hunting!

Post Malone: ‘Tribute to Nirvana’ yellow vinyl Record Store Day LP

Post Malone, who’s serving as this year’s Record Store Day’s Ambassador, has a yellow vinyl release of his April 24, 2000 livestream tribute to Nirvana — songs include “Come As You Are” and “In Bloom” – his supporting band included blink-182’s Travis Barker on drums. All net proceeds from the sale will be donated to Musicares’ Addiction Recovery and Mental Health division.

“Record Store Day is so important and I really hope to do my part to keep it alive,” he said in a Record Store Day statement. “We love hitting local shops when we’re on the road, seeing all the crazy artwork, the whole energy in a record store is just super inspiring. … Keep supporting y’all and let’s keep records and these local shops going strong. Happy Record Store Day everybody!”

Taylor Swift: ‘Fortnight’ (featuring Post Malone) 7-inch RSD release

This special 7-inch white vinyl disc has the single “Fortnight,” Swift’s collaboration with Post Malone from “The Tortured Poets Department,” and the “Fortnight (BLOND:ISH Remix)”.

Charli XCX: ‘Number 1 Angel’ Record Store Day release

Now on red vinyl, a collection of ten tracks recorded in L.A. and the U.K., originally released in 2017 by Charli XCX as a mixtape.

Rage Against the Machine: ‘Live on Tour 1993’

Rage Against The Machine apparently won’t tour again. But you can get get this two-disc ‘Live On Tour 1993’ of live recordings from the band’s first world tour. You get music on three sides and an etching on the fourth, plus “explosive renditions of such Rage anthems as ‘Bombtrack,’ ‘Killing in the Name’ and ‘Freedom’,” writes Ron Hart on Billboard.com.

Fleetwood Mac: ‘Fleetwood Mac’ Record Store Day picture disc

The pop-rock classic that spawned singles “Rhiannon,” “Say You Love Me,” and “Over My Head,” gets a picture disc release on its 50th anniversary.

MJ Lenderman And the Wind: ‘Live and Loose!’

A 15-song live recording from the rising singer-songwriter and his band recorded in 2022 and released in 2023, but now available on vinyl.

Grateful Dead: ‘On A Back Porch’ Record Store Day collection

Rhino Records and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery collaborated on this vinyl LP collection of Grateful Dead classics including “Eyes Of The World,” “Here Comes Sunshine,” plus more rare tracks such as “Easy Wind,” and “Big Railroad Blues.”

Grateful Dead fans may want to look out for these other Record Store Day releases: the five-LP set Grateful Dead, “Beacon Theatre, New York, NY 6/14/76,”; the 4-LP set Jerry Garcia Band, “Don’t Let Go: Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco – May 21, 1976,” and Robert Hunter, “Tiger Rose Rarities.”

David Bowie: ‘Ready, Set, Go! (Live, Riverside Studios ‘03)’

Record Store Day marks the first physical release of Bowie’s live Sept. 8, 2003 concert in London transmitted via satellite to movie theaters across the globe. This two-LP set on 180-gram black vinyl (17,400 available worldwide) comes with a replica poster of the original event. Also available: 3,600 CD copies.

Pharoah Sanders: ‘Izipho Zam (My Gifts)’

This 1973 release from the tenor saxophonist, who passed away in 2022, finally comes to CD and digital platforms – and a special Record Store Day 180-gram vinyl release, with new liner notes and photos. If you are into spiritual jazz – à la John Coltrane and Kamasi Washington – “this is the real deal,” writes Morgan Enos on Tracking Angle, an audio news site.

Emmylou Harris: ‘Spyboy’ returns for Record Store Day

Released on CD in 1998, this live album comes to vinyl for the first time with written reflections from Harris and Buddy Miller, who was part of her backing band Spyboy. There’s also five previously unreleased tracks.

‘Brittany Howard: Live from Austin City Limits’

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter’s performance recorded on April 29, 2024 at the Moody Theater and broadcast October 26, 2024 is captured on electric blue vinyl.

‘Wicked: The Soundtrack’ – Record Store Day glitter vinyl LPs

This double-LP set will be popular with fans of the movie, thanks to its green glitter and pink glitter vinyl, special Record Store Day cover art, enclosed poster and bonus track “Ozdust Duet.”

Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY’s Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & [email protected]

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April 13, 2025
Coachella 2025: See Lady Gaga, Benson Boone, more starsMusic

Coachella 2025: See Lady Gaga, Benson Boone, more starsMusic

April 13, 2025
These feel as eerie as watching Season 2

Two years have felt too long to be without a new season of “The Last of Us,” and fans of the post-apocalyptic drama are ready to find out what’s next for Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s characters in Season 2.

Plus, if you’re one of the fans who loves the video game as much as the show adaptation, you’re likely curious to see what cast newcomers like Kaitlyn Dever, Jeffrey Wright (who voiced Isaac in the game’s “Part II”) and Catherine O’Hara bring to the show.

Expect this season to be “gory and gorgeous, viciously violent and vividly brought to life,” our reviewer writes.

Books like ‘The Last of Us’

Even though the unlikely duo will be back on our screens Sundays, the week between each episode will probably still feel as long as Joel and Ellie’s journey to Wyoming. Luckily, we’ve got plenty of stories to keep the post-apocalyptic energy going.

These eight novels have similar tales of survival, finding community at the end of the world and zombielike creatures like the “infected.” Or, if you’re looking to deep dive into your fungi fascination, try something like “Entangled Life” by Merlin Sheldrake, which explores the mysterious role these organisms play in our lives.

‘Station Eleven’ by Emily St. John Mandel

Set 15 years after a pandemic decimated most of the world’s population, “Station Eleven” follows a troupe of traveling Shakespeare performers who bring their art to the few remote survivor communities. But everything changes when they arrive at an outpost carrying a violent prophet who threatens anyone who tries to leave. This dystopian story is immersive and unputdownable, shifting back and forth in time to paint a picture of both the lead-up and the aftermath of society’s destruction.

‘The Girl With All the Gifts’ by M.R. Carey

This 2014 sci-fi thriller is perfect for “The Last of Us” fans who love Ellie. Set after the apocalypse, “The Girl With All the Gifts” opens on a classroom filled with closely guarded infected children – zombies who have retained human intelligence. Every day, Melanie, a student heralded as a “little genius,” is strapped to a chair with a gun held to her head. She’s wheeled into a classroom with other kids like her are taught lessons for a world they’ll never inhabit.

‘Parable of the Sower’ by Octavia E. Butler

If you liked following Joel and Ellie’s journey across America in “The Last of Us,” you should check out Butler’s classic dystopian “Parable of the Sower.” Often heralded as prophetic, this novel centers on a young girl with a debilitating form of hyperempathy. She lives with her family in a gated community, sheltered from the chaos and violence of a society collapsing from climate and economic crises. But she’ll soon be on her own, fighting for survival with a new vision for humanity.

‘The Road’ by Cormac McCarthy

McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel captures a parent-child dynamic like the one between Joel and Ellie. It follows a father and son on a journey across a ravaged, post-apocalyptic America on their way to the coast. Defending themselves from bandits and scavenging what little food they can find, “The Road” interrogates how far love can travel in a world without hope.

‘How High We Go in the Dark’ by Sequoia Nagamatsu

If the post-apocalyptic world-building and backstory of “The Last of Us” is what gets you, try “How High We Go in the Dark.” This novel follows a cast of interwoven characters over hundreds of years during and in the aftermath of a climate plague unleashed after researchers in the Arctic Circle study the preserved remains of a girl who died of an ancient virus.

‘Hell Followed With Us’ by Andrew Joseph White

Ellie fans will also like the protagonist in this young adult novel. In a destroyed future, a 16-year-old trans boy runs from a fundamentalist cult that’s infected him with a bioweapon. He finds community in a ragtag group of teens who rescue him when he’s attacked. Can he hide his biggest secret from them – that the bioweapon is mutating him into a potentially world-destroying monster?

‘Annihilation’ by Jeff VanderMeer

If you love the danger and discovery of the unknown in “The Last of Us,” try “Annihilation” and the “Southern Reach” trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer. This sci-fi follows a group of four women – an anthropologist, a surveyor, a psychologist and a biologist – on an expedition to map and observe Area X. All other journeys into the overgrown, desolate island have ended in disaster or death. The researchers will have to make it out alive and uncontaminated.

‘Zone One’ by Colson Whitehead

This dystopian novel from the author of “The Nickel Boys” follows the aftermath of a deadly plague, where armed forces have reclaimed parts of Manhattan and civilian sweeper units clear the city of feral zombies. “Zone One” is the aftermath of the downfall, as one sweeper deals with “Post Apocalyptic Stress Disorder” and comes to terms with a new world.

Want more dystopian?: 10 books similar to ‘1984’ by George Orwell

Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you’re reading at [email protected].

April 13, 2025
Crossword Blog & Answers for April 12, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! Put That Down
Constructor: Robbie Cottom

Editor: Anna Gundlach

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

PERFECT HAT TRICK (9D: Soccer term for scoring with one’s right foot, left foot and head in a single game) I was familiar with the term HAT TRICK as it is used in hockey to refer to a player scoring three goals in one game. Today I learned that HAT TRICK also has this meaning in soccer (known as football in many countries). A PERFECT HAT TRICK is a special type of HAT TRICK that is scored as described in the clue. Add this to the sports knowledge I have gained from crosswords.

TASTE (32D: 2024 Sabrina Carpenter hit) I am familiar with singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter, but needed the help of crossing answers to discover “TASTE” as the name of her 2024 hit. The song is from Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet.

PODS (51D: Where dates happen on “Love is Blind”) The premise of the reality TV show Love Is Blind is that the participants date and get engaged, all without meeting in person. Dates take place in specially-designed PODS where couples can talk to each other by speaker, but can only see each other through a blue translucent barrier that doesn’t show detail.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

ADIDAS (1A: Nike competitor) and AVIA (37A: Nike competitor) This is a nice clue echo.

HATED IT (13A: “Zero stars!”) and GENERAL (15A: Four-star officer) I liked the fact that we went from zero to four stars in the same row of the puzzle.

OZONE (24A: Gas in a layer of the atmosphere) The OZONE layer is a part of the Earth’s stratosphere. One important role of the OZONE layer is that it absorbs most of the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation, which would otherwise cause damage to plants and animals.

BATMAN (36A: The Dark Knight) The Dark Knight is a nickname for the DC Comics superhero BATMAN. The nickname was first used in the comic book BATMAN #1 in 1940.

DOMINO’S (61A: Fast-food chain with a pizza tracker) DOMINO’S introduced the Pizza Tracker in 2008. The app allows customers to view the status of their order in real time.

NECKTIE (67A: It might be knotted with a full Windsor) The full Windsor (the word “full” distinguishes it from a half-Windsor) is one of many knots that may be used to tie a NECKTIE. The full Windsor is named after the Duke of Windsor, who is sometimes incorrectly credited with its invention.

DANE (2D: Copenhagen resident) Copenhagen is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, making its residents DANEs.

DEATH AT A FUNERAL (4D: 2010 black comedy starring Chris Rock) The 2010 movie DEATH AT A FUNERAL is a remake of a 2007 movie of the same name. As you might guess from the title, the setting for the movie is a family FUNERAL. The FUNERAL doesn’t quite go as planned…

SISSY (6D: “3 Women” actress Spacek) The 1977 movie 3 Women stars SISSY Spacek, Shelley Duvall, and Janice Rule. The psychological drama focuses on the relationships between the title characters. The movie is based on a dream that Robert Altman had; he produced, wrote, and directed the film.

ERIE (10D: Cleveland’s lake) Cleveland, Ohio is the largest city located on Lake ERIE. This is the first appearance of Lake ERIE this month, and its fifth appearance this year.

KERI (53D: “The Diplomat” actress Russell) The Diplomat is a Netflix TV series that premiered in 2023 and is beginning its third season this year. KERI Russell stars as Kate Wyler, U.S. ambassador to the U.K.

ABE (60D: Sixteenth prez) Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was the sixteenth president of the United States. The use of prez – the shortened form of president – in the clue alerts solvers that the answer will be a shortened form of his name, ABE.

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

DEATH AT A FUNERAL (4D: 2010 black comedy starring Chris Rock)

PERFECT HAT TRICK (9D: Soccer term for scoring with one’s right foot, left foot and head in a single game)

WORTH A TRY (20D: “What have we got to lose?”)

PUT THAT DOWN: The word THAT is found going DOWN in each vertical theme answer: DEATH AT A FUNERAL, PERFECT HAT TRICK, and WORTH A TRY.

This is a classic USA TODAY theme type, so when I read the title, I knew just what to expect. That’s not a bad thing at all. This is a great set of theme answers, and I felt extra smart when I discovered my guess about the theme was correct. Congratulations to Robbie Cottom making a USA TODAY crossword debut! Thank you, Robbie, for this enjoyable puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles
April 13, 2025
NBC’s cult favorite is a love letter to Broadway

NEW YORK — Like a peanut-laced smoothie or an airborne martini, “Smash” is back with a vengeance.

NBC’s soapy backstage drama was a pricey misfire when it premiered in 2012, hoofing along for two critically derided seasons before the network pulled the plug. But the cultishly beloved series has now found new life as a gleefully bonkers Broadway musical, which opened April 10 at the Imperial Theatre.

Exuberantly directed by Susan Stroman (“The Producers”), the ultra-meta comedy combines incisive showbiz satire with song-and-dance razzle dazzle, courtesy of the TV series’ original choreographer, Joshua Bergasse. The show follows an eager-to-please actress named Ivy Lynn (Robyn Hurder) as she goes outlandishly Method for the role of Marilyn Monroe, alienating everyone she knows and bringing the (fictional) bio-musical “Bombshell” to the brink of implosion.

Join USA TODAY’s resident “Smash” fans, Patrick Ryan and Anna Kaufman, as they unpack this wildly chaotic yet clever theatrical iteration, from its myriad scarves to the “Let Me Be Your Stars”:

Patrick Ryan: So Anna, when did you first watch “Smash?”

Anna Kaufman: I watched it as a preteen and was immediately hooked. We didn’t have cable TV, so I found it in bits and pieces on YouTube. I was just enraptured by the dance numbers, the glamour of New York, and the idea of the musical theater world as a rat’s nest of broken relationships and grudges. At that age, I was too young to detect camp and therefore engaged in it in a really earnest sense. Years later, I can see that the show wreaked of cringe in the best way, but my love for the music remains earnest. What about you?

Ryan: I initially watched “Smash” during a delirious weeklong binge with my partner in the early days of COVID lockdown, and then again this year in anticipation of the musical. Granted, there’s way too much time wasted on Debra Messing’s family (enough, Leo!), and Season 2 gets very bogged down with Pasek and Paul doing Jonathan Larson cosplay. And yet, I still love its nonsense. What other major network show had both Nikki Blonsky and Cole Escola? Or Megan Hilty leading a Rihanna singalong in Times Square while high out of her mind in an angel costume? I mean, how could any stage version match that lunacy?

Kaufman: I went into the musical with so few expectations, which was kind of freeing. I was hopeful those big power ballads that grounded the series would feel even more stunning on stage and was not at all disappointed. The same goes for the dance numbers, which were costumed to the gods by Alejo Vietti. I will say, as a “Don’t Forget Me” fangirl, I wanted to see at least two Marilyns perform it, maybe even all three. That may have been a lot to ask, though.

Ryan: I still can’t fathom how with nearly two dozen songs, they couldn’t make any room for “History is Made at Night,” which is Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman at their best. But alas, enough of my soapbox.

I had read and heard so much negative buzz going into the Broadway show that my expectations were on the floor, which is maybe why it’s the biggest surprise of the season for me. I loved that writers Bob Martin and Rick Elice didn’t just hit copy-paste from the TV series, but actually gave us a book that – while convoluted – is such a deeply weird and often hilarious twist on everything we love about “Smash.” The digs at Broadway TikTokers? “I never liked you, Jerry?” Kristine Nielsen essentially playing a witch? It’s genuinely the most I’ve laughed at any musical this past year, and I say that with all reverence to Hilty and Jennifer Simard, who both carry “Death Becomes Her.”

Kaufman: The comedic timing of Brooks Ashmanskas, who played “Bombshell” director Nigel, was so delightful. I don’t remember the TV show being as intentionally funny as the musical was, and I really found myself reveling in his exasperation and subtle breaking of the fourth wall. Beowulf Boritt’s scenic design was also stunning. Taking the expansiveness of a TV series and shrinking it for the stage is a challenge, and “Smash” really rose to it.

Ryan: It also can’t be overstated what a star Hurder is. She’s one of the few legitimate triple threats that we have on Broadway right now, and I felt exhausted on her behalf just watching the opening number and “I Never Met a Wolf Who Didn’t Love to Howl.” I will admit, I wish we had more Bella Coppola, who is such a powerhouse as Chloe, “Bombshell’s” unassuming associate director. One of my favorite things about the “Smash” TV series was the tension of who will and should play Marilyn. Sure, Ivy was perfect on paper, but in the moments when Karen really locked in and you could see the vision, it was thrilling. Yes, I know the musical is telling a mostly different story, but it never truly lets you sit in the suspense of whether Chloe or Karen (or someone else entirely) could usurp the part of Marilyn from Ivy.

Kaufman: The music and comedy of the show were a real high point, but the details of the plot disappointed a bit. It felt as though there were a lot of loose ends and ill-thought-out subplots that didn’t jive together in a meaningful way. I was also disappointed by the way Karen (Caroline Bowman), who was integral to the TV show, was written. She felt a bit one-dimensional in the musical; confined to the role of the production’s punching bag and easily walked over. Some of the unnecessary side-plots could have been axed to make more time for the audience to get to know her story (and hear her belt!).

Ryan: Agreed. The show loses a touch of momentum in the overlong second act, and spins its wheels with how far exactly to take Ivy’s Marilyn-consumed delusion. But part of the appeal of “Smash” has always been how perfectly imperfect it was, and I love that we have an unbridled musical comedy that captures some of that insane energy. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it immensely.

Kaufman: It’s a soft recommend for me. I think you can definitely enjoy it without having seen the TV series, but I think it’s more theater-for-a-theater-person. In many ways, it was a love letter to Broadway, so for fans of the industry and people who grew up loving it, this show will hit the spot.

“Smash” is now playing at the Imperial Theatre (249 W. 45th Street).

April 12, 2025
What time does Charli XCX perform at Coachella 2025? How to watch live

Charli XCX is back at Coachella, returning to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, on Saturday night.

Charli XCX will make her first appearance at the famous music festival for the first time since 2023, when she performed on the main stage.

Coachella’s first weekend events will run from April 11-13, while the second weekend spans April 18-20.

Here is what you need to know about Charli XCX’s performance at Coachella 2025, including her set time, how to watch from home and more.

When is Charli XCX performing at Coachella?

Charli XCX is set to make two performances at Coachella 2025. The first will be on Saturday, April 12, and the second one scheduled for Saturday, April 19.

She is scheduled to kick off her performance on the main Coachella stage at 7:15 p.m. local time for both this Saturday and next Saturday’s performance.

How to watch Charli XCX’s Coachella performance live

Coachella performances are available on YouTube, according to the company, and streams started on Friday, April 11. People will be able to watch multiple stages from their couch simultaneously, while a vertical livestream option featuring DJ sets will also be available.

YouTube is also allowing viewers to watch the show with content creators on their respective channels.

“New to the desert this year, Watch With allows creators to react to live events with commentary and real-time reactions, giving you the experience of watching Coachella alongside your favorite creator,” the video platform shared.

Coachella 2025 set times

A complete list of day-by-day set times can be found on Coachella’s website or in an Instagram post below:

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

April 12, 2025
What time does Travis Scott perform at Coachella 2025? How to watch

Travis Scott is back at Coachella, performing at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, on Saturday night and again on April 19

Travis Scott is finally returning to Coachella, coming back to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, on Saturday night.

Travis Scott will make his first appearance at the famous music festival for the first time since 2017, when he played the Outdoor Theatre. He also made a guest appearance during Kendrick Lamar’s headlining performance that year.

Coachella’s first weekend events runs from April 11 to 13, while the second weekend is April 18-20.

Here is what you need to know about Travis Scott’s performance at Coachella 2025, including his set time, how to watch from home and more.

When is Travis Scott performing at Coachella?

Travis Scott is set to make two performances at Coachella 2025. The first will be on Saturday, April 12, and the second one scheduled for Saturday, April 19.

He is scheduled to kick off his performance on the main Coachella stage at 11:40 p.m. local time for both this Saturday and next Saturday’s performance.

How to watch Travis Scott’s Coachella performance live

Coachella performances are available on YouTube, according to the company, and streams started on Friday, April 11. People will be able to watch multiple stages from their couch simultaneously, while a vertical livestream option featuring DJ sets will also be available.

YouTube is also allowing viewers to watch the show with content creators on their respective channels.

“New to the desert this year, Watch With allows creators to react to live events with commentary and real-time reactions, giving you the experience of watching Coachella alongside your favorite creator,” the video platform shared.

Coachella 2025 set times

A complete list of day-by-day set times can be found on Coachella’s website or in an Instagram post below:

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

April 12, 2025
JK Rowling never misses a chance to be transphobic

I grew up on ‘Harry Potter’ and the world J.K. Rowling built. It’s sad to see her transphobia in action.

It’s no secret that “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling has spent the past few years spewing transphobic hate any chance she gets. Now, her hatred of other members of the LGBTQ+ community is making headlines. She just can’t stop.

April 6 was International Asexuality Day, celebrating members of the LGBTQ+ community who do not experience sexual attraction. Rowling had a problem with that, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to go on a bigoted rant about people whose lives she refuses to understand: “Happy International Fake Oppression Day to everyone who wants complete strangers to know they don’t fancy a shag.”

She continued her barrage of hate in the replies, adding: “Sure, people are still killed for being gay in a lot of countries, but straight people who don’t fancy a quickie are being literally ignored to death.” She was also confused about how people can identify as gay and be asexual.

Sure, she could do a little research and quickly discover that sexual attraction is different than romantic attraction, but why would she do that when it’s even easier to continue dunking on vulnerable groups? Why learn anything when you can just punch down for social media clout?

J.K. Rowling is transphobic every chance she gets

Lest we forget that she also hates transgender people, Rowling also got into it with “Last Week Tonight” host John Oliver when the comedian aired an episode about the panic over trans women competing in sports.

The author claimed Oliver was a sellout, alleged that standing up for transgender people “was the cost of doing business” and told him to “read the f—— room.”

Opinion: I can’t stop thinking about the interview Elon Musk’s trans daughter gave

If we’re reading the room, surely Rowling knows that her views alienate people and add to the intense hate trans people face daily. Instead of trying to understand trans people, she’d rather hide behind her hateful comments.

Surely, she could be doing something better with her time: writing, volunteering or getting a hobby. Instead, she has decided that she’s willing to die on her hill of transphobia, tarnishing her reputation and hurting her fans in the process.

‘Harry Potter’ was part of my childhood. Rowling’s politics ruined it.

Like millions of people around the world, I grew up reading the Potter series. My mother took my younger sister and me to the midnight release of the “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” book in 2005. I held on to my ticket stub from the 2011 midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” for years.

Like many of the people who read those books, I was heartbroken when Rowling began using her platform to disparage the transgender community.

It’s ironic that a woman who created a series about witchcraft and fantastical things is unable to comprehend things as simple as people not experiencing sexual attraction or identifying with genders that don’t match the sex they were assigned at birth.

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According to The Sunday Times Rich List 2024, Rowling is worth £945 million – the equivalent of more than $1.23 billion. She has so much money that she could live a life of seclusion for the rest of her days, or at least enough money that she doesn’t need to be bothered by what is happening politically.

Instead, she is using her massive platform and hordes of wealth to put down vulnerable communities. In the process, she has soiled her reputation and harmed people who were once fans of hers.

Imagine being so hateful that you relish in it.

I wish Rowling and other billionaires would use their money and time to advocate for the betterment of society instead of villainizing people who have done nothing wrong. But maybe I’m more imaginative than she is.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter: @sara__pequeno

April 12, 2025
Host, time, how to watch Jon Hamm
“Saturday Night Live” is set to air the 18th episode of Season 50 this weekend, with its host making his fourth appearance on the iconic late-night show.
This Saturday’s episode will be hosted by Jon Hamm, according to NBC. The actor will return to the late-night comedy show for the fourth time.

Hamm will be joined by Lizzo as the night’s musical guest. Hamm made his debut on SNL in 2008. This is also Lizzo’s fourth appearance on the show, with the singer making her debut in late 2019.

Here’s what to know about the Saturday, April 12 show, including what time it airs and where to watch.

How to watch ‘SNL’ on April 12

The April 12 “SNL” episode will be available to watch live on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT.

Viewers can also stream it the next day on Peacock.

Who is the ‘SNL’ musical guest on April 12?

Lizzo is the April 12 musical guest.

Her performance comes at the heels of the release of “Still Bad,” the newest single from her upcoming album, “Love in Real Life.”

Who’s in the Season 50 ‘SNL’ cast?

James Austin Johnson reprised his role as President Donald Trump. Bowen Yang has played the role of Vice President JD Vance.

Former cast member Maya Rudolph played the role of Vice President Kamala Harris in the lead-up to the November presidential election.

Season 50 returning cast members include:

Michael Che

Mikey Day

Andrew Dismukes

Chloe Fineman

Heidi Gardner

Marcello Hernández

James Austin Johnson

Colin Jost

Michael Longfellow

Ego Nwodim

Ashley Padilla

Sarah Sherman

Kenan Thompson

Devon Walker

Emil Wakim

Jane Wickline

Bowen Yang

‘Lorne gonna be mad’: Ego Nwodim’s ‘SNL’ bit prompts crowd to curse

New cast members this season are:

Ashley Padilla

Emil Wakim

Jane Wickline

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Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
April 12, 2025