SZA Fires Back at Coachella Critic: ‘I’m Still Headlining’

SZA is standing by her place atop the Coachella 2027 bill after a critic questioned the festival’s choice of headliners. The singer responded publicly on Instagram, making clear that the criticism had not changed her plans to perform at the California festival. Organisers announced that SZA will headline alongside Dua Lipa, Tame Impala and Madonna. The event is scheduled to take place over two weekends in April in Indio, California. Dua Lipa is set to top the bill on Fridays, while the other headliners will perform across the festival’s weekend programme. Before the official announcement, SZA had appeared to hint at the booking on a private Instagram account. In posts cited by the report, she wrote that she had “said yes to the big show” and told followers to expect her in the desert. Earlier, she had shared a rumour about the possible headline slot and said she was weighing major decisions while working on her album. After one commenter criticised the reported line-up and mentioned Dua Lipa and Tame Impala, SZA replied that people could go and see the other two headliners. She also challenged the critic for singling her out as the only Black woman among the headline acts, then ended her response with a firm declaration: “I’m still headlining. Enjoy.” The wider 2027 bill includes Daddy Yankee, Zara Larsson, Steve Lacy, Jisoo, Kehlani, Leon Thomas, Phoebe Bridgers, Weezer, Tiësto, Martin Garrix, Role Model, Kygo, The Neighbourhood and Becky G. With the booking confirmed, SZA’s sharp reply has turned the online debate into one of the early talking points surrounding next year’s festival.