Stagecoach 2025 Brings the Heat: A Star-Studded, Genre-Bending Weekend to Remember Forever

All Country News
May 5
7 min read

If you’re still catching your breath from the whirlwind that was Stagecoach Festival 2025, you’re not alone. Country music’s biggest weekend delivered a spectacle for the ages, wrapping up a sold-out run with unforgettable performances, surprise guest appearances, and genre-blending magic that only the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California can conjure.

Photo by Lexi Wheeler | All Country News

🎸 FRIDAY: A Genre-Bending Kickoff Under Desert Skies

As the sun dipped below the horizon on Friday evening, the sprawling Empire Polo Fields were already electric with energy. From the moment gates opened, it was clear that Stagecoach 2025 was no ordinary weekend — it was a bold celebration of where country music is, where it’s been, and where it’s going.

Zach Bryan Leads with Raw Emotion on the Mane Stage

Headliner Zach Bryan delivered a transcendent performance that set the tone for the entire festival. With his signature gravelly voice, heartfelt lyrics, and stripped-down storytelling style, Bryan transformed the Mane Stage into a communal campfire, thousands singing along to every word. His setlist was packed with fan favorites like “Something in the Orange” and “Dawns”, but it was his hushed delivery of “Burn, Burn, Burn” under the starlit sky that drew one of the weekend’s loudest reactions.

Palomino Stage Gets Cinematic with Lana Del Rey

Just a few yards away, the Palomino Stage took on an ethereal glow as Lana Del Rey delivered an entirely different — yet no less powerful — performance. Draped in lace and bathed in moody light, Del Rey premiered three haunting new tracks from her forthcoming record, each more atmospheric than the last. Her appearance at a country festival may have raised eyebrows initially, but her Southern gothic roots and introspective lyrics proved a perfect match for the Stagecoach crowd.

Surprise Collabs & Iconic Moments Steal the Night

Stagecoach has become known for its jaw-dropping surprise sets, and 2025 was no exception. Mid-evening, the Brothers Osborne invited actress and budding singer Kate Hudson to join them for a bluesy duet — an unexpected pairing that brought the crowd to its feet. Not long after, indie-folk legends Mumford & Sons made a surprise cameo that had fans sprinting across the grounds to catch a glimpse.

Later in the night, T-Pain made Palomino history as the festival’s first official “Late Night” act on that stage. His set was a nostalgia-packed party, but things truly went off the rails — in the best way — when he brought out Kesha for an impromptu rendition of “Timber”, igniting a sea of dancing boots.

Diplo’s HonkyTonk Delivers Star-Studded After-Hours Chaos

Meanwhile, over at Diplo’s HonkyTonk, things got characteristically unhinged. Paris Hilton kicked off the late-night dance party with a glittery DJ set, mixing Y2K pop with country remixes. But the real shocker came when Lizzo strutted onstage for a brief but unforgettable appearance during Diplo’s set, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Equal parts rodeo and rave, the HonkyTonk proved once again that country fans know how to party.

🎤 SATURDAY: Jelly Roll’s Triumphant Return and a Collision of Genres

If Friday was a dreamlike prologue, Saturday was the festival’s beating heart — filled with grit, glamour, and a genre-mashing energy that only Stagecoach could pull off.

Jelly Roll Headlines with a Victory Set for the Ages

Last year, Jelly Roll told fans his dream was to headline Stagecoach. This year, he made that dream a reality — and turned it into one of the most triumphant moments in festival history. His set was more than just a concert; it was a statement. A gritty blend of Southern rock, country rap, gospel, and vulnerability, Jelly Roll poured his soul into every note.

Halfway through, he shocked the audience by bringing out Lana Del Rey, Wiz Khalifa, Alex Warren, and Machine Gun Kelly, creating a surreal, genre-busting jam session that epitomized the weekend’s anything-goes ethos. Fans roared their approval as country met hip-hop, alt-pop, and rock, all within one epic set.

Texas Takes Over the Afternoon

Before Jelly Roll took the stage, the Mane crowd was treated to back-to-back heat from Texas natives:

Sturgill Simpson made a rare and much-celebrated appearance, his outlaw energy commanding the stage like few others can.
Ashley McBryde stunned with powerhouse vocals and razor-sharp storytelling, cementing her status as one of country’s most vital voices.

Palomino’s Big Rock Moment: Creed, Nelly & More

Over on the Palomino Stage, the crowd leaned into its nostalgia era. Post-grunge icons Creed delivered a set that was equal parts throwback and resurrection. The biggest surprise? A soulful duet with Tori Kelly on “With Arms Wide Open”, reimagined as a country hymn.

Then came Shaboozey, fresh from his Coachella run, pulling double duty with a swagger-heavy set that pulled an enormous crowd. His blend of country and hip-hop proved irresistible — and festival-defining. Nelly rounded out the night with a special 25th-anniversary set of Country Grammar, reminding everyone why he remains a crossover king.

SUNDAY: Luke Combs, Garth Brooks, and the Grand Finale

By the time Sunday arrived, Stagecoach had already delivered enough memories to last the year — but it wasn’t finished. The final day brought emotional reunions, rock legends, unexpected pop cameos, and one of the biggest surprises in Stagecoach history.

Luke Combs Closes Out with Country Heart and a Garth Brooks Bombshell

Festival favorite Luke Combs returned to headline for the second time, bringing arena-sized anthems and heartfelt acoustic moments in equal measure. As fans swayed to hits like “Forever After All” and “Hurricane”, no one expected what came next — Garth Brooks, unannounced and grinning ear to ear, strolled onstage and joined Combs for a once-in-a-lifetime duet of “Friends in Low Places.” It was a mic-drop moment that left the crowd speechless.

Combs also welcomed Good Charlotte, Bailey Zimmerman, and others throughout his set, bridging the gap between emo nostalgia and modern country.

Midland & Flatland Cavalry Keep the Boots Moving

Earlier in the day, Midland brought honky-tonk glam to the desert with a set full of slick harmonies and surprise guests, including Noah Cyrus, Marcus King, and Mackenzie Carpenter. Flatland Cavalry, meanwhile, kept it rooted and real, drawing in early afternoon crowds with their West Texas charm.

Palomino’s Final Punch: Goo Goo Dolls & Sammy Hagar

To cap off the Palomino Stage’s most diverse year yet, ‘90s alt-rockers Goo Goo Dolls brought a surprising emotional edge to the sunset set, while Sammy Hagar closed the tent in pure rock-n-roll fashion, red solo cup and all.

Diplo’s Final HonkyTonk Throwdown

Sunday night’s HonkyTonk was a multi-genre whirlwind:

Steve Aoki, DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak), and Sofi Tukker each brought the house down.
Diplo re-emerged as his cowboy alter ego Thomas Wesley, spinning a set full of country remixes and surprise collabs, including a rare B2B with Marshmello.

Backstreet Boys Bring the Final Surprise

But perhaps the biggest surprise of the night came at Late Night at Palomino, when the Backstreet Boys emerged for their first-ever Stagecoach set. Dressed in matching western outfits, they launched into a flawlessly choreographed set that mashed “I Want It That Way” with banjo licks and pedal steel, proving that even boy bands can go country.

HUGE SHOUT OUTS!!!

Shout out to our friends at Goldenvoice for inviting us out to cover this event. This was the 7th time covering, and already can't wait for next year! It's always so special, and we are so greatful for your partnership!

Shout out to Lexi Wheeler for taking all the amazing photos featured througout our programming! You are a rockstar!

Shout out to TravisMathew for keeping our team on-trend for the festival! Alana Springsteen and Dylan Gossett picked out some of their favorite TravisMathew festival items, and we loved wearing them all!

Pictured below: (1) Shane - Cloud Waffle Hoody Light Grey / (2) Alexis - Cloud Crew Tee - White / (3) Jordan - French Riviera Button-Up

Shout out to our friend Ginta who made our hand-made festival bracelets that sparked countless new friendships! Everyone LOVED them!

Shout out to our friend Kim at Burbank Printing for creating our incredible custom QR picks! What a cool memorabilia from the festival!

Shout out to our friends at Código for inviting All Country News to the Código Hony Tonk! The drinks were delicious and the vibes were immaculate!

Shout out to John Morgan for taking over the All Country News Instagram Story during Stagecoach! It was a blast!

Shout out to Abby Anderson for providing us with an inside look into her first Mane Stage performance at Stagecoach through a disposable camera! Check it out here:

And lastly shout out to Ariat for putting our team in new boots to work the festival in comfort and style!

ARIAT - THE OFFICIAL BOOT OF STAGECOACH 2025

Ariat made a major statement at this year’s Stagecoach Festival, earning the title of official boot with a brand presence that was impossible to miss. Two towering boot sculptures anchored the festival grounds, serving as both eye-catching landmarks and popular photo ops. Inside the Ariat activation, fans could personalize their footwear with custom boot painting or branding—choosing letters or symbols for a one-of-a-kind look. The booth blended Western heritage with festival flair, positioning Ariat not just as a sponsor, but as a standout part of the Stagecoach experience.

5 MUST-SEES AT STAGECOACH 2025:

Check out the below video on the All Country News Instagram which breaks down some of the things every festival-goer had to check out this year, including:

Beer Barn
Compton Cowboys
Ariat Booth
Honky Tonk
Ferris Wheel

GETTING BOOTS BRANDED AT THE ARIAT BOOTH AT STAGECOACH:

FINAL THOUGHTS

Stagecoach 2025 didn’t just deliver—it redefined the limits of what a country music festival can be. With a lineup that spanned genres, surprise sets that went viral in real-time, and a spirit of joyful unpredictability, it left attendees buzzing with the kind of once-in-a-lifetime memories only Indio can provide.

ALL COUNTRY NEWS

Country Music News & Entertainment

Country Music Country Music News Country Music Outlet Latest Country News Recent Country News New Country Music Newest Country Music New Country Music Newest Country Music New Country Songs Country Music Out Today Country Songs Out Today Country Music Out Now Country Songs Out Now Nashville News Country Music Industry News Country Music Blog Country Music Podcast Country Music Playlist Country Music Playlists Country Music Social Media Country Stars Country Artists Rising Country Artists Rising Country Artist Country Legend Country Legends Country Music Press Country Music Publicity Country Music Fans Country Music Website