Justin Bieber Headlines Coachella with Intimate Debut

Justin Bieber made his solo headline debut at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, on April 11, delivering a stripped-down performance that drew both praise for its intimacy and criticism for its unconventional style. The 32-year-old pop star, performing his first major show in four years, sat at a laptop onstage, singing along to YouTube videos of his early hits such as "Baby," "Never Say Never," and "Sorry," while incorporating home videos from his teenage years that launched his career.

The set, which lasted about an hour and featured a 12-song medley, marked Bieber's return to a large stage following health challenges. In 2022, he canceled the remaining dates of his Justice World Tour after a diagnosis of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that temporarily paralyzed one side of his face. Bieber has since spoken about his reluctance to tour extensively, describing the idea as daunting during a Twitch stream last October. Instead, he focused on curating a personal Coachella appearance, emphasizing nostalgia over high-energy production. He wore casual attire, including a hoodie, shorts, and sunglasses, and performed seated on a stool before a crowd...