Sabrina Carpenter Brings Star Power to Coachella Set

The singer's festival performance featured surprise appearances from Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon, Will Ferrell, and more.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:50pm

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An abstract close-up photograph of shimmering sequins and shattered glass, capturing the glitz and glamour of Sabrina Carpenter's Coachella set.Sabrina Carpenter's star-studded Coachella set featured surprise appearances from Hollywood icons, adding an extra layer of excitement to the singer's festival performance.Coachella Today

Sabrina Carpenter kicked off the first weekend of the Coachella music festival with a star-studded set that included cameos from actors Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon, Will Ferrell, and Corey Fogelmanis, as well as a voice appearance by Samuel L. Jackson. The 20-song performance featured pre-recorded sketches and live onstage appearances that added an extra layer of entertainment for the audience.

Why it matters

Coachella is one of the most high-profile music festivals in the world, and Sabrina Carpenter's ability to bring in such big-name celebrity guests speaks to her growing star power and the festival's continued ability to attract A-list talent. The surprise cameos added an extra level of excitement and spectacle to Carpenter's set, helping to drive fan engagement and social media buzz around her performance.

The details

Carpenter's set began with a pre-recorded black-and-white short film in which Sam Elliott played a police officer who pulled her over, warning her that 'it's not right out there' before she continued on to the festival. Throughout the 20-song performance, there were additional cameos, including Susan Sarandon appearing as an older version of Carpenter, Corey Fogelmanis playing a carhop, and Will Ferrell stepping onstage in an electrician's jumpsuit to restore power after some 'typical Coachella' technical issues. Samuel L. Jackson also made a voice appearance, telling the audience he was there to guide them on a 'journey to relaxation'.

  • Sabrina Carpenter's Coachella set took place on Friday, April 11, 2026, during the first weekend of the festival.
  • Coachella continues its first of two weekends with additional headliners Justin Bieber and Karol G, as well as other performances, through April 13, 2026.

The players

Sabrina Carpenter

A 2x Grammy-winning singer and actress who rose to fame on the Disney Channel series 'Girl Meets World'.

Sam Elliott

An acclaimed American actor known for his roles in films like 'The Big Lebowski', 'A Star Is Born', and 'The Ranch'.

Susan Sarandon

An Oscar-winning actress with a long and acclaimed career in films like 'Thelma & Louise', 'Dead Man Walking', and 'Little Women'.

Will Ferrell

A popular comedic actor known for his roles in movies like 'Anchorman', 'Elf', and 'Step Brothers'.

Corey Fogelmanis

An actor who co-starred with Sabrina Carpenter on the Disney Channel series 'Girl Meets World'.

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What they’re saying

“Hello, Coachella. This is your spiritual guide. I am here to take you motherfuckers on this journey to relaxation.”

— Samuel L. Jackson

What’s next

Coachella continues its first of two weekends with additional headliners Justin Bieber and Karol G, as well as performances from Addison Rae, FKA Twigs, Iggy Pop, Turnstile, Katseye, PinkPantheress, David Byrne, Sombr and more through April 13, 2026.

The takeaway

Sabrina Carpenter's Coachella set demonstrated her growing star power and the festival's continued ability to attract A-list celebrity talent, with the surprise cameos from actors like Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon, and Will Ferrell adding an extra layer of excitement and spectacle to her performance.