Coachella is legendary for its surprise pop-ins from major stars. But even the most jaded veterans couldn’t help but stomp their dusty cowboy boots when Madonna made an unannounced cameo during Sabrina Carpenter‘s set on Saturday night (April 18). Twenty years after her first performance at the festival in 2006, Madonna performed duets on her “Vogue” and “Like a Prayer” with Carpenter and teased a new song from Madonna’s upcoming Confessions II album.

On the heels of last week’s announcement of a release date for Confessions II (July 3) and the issuing of its first single, the trance-y “I Feel So Free,” the Carpenter cameo got longtime fans excited about a potential tour in support of the new album. But when Variety asked Madonna manager Guy Oseary if the pop superstar is gearing up for her first run of shows since the 81-date 2023-2024 Celebration tour, Oseary was vague on details.

“I’m not sure yet,” the singer’s longtime manager told the magazine after Saturday’s appearance when asked if a tour is in the works. Oseary added that, “I want to see her happy, so whatever makes her happy, I’m all there.” At press time a spokesperson for Madonna had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment on a possible Confessions II tour.

While Oseary didn’t confirm any touring plans, he did note that Madonna and superfan Carpenter were the ones who came up with the idea to collaborate at the festival. “Madonna told me that she and Sabrina talked about it,” he said of the performance at which Madonna, 67, wore the same lavender corset and lace-up boots she wore for her 2006 Coachella set in the Dance Tent. “It was not my idea. It was a brilliant idea and I think the core of it is what was shown last night, which is love. Last night was just… I mean, I don’t think my feet touched the ground. It was so beautiful. I loved seeing the joy that she had. It was emotional. That opening was spectacular … It was a really special night and it was our 20^th [Coachella] anniversary.”

Madonna also hinted at the historical nature of her surprise set, telling the crowd during the show, “Twenty years ago today, I performed at Coachella. I was in the Dance Tent and it was the first time I performed Confessions on a Dance Floor: Part I in America, and that was such a thrill for me. So you can imagine what a thrill it is for me to be back 20 years later, so it’s a like a full circle moment, you know, very meaningful for me.”

Confessions II is the sequel to the 2005 fan favorite Confessions on a Dance Floor, which featured such hits as “Hung Up,” “Sorry” and “Get Together.”

Rosalía has spent the last decade redrawing the boundaries of global pop, and now, with Lux — her fourth studio album — the Spanish superstar demonstrates that there are no limits to her artistry. After fusing flamenco tradition with innovative pop architectures on 2017’s Los Ángeles and El Mal Querer the following year, and breaking ground with the audacious experimentalism of Motomami (2022), the Barcelona iconoclast delivers her most ambitious project yet: a heartfelt opus of avant-garde classical pop that explores the intersections of romance, religion and genre. 

Cementing her status as one of the most fearless creators of her generation, Lux has shattered records, debuting at No. 1 across five Billboard charts, including Top Latin Albums and Classical Albums. Rosalía is now the first Spanish-born woman to achieve this milestone in the modern era. And while the accolades are historic, it’s the album’s artful depth — sung in 13 languages and arranged in sweeping orchestral movements — that firmly establishes Rosalía as Billboard’s 2026 Latin Woman of the Year. 

Juanes, one of Rosalía’s earliest champions, shares a heartfelt reflection on his first encounter with the multihyphenate artist, his admiration for her creative evolution and her transformative impact on the world of music.

Watch Billboard’s Mujeres Latinas en la Música live April 23, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Telemundo, and stream live on Peacock and the Telemundo app. Watch Billboard’s red carpet livestream on the Billboard.com and the Billboard Latin YouTube channel. For more coverage on Latin Women In Music click here.

The first time I saw Rosalía was in Madrid. I had flown in for some promotional work of my own, and I ran into Bebe, an incredible singer as well. She said to me, “Let’s go see Rosalía at this theater where she’s performing today in the Suma Flamenca Joven,” a festival where young artists perform flamenco. 
 
I sat down in my seat, and next to me was the dancer Joaquín Cortés on one side and Bebe on the other. Then I started watching this woman, sitting on a stool, singing songs from Los Ángeles. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. To me, it was the most beautiful thing. Joaquín looked like a madman, completely losing it, saying, “I can’t believe this! What is this?” He was totally mesmerized. Bebe was crying, and I was just in shock, completely blown away by watching — but more than anything, listening to — this woman sing. 

Listening to her was what struck me the most. It was such a beautiful revelation: a woman singing like Edith Piaf or [Carlos] Gardel, those kinds of timeless artists who only come around once in a lifetime.

I immediately called Rebeca León, who was my management partner at the time. Rebeca went to Barcelona, met with Rosalía, and that’s where it all began. [León was Rosalía’s manager between 2017 and 2023.]

The first time she performed in the United States was in Los Angeles. I had a concert at the Hollywood Bowl that night, and Rosalía also performed there — I mean, I don’t want to call her the “opening act” because that feels embarrassing for me; I should’ve been her opening act (Laughs.) — but yeah, she sang before us at the Hollywood Bowl. And of course, the audience went crazy. Crazy, just like all of us were from the moment we first saw her.

As a Colombian and a Latin American, for me, flamenco feels incredibly exotic. It has always fascinated me — from Camarón de la Isla to Paco de Lucía and everything in between. It’s just totally mesmerizing. 

When I see a woman like Rosalía singing, coming from Barcelona — which has a completely different vibe — but bringing something modern into the way she sings, while still staying connected to flamenco, it’s impactful. Most flamenco singers, especially women, sing with so much force, with this kind of raw intensity. But Rosalía sings differently. Her voice feels soft, like she’s singing right into your ear, almost like a whisper. That blend of qualities was something completely new for me. 

Then came her album El Mal Querer, and wow, I was blown away. I couldn’t believe it at first; it felt so strange initially, but then I understood it. It was truly beautiful, what she created there. And then she released Motomami, which was completely different — bolder in many ways, but still incredible.

I vividly remember her Motomami world tour. I saw so many clips and performances with punk influences, distorted basslines and this daring energy. And then she released Lux, which was something else entirely. She keeps you guessing — you never know where she’s going next. And to me, that’s the most beautiful thing an artist can do: create something as bold and stunning as this album. It’s just incredible.

I’d highlight Lux because of the daring artistic decisions behind it. Incorporating classical music, opera and a variety of languages from different parts of the world — on one hand, you could call it ambitious. But on the other hand, you just have to stop and say, “Wait, this is incredible. Look at what she’s doing.”

I’ve seen some clips from her new tour — she’s dancing, acting, singing beautifully … I don’t know how to put it, but for me, she’s a truly, truly special artist. And I think whatever she does, no matter the direction, it will always have this impeccable quality because that’s just who she is.

In fact, I’ve even shown my daughters videos of Rosalía from when she was just starting out [at talent competitions]. She would sing off-key, it was awful, she would get mad at the judges. The transformation from that moment to where she is now is absolutely mind-blowing to me. I melt every time I hear her sing. I don’t even need to watch her perform; I’ll just put on headphones and let her music play, and it feels like my soul is crying with joy and emotion. Her voice is so beautiful, so unique … Honestly, very few people are blessed with that kind of gift.

I think her cultural impact has been massive. It’s not just about her music, but everything surrounding it — the fashion, the music videos, the lyrics. Everything matters. I see so many young people, especially girls, who follow her and are inspired by how music can have so many possibilities.

If Rosalía ever doubts anything, it will only be about where her limits are, because I don’t think she has any. She approaches art as a whole, and I find that amazing and so difficult to achieve. But she’s done it, and she’s paid attention to every single detail. I think that’s what truly makes her a singular artist in our time.

After officially making history as the first Latin woman to headline Coachella in the festival’s 27-year history, Karol G announced she’s hitting the road with a new tour.

During her second weekend headlining set on Sunday (April 19), the Colombian artist welcomed a wave of special guests, including Peso Pluma for a performance of their sultry reggaetón collaboration “QLONA,” as well as Becky G for an empowering rendition of their 2022 No. 1 Billboard hit “MAMIII” and Colombian powerhouses J Balvin and Ryan Castro. That impressive list of guests came after Karol shared the stage with Mariah Angeliq, Wisin, Greg Gonzalez of Cigarettes After Sex, Arturo Sandoval and an all-female mariachi troupe during the first weekend of the festival.

At the wrap of her historic show on Sunday, the “Bichota” singer surprised fans with the announcement that she’s going on tour. “Nos Vamos de Tour” (we’re going on tour) read a bright orange text on the festival screens during the closing song, “Provenza.” 

Though dates and venues have yet to be announced, the forthcoming trek will be in support of her latest album, Tropicoqueta, and follows her 2024 Mañana Será Bonito record-breaking tour that grossed $313.3 million and sold 2.3 million tickets over 65 shows, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. 

“There has been 27 years of this festival going on and it’s the first time a Latina girl is headlining Coachella, so I just want to say that before me there were so many great Latino artists, legendary Latino artists, that gave me the opportunity to be here tonight,” the Colombian artist told fans at Coachella. “This is not just about me, this is about my Latino community, this is about my people. And at the same time, this is for my Latinos that have been struggling in this country lately. We stand for them, I stand for my Latino community and at the same time I’m very proud because this brings out the best of us: unity, resilience, and a strong spirit.” 

Miranda Lambert has signed with MCA for her future music releases, the label announced today (April 20).

“Miranda is a generational artist whose influence and artistry continue to shape modern music,” Mike Harris, MCA President & CEO, said in a statement. “We are honored to work alongside her as she enters this next chapter and we look forward to building something truly special together.”

“Throughout my life and career, I have found that the common thread in every chapter is finding the right people—songwriters, musicians, collaborators, and team members—to match the moment,” Lambert said. “I am honored to join a roster and a team with such a rich history of championing artistry. I look forward to sharing this new music with the world under their banner.”

The three-time Grammy winner also continues in her role as founder of Big Loud Texas, where she continues being involved in the business partnership and continued artist development efforts across the label and its publishing arm.

To date, Lambert has had seven albums reach the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, and has earned seven No. 1 Country Airplay hits. She’s the most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music Awards history. In addition to her headlining tours, she also brought her Velvet Rodeo residency to Las Vegas.

She’s been honored not only for her work as an artist, but also as a producer and songwriter. She’s a producer and co-writer on Ella Langley’s six-week No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit “Choosin’ Texas,” and is an executive producer on Langley’s Dandelion album, which is currently at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Rosalía will receive the coveted Woman of the Year award at the 2026 Billboard Latin Women in Music ceremony, Billboard and Telemundo announced today (April 20). 

Recognizing the Spanish singer-songwriter’s success, leadership and cultural influence as a defining voice of her generation, “Rosalía has consistently pushed the boundaries of Spanish-language music, blending tradition with bold innovation and captivating audiences worldwide,” according to a press statement. “Her latest album [LUX] further cements her status as a cultural force, sparking global conversation and reinforcing her reputation as a forward-thinking creative leader.”

On the Billboard charts, Rosalía — known for hits such as “Con Altura,” “Despechá,” “Yo x Ti, Tú x Mi,” and “La Fama” — has earned seven No. 1s on Latin Airplay, nine top 10s on Hot Latin Songs and nine Billboard Hot 100 titles, to name a few achievements. Notably, her most recent album, LUX, debuted at No. 1 last November on the Top Latin Albums, Top Latin Pop Albums, Classical Albums, Classical Crossover and World Albums charts, as well as No. 4 on the Billboard 200, marking her first top 10 on the overall chart.

This year, Rosalía joins Latin Women in Music honorees Becky G (Global Impact Award), Gloria Trevi (Lifetime Achievement Award), Ivy Queen (Pioneer Award), Joy (Spirit of Change Award), Julieta Venegas (Artistic Excellence Award), Lola Indigo (Evolution Award) and Young Miko (Unstoppable Award). 

Joining a celebration that will feature memorable performances, tributes and speeches are Carlota Vizmanos, David Bisbal, Feid, Jessica Carrillo, Justina Machado, Natalia Lafourcade, Natti Natasha and Villano Antillano as presenters.

Hosted by Chiquis, the two-hour special dedicated to Latin artists shaping the future of music will broadcast live at 9 p.m. ET on April 23 via Telemundo, and will stream live on Peacock and the Telemundo app.