Las Vegas turned into the ultimate music playground this past weekend as the iHeartRadio Music Festival lit up the T-Mobile Arena. For two nights, fans were treated to everything from nostalgic throwbacks to fresh new anthems from some of the world’s biggest stars.
The lineup was stacked with icons like Mariah Carey, LL COOL J, Ed Sheeran, and Maroon 5, alongside rising stars like Tate McRae and BigXthaPlug.
The energy in the arena was electric: giant beach balls flew, surprise mash-ups wowed, and artists kept the crowd on their feet the entire time. Whether you’re into pop, hip-hop, country, or rock, the festival delivered a little something for everyone. If you missed the madness, don’t worry…Hulu is airing a festival special on October 2nd so you can relive the magic.
Mariah Carey Reigns Supreme: Mariah opened with her classic "Fantasy," immediately proving she’s still the queen of crowd control.
She gave fans a tour of her legendary eras, blending upbeat hits like "Honey" and "Heartbreaker" with slower favorites like "My All." To top it off, she performed her recent single “Type Dangerous,” teasing her upcoming album and leaving fans buzzing.
Jelly Roll’s Genre-Bending Medley
Jelly Roll shocked the audience by flipping through genres like a human jukebox. One moment he was belting Nickelback's “How You Remind Me” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s "Sweet Home Alabama,” the next they were running through the hits from DMX (”Party Up”), Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa (”Young, Wild & Free”), and even Miley Cyrus (”Flowers”). It wasn’t just a performance, it was a full-on ride through music history, Jelly Roll style.
Tate McRae Gets Personal
After opening with her hit song “Sports Car,” Tate captivated the arena with an intimate moment as she sang “You Broke Me First,” the song she said “kinda changed my life.” She balanced it with the fiery track “Exes,” complete with bursts of flames that matched her intensity.
Tim McGraw’s Family Tribute
Tim melted hearts when he dedicated a song, “One Bad Habit,” to his wife Faith Hill, calling himself “Faith’s husband” with a grin. He also invited his nephew Timothy Wayne onstage to collab on “Paper Umbrellas,” making for a sweet family moment. Between the tributes and his powerful vocals, his set felt personal and heartfelt.
Ed Sheeran’s One-Man Show
Armed only with his guitar and a loop pedal, Ed Sheeran built entire songs live before the audience’s eyes. Layer by layer, he turned simple chords into the anthems fans know and love. His stripped-down yet jaw-dropping set reminded everyone why he’s in a league of his own. He performed songs including “Shivers,” “Sapphire,” “Azizam,” “Perfect,” “Shape of You,” and “Bad Habits.
Sammy Hagar Shows Why He’s a Rock God
Hagar ripped through fan favorites like “Right Now” and “Heavy Metal” with relentless energy. His guitar playing had the crowd going wild, proving that age hasn’t slowed him down one bit. By the end, it was clear: Sammy still owns the stage.
BigXThaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman Team Up
BigXthaPlug made a splash with his festival debut, fresh off cutting his iconic dreads. He performed songs like “Change Me,” “Whip It," and "Levels.” Midway through, he surprised fans by bringing Bailey Zimmerman onstage for their rap-country collab “All The Way.” The duo’s high-energy performance closed out night one on a thrilling note.
John Fogerty Turns It Into a Family Jam
Fogerty gave fans a Creedence Clearwater Revival masterclass, running through his greatest hits including “Bad Moon Rising,” "Up Around The Bend,” "Fortunate Son," and “Down On The Corner.” He was joined onstage by his sons Shane and Tyler, while his wife Julie cheered from the sidelines. The performance felt like a family reunion wrapped in rock ‘n’ roll.
Maroon 5’s Sweet Surprise
After a set packed with hits like “Love Is Like,” “Animals,” and “This Love,” Adam Levine told the crowd he had “something special” in store. He and James Valentine stripped it down for an acoustic rendition of “She Will Be Loved,” turning the arena into a massive sing-along. The band rejoined for a final chorus, making the throwback moment unforgettable.
Bryan Adams Keeps It Classic
Bryan delivered a perfect mix of timeless hits like “Summer of ’69” with newer tracks like “Roll With the Punches.” His voice carried just as strong as it did decades ago.
Diplo Brings the Party
Diplo turned the festival into a Vegas nightclub with non-stop bangers, from his own hits to crowd-pleasing remixes including "On My Mind" and "Where Are Ü Now.” Just when fans thought it couldn’t get any wilder, Bailey Zimmerman joined him to perform their summer anthem “Ashes.” The energy was through the roof from start to finish.
Justice Turns Up the Vibes
The French duo blended rock, funk, and disco into a pulsating set that felt like a rave inside the arena. They mixed in tributes to bands like The Cure and Guns N’ Roses while dropping their own classics like “D.A.N.C.E.” The set proved Justice knows how to keep a crowd moving.
LL COOL J Shows He’s Still the G.O.A.T.
LL COOL J made a dramatic entrance before launching into a medley of his greatest hits. From “Mama Said Knock You Out” to “I’m Bad,” he kept the crowd hyped the entire time. Closing with his track “G.O.A.T.,” he left no doubt about his legendary status.
GloRilla Closes the Festival with Fire
Big Glo brought Memphis heat to Vegas, lighting up the final night with hits like “Blessed,” “Tomorrow,” and “Bop.” She slowed it down with her soulful collab “I Luv Her,” showing off her versatility. Closing with fan favorites like “FNF (Let’s Go!)” and “Yeah Glo!,” she ended the festival with a bang.
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