TMZ has reported that Kanye West, also known as Ye, has pulled out of his headlining spot at the upcoming Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which runs two weekends from April 15-17 and April 22-24.
West has had some erratic behavior recently, lashing out at his ex Kim Kardashian, her current boyfriend Pete Davidson, and others on social media and in music videos. Without Ye, there’s an open slot for a headliner at the legendary music festival.
The other two headliners are Harry Styles and Billie Eilish. Swedish House Mafia is also on the list, but did not have a scheduled slot, so they might take over for Ye.
Other queer artists performing this year include Phoebe Bridgers, MIKA, Brockhampton, girl in red, 100 gecs, Pabllo Vittar, Rina Sawayama, Japanese Breakfast, Kim Petras, and Orville Peck.
While that’s a lot of queer talent, we’d love to see someone from the LGBTQ+ community headline, and now that Ye is out, here are nine artists we think would be killer replacements.
Elton John would fit right in with recent headliners like Radiohead, Guns N’ Roses, and AC/DC as classic acts performing alongside more current superstars. As he’s nearing his retirement, a Coachella headlining spot would be a great way to go out.
He was originally slated to headline Coachella back in 2020 when it was canceled because of the global pandemic, and we’ve been dying to see him perform for a while, so he would be the perfect replacement for Ye. He’s up to headline next year, in 2023, but why not push his performance up a year and give the gays what we want?
There’s no one like Janelle Monáe. Ye is definitely known for doing things no one else does, and Monáe is known for the same. We’d absolutely love to see her bring her Afro-futurism to the desert.
After his stunning Grammys performance, Lil Nas X has proven that he can dominate any stage, and Coachella could be next. One of the best showmen in all of music, he’d be the perfect fit if Coachella wants to make headlines with their replacement choice.
Miley Cyrus would fit in perfectly with other young headliners Harry Styles and Billie Eilish, and she definitely knows how to command an audience. After recently headlining Lollapalooza Argentina and Lollapalooza Chile this year, she’d be a great choice for Coachella.
Who wouldn’t die to see Queen perform a headlining spot at Coachella? You know the “Bohemian Rhapsody” sing along alone would be killer. With Adam Lambert providing his soaring vocals along with legends Roger Taylor, Brian May, and Spike Edney, this would be an unmissable headlining act.
Nonbinary singer Sam Smith certainly has the hits to be a headliner, along with the Grammys and Oscar. They could also bring up plenty of great collaborators, like Demi Lovato, Calvin Harris, or Normani. Now that would be a moment!!!
Brandi Carlile is a living legend. She may not be the typical choice for Coachella headliner, but she’s one of the best musicians and singers alive, so I think she’d do just fine. She’d also bring plenty of experience to the youthful festival.
Fresh off his second Grammy win for Best Rap Album (IGOR won in 2020, and Call Me If You Get Lost won this year), Tyler, the Creator would be an excellent pick to satisfy rap fans who are going to miss Ye’s performance. Tyler always turns in electric live performances, so we’d love to see him headline.
