00:00What's going on Billboard? This is Ludacris, Stagecoach 2026. I need y'all to come with me.
00:05We about to have a hell of a time. Let's roll.
00:08It gets no better than Stagecoach with the stars, and we went to Indio for three days to hang with
00:14the artists, catch them live, and party at the rodeo.
00:16We take you there on Billboard All Access.
00:21Presented by Amazon.
00:23Day one as we arrived on the grounds, we couldn't wait to talk to our faves.
00:27It was so much fun to be able to come back here after, you know, the first time we played
00:30here.
00:31We were playing at noon in 2014.
00:33That's crazy.
00:34It was wild, man.
00:34Different haircuts, for sure.
00:35Different haircuts, different haircuts.
00:37It was crazy, man, to be back here with all of our friends, with so much history.
00:41Now being in the industry for like 13 years, it's crazy to come back here, and it's no longer like
00:45this new.
00:47It's still new and shiny, but it's not like you don't know anybody.
00:49It's kind of scary in a lot of ways when you first come, and now it's like it just feels
00:53like family
00:53because you're running into all your friends, and like we all know each other now.
00:57So it's like a, I don't know, it's a different experience.
00:59I'm very grateful to be here.
01:00Okay, so there's like bucket things you want to check off as an artist, right?
01:03And I think there's a few of those.
01:04I think Stagecoach is one of those bucket list things.
01:06I'm going to be honest with you.
01:07Like our shows now are so insane.
01:09So like I think for a long time I was so insecure and nervous on stage that I was thinking
01:14about how I was singing.
01:15And I think what I realized is I'm not a singer.
01:17I've done that my whole life.
01:18I'm an entertainer.
01:19You know what I mean?
01:19And when you realize you're an entertainer, all you got to do is make sure you're having fun,
01:22and they're having fun out there.
01:24You know what I'm saying?
01:24That is so important.
01:25I'm glad you said that.
01:26That's the key.
01:26That's the key.
01:35So now that you're back, you're at Stagecoach, what's the vibe been like out there, and how was your set?
01:40I was just thrilled that people knew who I was.
01:43Stop it.
01:43Well, the next generation.
01:45They call me Miss Judd.
01:47Miss Judd.
01:47And I'm like, what the heck?
01:48I'm not a teacher.
01:52So you were excited to see the audience just singing and enjoying it?
01:55Just knowing the words and people.
01:57How many people raised their hand?
01:59Probably two-thirds of the audience raised their hand that they've never seen me in concert before.
02:02And I said, well, it's about freaking time.
02:04Let's go!
02:07Time's running out.
02:09I have too much to give.
02:12You just had a crazy set.
02:14So talk to me about it.
02:15Your dad, your brother coming out.
02:16How was everything?
02:17It was so nice to share that moment with him.
02:20I just got off tour with both of them.
02:23I just got off tour with my brother, Brazen.
02:25He opened up for me last year.
02:28And it's just great to share that bond with your family and those experiences.
02:39And we had to hang with Rebecca Black at Diplo's Honky Tonk.
02:42We've never even acknowledged Friday, I don't think.
02:44Every time I've talked to you, it's been about other stuff.
02:46That's wild.
02:46And I'm like, that's actually wild?
02:48But it's Friday, and we're at Stagecoach.
02:50So how are you feeling?
02:50I'll take it.
02:51I'll take it.
02:51I feel good.
02:52I feel excited.
02:53I'm going to challenge these people, see how far we can go on the Technosphere.
02:57I'm bringing the gay.
02:59I just want every gay person at this festival to come into my set.
03:02Just to come on in.
03:03Make me feel safe.
03:04The Honky Tonk is the place for the girls and the gays.
03:06I was just in there.
03:07I was just in there.
03:08Did you see Ashley Simpson?
03:08I did.
03:09How was that for you?
03:10Very fierce.
03:10It was very nostalgic.
03:20Bayley Zimmerman was so ready to see Ella Langley.
03:23Can I watch side stage or?
03:26Hey, can I watch side stage or what?
03:28Yeah, watch it.
03:29I don't know.
03:30Just ask.
03:31I'm trying to be polite out here, you know?
03:32Tell me, baby, ooh, ooh, what do I do, what do I do?
03:41Then we caught the headliner.
03:42I text Noe off camera over here before we left.
03:47He said, are you ready?
03:47I said, I'm going to burn Indio, California to the ground.
03:50It's in a good way.
03:51Okay, I got it.
03:52Because I was going to be out there.
03:53I don't want to hear about the lawsuit.
03:55It wasn't me.
03:58Chills taken, taken while you got a chance.
04:05And you can only end festival nights at Zenyara, where we saw Indio King Diplo at rodeo nights.
04:15They just do the desert right.
04:18Hip-hop and country have started to have, like, kind of a relationship together, which I don't think you would
04:22have thought of that.
04:23But you had Beyonce.
04:24You got Big X Diplog.
04:25Yeah.
04:25So what do you think about, like, kind of shabuzi even?
04:28How, like, black people and hip-hop have come together with country.
04:31I love it.
04:31And when you think about the story, you think about the history of it, Beyonce did a good job of
04:35reminding people that we were here a very long time ago.
04:39So all that being said, man, it's people expressing themselves and just pouring their hearts out in their music.
04:43Sometimes that crossed genres.
04:45And sometimes you can't even put a tag on it.
04:49It's just great music.
04:50It's great music.
04:51Period.
04:51On day two, we started our day at the Desert Rodeo that captured the vibe for the weekend before hitting
04:57up the iconic CAA brunch.
04:59And stopping by the Grand Ole Seeger to catch some beats and barbecue.
05:02Then it was time for an epic day at the festival.
05:05It's David Lee Rock.
05:17This audience is the most incandescent, lively, forgiving.
05:22Do you listen to country western music?
05:24I do.
05:25Anybody who wears a cowboy hat to a concert, on stage or off, has similarities to what I sing for
05:33a living.
05:34All rock and roll stars from the 70s and 80s buy horses when we get enough money.
05:39Okay.
05:39But the closest most rock and roll stars have actually been to livestock is standing in line at Wendy's.
05:46Whereas here, most of your real artists actually have grown up the way I did in Newcastle, Indiana.
05:54You know what I like about the country audiences is they love songs.
05:58And the thing about us is that we have come this far on songs.
06:03So I just hope that there's that Venn diagram of the love from the country audiences, the fact that we're
06:10a song-driven band.
06:11You know, we're not feedback-driven or sort of, you know, aggression-driven.
06:16It's always about songs and emotions, lifting people up, making them feel better.
06:21Very rare if somebody gets invited twice in two years in a row.
06:25I mean, from Palomino stage to Mustang.
06:26How was it this year, guys?
06:28Man, I don't know.
06:29I think Mustang was a little rowdier than Palomino was.
06:31Yeah, I think so.
06:32I agree to that.
06:34Yeah, it was freaking sweet, man.
06:41And the bars at the festival are amazing.
06:44We call out live music and margaritas with Kodigo.
06:47Wait, hold on.
06:48One more second.
06:49I got to finish this song.
06:50I woke up on the wrong side.
06:52And then we stop by Cherie Lee to say hi to our good friend Shabuzi.
06:58What's up?
06:58Let's be cool.
06:59This is what I've ever seen on this.
07:00Shabuzi.
07:00I just met him at the iHeart Music Awards.
07:03And I love his music.
07:05There's a bunch of them.
07:06Vibes were high, but so were the winds.
07:09And then stagecoach had to evacuate for safety.
07:11But later, fans returned for Laini Wilson.
07:20Laini Wilson is out here killing it.
07:22Laini?
07:22She performed last night, man.
07:24And I heard her.
07:24She knocked it down.
07:26This is my first time.
07:27Your first time you've never been here?
07:28I've never been here.
07:29Oh, wow.
07:29So, you know, I had to get the fit together, man.
07:31I had to show up.
07:32And now I'm about to show out.
07:33We're performing tonight.
07:35I'm just amongst so many great artists that I'm very privileged and just very honored to be here.
07:41And I just want to tear it up.
07:42It's time to make history.
07:43And, of course, end of the night with Marshmello and Bailey Zimmerman.
07:47Day three, we started on the grounds where we hung out at Malibu's Disco Dining.
07:51Bud Light and Post Malone also had a perfect small bar we had to check out.
07:55Then we hung out with Ink Fresh Off BTS Success.
07:58Last time I was here, I was looking at the main stage and I was just picturing myself performing.
08:03That's manifestation right there.
08:05Yeah, and now it came full circle in a shorter time than I thought.
08:09Very short time.
08:10Well, I'm so proud of you.
08:13If you drink it, put it up.
08:16Baby, God, who's drinking?
08:18So ready.
08:19We have more musicians.
08:22This is our first show with the horn section.
08:24First show with a backup singer.
08:26Nice.
08:27First show with a utility guy.
08:28So we've got five new musicians.
08:31And it's just a bigger production.
08:33And it's kind of a sneak peek as to what's coming up with our headlining tour.
08:38I heard me.
08:39Yes.
08:40Hip-hop royalty.
08:42That's right.
08:42Hip-hop royalty.
08:43That's right, boo.
08:44Get out the way.
08:46Get out the way.
08:47Boo!
08:48Love my brother.
08:50Love my friend.
08:51Public Enemy and our boy Flavor Flav shook the crowd with Hootie and the Blowfish.
08:55Stop me.
08:56What's that sound?
08:58Everybody look what's going down.
09:00Hey, everybody.
09:01Face the voice.
09:02Right now.
09:03For Hootie and the Blowfish.
09:07Then it got all about the Diplos honky tonk again.
09:12So, I mean, I'm a chameleon.
09:14I adapt to every single situation.
09:15So today, it's going to be a lot of country music with a Pauly D flint.
09:18Just like I do with the hat.
09:19The hat is a cowboy hat.
09:20Yeah.
09:20But it's a Guido cowboy.
09:21You know what I'm saying?
09:22This is a one-of-one, too, custom.
09:23Yes.
09:24I love that for you, man.
09:25And then we were back with the ATL legend.
09:28Thanks so much for bringing billboards and stagecoach with you, man.
09:30Yes.
09:31I'm ready to see your set.
09:32Okay.
09:32My hand's about to go up and down like strippers' booties go.
09:35Can we do that?
09:36We can do that.
09:36With all of the hits.
09:38All right.
09:38Have fun out there, bro.
09:38All right.
09:39I'm out of here.
09:39Stage time.
09:40Love.
09:43It's freaking ludicrous, man.
09:45Get out of the way.
09:48Let's go.
09:49Hey.
09:50Come on.
09:51What's up?
09:51What's up?
09:52What's up?
09:52What's up?
09:53What's up?
09:54What's up?
09:54You know the name of this song.
09:55It's called Yeah.
09:56Yeah.
09:57Yeah.
09:58Yeah.
09:59I sing.
10:00And close the night with the man himself, Post Malone.
10:03Straight from Hudson, the best part of Stagecoach is the catering.
10:06It's the catering.
10:07And Post Malone.
10:08I'm going to be there for Post Malone.
10:10I'm going to be showing good.
10:11We're going to be all right.
10:12Diamond rail.
10:14And a lonely, broken heart falling off.
10:18Before catching Big X the plug and two friends at Zenyara.
10:30Thank you, Stagecoach.
10:32And see you next year.
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