Justin Bieber has Coachella behaving like a memory lane with pyrotechnics, draping the world with nostalgia fever. In the same breath, rumor insists SZA was kept on a gilded waiting list for both weekends, after being paid a handsome six figures in case the star vanished at the eleventh hour after last year’s festival nerves. Not leaving any space to speculate, SZA has already brushed the gossip aside with finality.

“Lmao who made this up ?” SZA brushed off the standby rumor with a neat, amused denial. Calling it baseless internet repetition, the star confirmed that she was in New York. She also said that no one paid her a dime and wishes everyone the best, effectively shutting down the Coachella speculation in one clean sweep.

Although SZA may not be bagging the bucks, Justin Bieber sure is. The star was paid a hefty amount of $10 million to make his comeback as one of the headliners of the festival. This makes him  the highest paid headliner in Coachella history.

The deal reportedly splits into roughly five million dollars per weekend for Justin Bieber’s Saturday night sets on April 11 and April 18. The pop star allegedly cut through industry middle layers by negotiating directly with Goldenvoice himself, according to Rolling Stone. Thus, bypassing the usual agent-heavy process entirely.

Although SZA is not sitting around waiting for a backup Coachella moment, she has plenty lined up that is already keeping fans buzzing with anticipation.

What is keeping SZA busy?

SZA is keeping a packed creative schedule, with attention shifting toward her expanding solo touring plans. The confirmation came directly from her during a live performance on the Grand National Tour, where she responded to a fan inquiry about touring for her expanded 'LANA' era with a clear acknowledgment that she would.

SZA is currently balancing music and fashion with ease, serving as an Artistic Director for Vans while shaping a growing presence in luxury spaces. Her recent front-row appearance at the Louis Vuitton Fall 2026 show in Paris hinted at more high-fashion collaborations on the horizon. Not to mention, she also lent her voice to 'Save the Day' for Hoppers, adding great melodies to the movie.

According to i-D Magazine, SZA has entered the creative cycle for her third studio album, expected to arrive in 2026, already shaping a more introspective direction. She has mentioned working on tracks titled 'Passenger Princess', 'Yearner', and 'Burgers', alongside recording enough material with Steve Lacy for a potential separate project, with no Coachella backup plans in sight.

What was your reaction to SZA's reply to the Coachella rumor? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Iffat Siddiqui

Edited by

Hriddhi Maitra