The desert heat wasn’t the only thing on fire in Las Vegas over the weekend. The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival brought a scorching lineup to the T-Mobile Arena, with legends, rising stars, and rock icons all leaving their mark on the two-night event.
LL COOL J Kicks Off The Festival
The festivities officially kicked off with a powerful opening set by the legendary LL COOL J. The Rock The Bells founder set a tone of love and respect, starting his performance with his classic “I Need Love.” He got the crowd rocking with radio hits like “Doin’ It” and “All I Have.” Though Jennifer Lopez couldn’t be there, a video of her vibing to their collaboration played on the big screen, a testament to his long-standing influence. The veteran rapper closed out his set with energetic renditions of “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “I’m Bad,” solidifying his status as “The G.O.A.T.”
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Mariah Carey Delivers an Era-Spanning Performance
On Saturday, the incomparable Mariah Carey graced the stage, taking the audience on a journey through her iconic career. The moment she opened with “Fantasy,” the T-Mobile Arena erupted. She seamlessly blended her biggest hits, from an upbeat mashup of “Honey” and “Heartbreaker” to a soulful rendition of “My All.”
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The set also featured her more recent hits like “Touch My Body” and “Obsessed” and gave a glimpse of the future, with performances of new singles “Type Dangerous” and “Sugar Sweet” from her upcoming album. MC also treated fans to nostalgic tracks like “Always Be My Baby” and “It’s Like That,” ending her set with a flawless rendition of “We Belong Together,” leaving no doubt as to why she’s an icon.
Tate McRae Proves You Don’t Need Decades of Experience to Own the Stage
Kicking off the festival on Friday night, 22-year-old Tate McRae proved she’s a force to be reckoned with. Her set was a fusion of dynamic dance moves and infectious music, starting with the high-energy “Sports Car.” Amid swirling smoke and her dancers dressed in sleek white, McRae commanded the stage in a striking red bodysuit.
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She then slowed things down for an emotional, solo performance of her breakout hit “You Broke Me First,” which she called the song that “kinda changed my life.” She also took the crowd on a nostalgic trip with fiery performances of “Run for the Hills” and “Exes.” Returning to her newest album, she powered through “Revolving Door” before closing out her unforgettable performance with a stunning rendition of “Greedy.” Pyrotechnics lit up the stage, confetti rained down, and McRae struck a triumphant pose, leaving the crowd wanting more.
Ed Sheeran and The Offspring Shine
The weekend was packed with incredible performances, but none were more unique than Ed Sheeran’s. He returned to the festival for the first time in over a decade, taking the stage as a one-man band. Using only an acoustic guitar and a loop pedal, he built his songs live, layering harmonies and riffs for tracks like “Shivers” and “Sapphire.” The crowd swayed and lit up the arena with their phones during a stunning performance of “Perfect” and cheered along as he ended his set with “Shape of You” and “Bad Habits.”
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The punk rockers from The Offspring launched Saturday night’s festivities with a nostalgic journey to the ’90s. They brought electrifying energy to the stage with anthems like “Come Out and Play,” “Pretty Fly (For A White Guy),” and “The Kids Aren’t Alright,” reminding everyone why their music has stood the test of time.
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GloRilla Closes Out the Festival in Style
The festival’s finale on Saturday night was a masterclass in stage presence from Memphis’ own GloRilla. Hitting the stage right after a legendary performance by Mariah Carey, GloRilla proved she belongs in the same conversation as music’s biggest divas. She opened with the hit “Blessed” before launching into fan favorites like “Hollon,” “Tomorrow,” and her collaboration with Big Boogie, “Bop.”
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The crowd was with her every step of the way as she delivered her signature smash hits. She even slowed things down for a moment to belt out her soulful track “I Luv Her,” before closing the night with the classics that put her on the map, including “FNF (Let’s Go!),” “TGIF,” and “Yeah Glo!”
In case you missed any of the action, you can listen now on the free iHeart App:
