The iHeart Radio Music Festival is held annually at T-Mobile Arena, or the corner of Boone and BTS, depending on your nav.
The superstars filled the arena over Friday and Saturday nights. The rapid-fire roster: BTS, Benson Boone, Cardi B, Ciara, Goo Goo Dolls, Kenny Chesney, Lainey Wilson, Le Sserafim, Major Lazer, Muse, Snoop Dogg, The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Zara Larsson and Stella Lefty.
Ryan Seacrest hosted. The House of Music, outside of T-Mobile on the freshly minted Paramount+ Plaza, was back for its fourth year. Stella Lefty played the plaza before Saturday’s show and Major Lazer after; admission was free.
Setlist highlights of the big nights:
Friday
— Chesney opened the festival with up “Beer In Mexico,” “Summertime,” “I Go Back” and “Don’t Happen Twice,” among other favorites he uncorked from his recently-closed Sphere residency.
— Weezer returned to the festival with “Beverly Hills,” “Pork And Beans,” “Undone – The Sweater Song,” “Island in the Sun,” “Say It Ain’t So” and “Buddy Holly.”
— Goo Goo Dolls performed “Slide,” “Black Balloon” and “Iris.”
— Cardi B brought the hits “I Like It,” “WAP,” “Finesse” and “Bodak Yellow.”
— Larsson performed “Midnight Sun,” “Blue Moon,” “Pretty Ugly” and “Lush Life.”
— BTS, the indefatigable, seven-headed entity, shut down night one with “SWIM,” “2.0,” “MIC Drop” and “FYA.”
Saturday
— Boone opened up the second night of the festival with his famed backflips (show off) and fan favorites “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else,” “Electric Blue,” “Slow it Down,” “Beautiful Things” and more.
— Le Sserafim premiered at the festival, performing “Made My Night,” “BOOMPALA,” “SPAGHETTI” and “CRAZY.”
— Muse played “Cryogen,” “Supermassive Blackhole,” “Be With You” and “Starlight.”
— Lefty played her viral hit “Boston.”
— Smashing Pumpkins played “1979,” “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” “Today” and “Edin.”
— Wilson played “Wildflowers And Wild Horses,” “Phone, Keys, Wallet,” “4x4xU” and “Heart Like A Truck.” She also surprised the crowd with a “9 to 5,” an ode to the late Dolly Parton.
— Ciara, who announced Sept. 6 she is pregnant with her fifth child (fourth with Russell Wilson), played “Get Up,” “Goodies,” “Like a Boy,” “1,2 Step” and “Level Up.”
— Major Lazer played “Lean On” and “Rotate.”
— Snoop Dogg ended the festival on a high note (naturally), with “Nothin’ But A ‘G’ Thang,” “Gin and Juice,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “California Gurls.” Snoop also surprised the crowd by bringing out Wiz Khalifa to perform “See You Again” and “Young, Wild and Free.”
The festival also featured celebrity appearances, including (massive boldface alert): Ashlee Keating, Bobby Bones, Britt Stewart, Danielle Fishel, DJ Envy, Charlamagne tha God and Jess Hilarious of The Breakfast Club, Donny Osmond, Jenna Dewan, Jasmine Yen, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Lele Pons, Mario Lopez and Courtney Lopez, Megan Lawless, Raven-Symoné, Miranda Maday, Taylor Hanson, Val Chmerkovskiy and Woody of iHeart Radio’s “The Woody Show.”
The show originated at MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2011. Officials say to expect a return in ‘27, same location.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.