Year after year, Coachella is always full of surprises. It seems like every artist has a guest performer waiting behind the scenes to join them on stage and wow fans. During the first weekend of the 2024 festival alone, attendees were treated to unexpected guest appearances from the likes of Billie Eilish, Shakira and A$AP Rocky.
No doubt the memo was received. Although reuniting for the first time since 2015 was already a big deal for them, when frontwoman Gwen Stefani launched Olivia Rodrigo on April 13 , the band’s gifts continue to give. Together they performed No Doubt's 2000 hit "Bathwater," which was released three years before Rodrigo was born.
share the stage
As "No Doubt" transitioned between songs, Stefani told the main stage crowd, "I love you." Then she started, announcing, "Ladies and gentlemen, Olivia Rodrigo! Fans gave Rodrigo a warm welcome as he stepped out wearing a white tank top that read "I [HEART] ND."
Stephanie and Rodrigo traded verses during this high-energy performance, which also saw bassist Tony Canal take the spotlight. They seemed delighted to be working together, and when the song ended, they hugged each other and ran off the stage together. Rodrigo later shared on Instagram what an "honor" it was.
"'bathwater' is one of my favorite songs of all time," Rodrigo wrote in an April 14 story. "Singing this song with @nodoubt at @coachella last night was the greatest honor! @gwenstefani was out of this world."
Stefani called the night "amazing" in her Story and wrote to her fans, "Thank you for coming to Coachella to see @nodoubt!!! 2024!!"
Gathering of generations
Rodrigo took to Instagram after Coachella to reiterate her love for Stefani and No Doubt. "The first time I remember hearing Bathwater was when I first started writing songs," she wrote on April 14. "It completely turned my world upside down and still inspires me to this day. Performing this song with @nodoubt and @gwenstefani at @coachella this weekend was the coolest honor!!! They are out of this world!!!"
She missed No Doubt's heyday, as many of the band's greatest years preceded her. (They performed the Super Bowl 37 halftime show in January 2003, and Rodrigo wasn't born until the next month.) However, Nylon reported that she discovered their album Return of Saturn " (including "Bathwater"). She has looked up to Stephanie ever since.
“Gwen’s ability to develop and explore different styles of music, songwriting and aesthetic while staying true to herself is incredibly inspiring,” Rodrigo told Nylon . “To me, she is an example of an artist who challenges stereotypes and preconceived boundaries and only creates things that she thinks are cool.”
