A Rough Start with Technical Issues Gave Way to Meeting Her Idol Justin Bieber and a Rising Pop Legacy
Three years ago, Billie Eilish took her first steps at Coachella, though they weren’t without stumbles. Performing on the festival’s Outdoor Theatre stage, the 17-year-old encountered numerous technical challenges. Delayed by more than 30 minutes, she faltered through “All the Good Girls Go to Hell” as she forgot some lyrics. A major misstep came when her guest, Vince Staples, joined her for “&burn” but his microphone failed completely, leaving him silently rapping to a confused crowd.
Yet, despite these hurdles, the weekend was not without its highlights. In Indio’s backstage, Eilish met her childhood hero, Justin Bieber. The encounter, captured in RJ Cutler’s 2021 documentary Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, shows the two embracing—a symbolic moment as Eilish, an admirer of Bieber since childhood, found herself stepping into the realm of pop stardom alongside him.
Through just two acclaimed albums and even a Bond theme under her belt, Eilish has evolved into a Grammy-winning alternative pop icon. With a unique style that mixes nostalgic sounds and lyrics addressing everything from personal struggles to fame’s invasions, Eilish’s vocals transition effortlessly between whispers and powerful belts, never sacrificing their intimate quality.
