Lady Gaga takes the crown: “GAGACHELLA” dethrones Beyoncé’s “BEYCHELLA” to become Coachella’s most-rated set ever

Lady Gaga didn’t just headline Coachella 2025, she dominated the entire conversation about what a pop performance should be. The critics? They’re calling it one for the history books.

On April 11, the pop icon served a staggering spectacle that seamlessly blended her greatest hits and brand new ones that left the festival spectators and her Little Monsters in awe.

Dubbed GAGACHELLA, Lady Gaga’s headlining set felt like a gothic fever dream as she donned a currant-red Victorian-inspired dress during her opening act. As expected, social media buzzed with praise for the Edge of Glory hitmaker. But it was the multiple major publications that truly solidified her performance as a cultural moment.

The Guardian rated GAGACHELLA five stars, calling it as “one of best the desert has ever seen.”

They added:

“And with Gagachella, as her fans have already termed a thesis statement of a set, she goes in for the kill. You knew from the minute she appeared in full deranged queen regalia, the head of a multi-story hoop skirt that opened to reveal a birdcage prison of backup dancers, that the vision was nigh.”

For Billboard, Lady Gaga’s “entire performance felt like a living, breathing entity.” The music outlet went on:

“...in large part because Gaga wore a headset, which captured each and every controlled breath she took. But also because of the storyline, which across its five acts revisited various Lady Gagas of the past — all of whom, as the show proved, are still very much alive in Gaga despite being dormant. Or, in the case of this performance, despite being left for dead.”

Meanwhile, Consequence declared it as “one of the most impressive displays of pop music in Coachella’s 25-year history.”

Other publications that rated GAGACHELLA five stars were Vanity, LA Times, Rolling Stones, The Country, Paper, NYP, and SFGATE.

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Mother Monster wins Coachella: GAGACHELLA leaves BEYCHELLA in the dust

GAGACHELLA has officially claimed the throne, surpassing Beyoncé’s iconic BEYCHELLA as the most-rated Coachella performance ever.

Beyoncé’s 2018 set was a game-changer — no lie in that — but the Love Game songstress’ 2025 headlining act took things to another level, blending jaw-dropping dramatics, raw emotions, and grotesque visual display.

Both artists are icons in their own right, but the juxtaposition sparked discussions among Little Monsters and Beyhives on who really deserved more perfect scores.

'Live vocals and live instruments' yall ain’t even watched beychella did you? Lmaoooo goodbye, maybe try reading some of those articles and seeing who most of them still think is the best. Clearly you did a chat gpt webscrape or something instead,” @ioutsouldu opined on X (Twitter).

“Looks like gaga set the new standard,” online user @cheech559 wrote on the app.

“People trying so HARD defending Beyonce. Gaga is the standard now,” @CandyBar3000 stated.

Meanwhile, some chose to praise the two artists instead.

“One more point is Gaga is for the girls & gays, Beyoncé is for the ladies, they’re two entirely different artists there’s no comparison,” @DanyalScxtt remarked.

“I wish the comparison between Beyonce & Gaga would end no shade. They’re both hard working women who give people great amazing shows,” netizen @PinkTrapezoid commented.

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Lady Gaga steals the spotlight at Coachella with spectacular performances

Coachella entered the Haus of Gaga on Friday night, and the desert has never been the same. Headlining Day 1 of the celebrated annual music festival, Lady Gaga’s theatre-coded act proved her title as the one and only Mother Monster.

The set was divided into five cinematic performances, each exploring themes of identity, fame, loss, and love. Fans were treated to her live takes on her Mayhem tracks, such as Perfect Celebrity, Vanish Into You, Garden of Eden, and Killah.

But in true Gaga fashion, it was more than just a performance. It was a moment.

The icon opened her set while clad in a blood-red gown that screamed perfect gothic opera. Later on, she switched to an all-black ensemble, complete with thigh-high boots and blunt cut, strutting across the massive stage — and even into the desert — to get closer to her fans.

Lady Gaga will head back to the desert on April 18. Mother Monster will walk, walk, work it, move that b***h crazy to remind fans why she’s one of the most influential artists of our time.