When you’ve been writing about why you should be listening to Olivia Rodrigo for more than five-and-a-half years and by three full-length, no-skip albums later, you’ve somehow just seen her live in person for the first time, it takes a moment to piece together what you want to say.
“I can’t believe we’re here,” Rodrigo voiced a few songs into opening night of her Unraveled Tour Friday (Sept. 25).
There were indisputable setlist highs and stunning visuals during the arena tour’s launch in Hartford, Connecticut. There were pink and white flowers everywhere, and somewhere there was a never-ending supply of more pink and white flowers in reach of stagehands replacing any that got shuffled away. Those flowers must be line item No. 1 on Olivia’s concert rider.
Related
Olivia Rodrigo’s Unraveled Tour 2026 Setlist: Every Song Played at the First Show
And from those pink and white flowers, and the chirping of birds and crickets, emerged the star of the show on date one of two at Hartford’s PeoplesBank Arena — like, she got up from a field of wildflowers on the stage floor, where she set the show in motion with a whimsical “Drop Dead.” She bloomed in front of a sold-out arena in the middle of sleepy Connecticut on a Friday night, a room with an audience that leaned female but had enough men there to cover the goofy deep vocal part on “Expectations” and probably shed a tear or two to “Drivers License” like you will, too.
There were families of all kinds, with the kind of parent sitting behind you that teaches their children to pay attention to the opening act — a good decision to make here, where Wolf Alice did a fine job warming up the crowd. (Some of Liv’s favorites: “You’re a Germ” and “Bros. ” “If you haven’t listened to them, you should do a deep dive,” Rodrigo said during her set, after playing “Happy Birthday” to her mom on piano.)
The Unraveled Tour is a concert for all ages to enjoy — OK, yeah, there’s a “f—” or two — and because of Rodrigo’s influences, along with a stellar touring band, it’s got rock show vibes. There are beautiful, gut-wrenching piano-pop moments, like the inescapable “Drivers License,” but most of the you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love singer-songwriter’s slower-tempo tracks lean into rock ballad territory live on the Unraveled stage. And then there are anthems like “Expectations” and “All-American Bitch,” can’t-miss bits on a setlist that honestly has no misses.
With three albums’ worth of material to pull from, Rodrigo curated a 2026 setlist that hit all the marks.
As did she, on the first night of this big, sold-out tour, which by all accounts felt joyous and like it went off without a hitch. Besides her commitment to the floral motif, there was rain, snow and confetti falling from above, and a big screen to take in the details; Rodrigo really knows how to work the camera to make her performance and emotions feel up-close, even if you’re quite far from the stage.
Olivia Rodrigo perfroms during “The Unraveled Tour” with the first of 2 sold-out shows at People’s Bank Arena on September 25, 2026, in Hartford, Connecticut.
Christopher Polk/Billboard
With all of GUTS and SOUR to choose from, and just a two-hour show time, some songs had to be left out. From Rodrigo’s latest album, “What’s Wrong With Me” was sadly missing from the set, but it’s a fair omission since Robert Smith’s not on tour with her. Scroll through the 23 songs that did make up the complete Unraveled Tour setlist here — it’s full of hits and fan favorites.
Rodrigo roamed around a big, curved main stage in Hartford that made for great views from all angles for most of the night, but took the small, in-the-round B-stage for what would be the top performance (“The Cure,” rain-soaked and cathartic). She unexpectedly showed up on an even smaller stage for a lovely “Stupid Song,” a performance where she was surrounded by fans like a chorus. Three stage choices allowed general-admission ticketholders a fair shot at getting close to Rodrigo.
See five of the best moments from the opening night of her Unraveled Tour in Hartford below. Honorable mention to look out for at your concert date: the stunning transformation of “Cigarette Smoke” from slow-burning album closer to angsty mid-show rock therapy.
Ella Langley had a sharp response after a fan asked her out on a date in public.
The 27-year-old country star — whose “Choosin’ Texas” recently made history on the Billboard Hot 100 — didn’t mince words when responding to TikTok user Tiki after he attempted to court her outside her Knoxville, Tennessee, show on Thursday (Sept. 24).
Related
Ella Langley Toasts ‘Choosin’ Texas’ Setting All-Time Hot 100 High: ‘Today Doesn’t Feel Like a Real Thing’
Ella Langley Claims the Hot 100 Crown — But Could Mariah Carey Take It Right Back This Holiday Season?
Chuck Varga, GWAR Founding Member, Dies at 68 After Cancer Battle
In a video that has since gone viral, Tiki can be heard shouting through a gate, “Ella, how many likes to take you on a date?” Langley, who was standing in a parking lot surrounded by a group of people, looks toward him with a straight face before replying, “Not enough in the world,” then turning away.
The sports-centric digital creator took the rejection in stride, crossing his arms and looking into the camera before replying, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
The exchange sparked a range of reactions in the comments, with some viewers criticizing Langley’s response. “This rubbed me the wrong way. And I like her,” one person wrote, while another questioned, “Literally what is her problem?” A third commenter took issue with the way Langley delivered the rejection, writing, “She could have laughed and said no in a whole different way.”
The singer-songwriter — who is reportedly dating fellow country singer Tucker Wetmore — later offered some context in the comments, writing, “It was meant to come off as dark humor. You said that and it got quiet and I got nervous,” according to TMZ. The comment now appears to have been deleted.
Earlier in the week, Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” smash notched a 23rd week atop the Billboard Hot 100, breaking the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. chart.
The song debuted in the top 40 of the Hot 100 at No. 39 in November and surged to spend 23 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1, dethroning Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” as the record-holder.
“I’m genuinely trying to find the words to help explain what’s going on in my brain today,” Langley began. “Thank you so much for loving this song, for listening to it… I’m running out of hyperboles to describe how I feel.” She added, “Just thank you so much, it’s changing my life, it’s changing the lives of the writers of this song. It’s changing the lives of my family and it is truly growing an atmosphere for something I’m gonna be able to do the rest of my life.”
JAŸ-Z in 8 is four episodes in and has been insightful so far.
We covered the first three episodes after an exclusive screening a few weeks back on Sept. 13 — and on the red carpet, JAŸ-Z told Billboard that none of the conversations he had were “difficult,” even when he dug deeper into the some of the feelings he had when making some of his most emotional records.
Take a song like “You Must Love Me,” which he covered in the third episode for instance, when he rapped early on in his career about the guilt and shame he felt when he notoriously shot his brother in his shoulder, and the collateral damage he caused when dealing drugs. It’s always been a song that his core fanbase has revered — and he spoke on how the booth became therapeutic for an introvert such as himself. In there, he can say things that he would never say in a conversation with other people. That In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 track is one of his rawest songs to date.
I use that as an example to intro our takeaways from episode four because he and Rick Rubin start this one off with “Where Have You Been,” a song featuring Philadelphia rapper Beanie Sigel, where the two of them give one of the most heart-wrenching performances ever recorded on wax as they rap about the traumatic experience they had growing up without their fathers around. As Jay and Rick broke this song down, the Brooklyn MC revealed that he eventually made amends with his pops, only to lose him about a month later. It’s truly a sad set of circumstances, and gives insight into an artist who has been known for keeping certain feelings close his vest.
The rest of the episode took on a lighter note, though, as Jigga talked about his studio habits and process, the Best Rapper Alive convos people were having during his In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 era, and the now-iconic look of him wearing a bulletproof vest over a white t-shirt while wearing a Rolex.
Check out the four key takeaways we had from JAŸ-Z in 8‘s fourth episode below.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
It’s a clash between two undefeated SEC teams as the Texas Longhorns and Tennessee Volunteers meet Saturday, Sept. 26, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville during the NCAA 2026-2027 college football season. The game kicks off at noon ET and airs live on ABC. Without cable, fans can stream ABC through DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV or Fubo, all offering free trials for eligible subscribers. Sling also carries ABC, though it does not offer a free trial.
The No. 1 Texas Longhorns and No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers enter this SEC matchup unbeaten at 3-0. The Longhorns, led by quarterback Arch Manning, started the college football season with wins against Texas State, Ohio State, and UTSA. The Volunteers, also called the Vols, have beaten Furman, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State so far in the season. Texas leads the all-time series 2-1, but the schools have met only three times, all in bowl games. This Saturday marks their first regular-season meeting in a series that dates back to 1951.
At a Glance: Where to Watch Texas vs. Tennessee College Football Game Free Online
Date & time: The game kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 12:00 p.m. ET
TV Channel: ABC
Stream online: You can stream ABC through DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV or Fubo, with each currently offering a free trial for eligible subscribers. Sling also offers ABC but does not have a traditional free trial.
The game at Neyland Stadium is sold out and expected to draw plenty of attention. No. 1 Texas is making its first visit to the Knoxville stadium, while No. 14 Tennessee opens SEC play at home. Texas is currently favored by around 4 to 5.5 points, depending on the sportsbook, but overall prediction models are split. Some give Texas the edge while others project a narrow Tennessee win, reflecting how closely matched this highly anticipated game could be.
SZA has been inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, honored in the Performing Arts & Entertainment category at the organization’s 18th annual induction ceremony on Thursday (Sept. 24).
The seven-time Grammy winner was inducted by fellow New Jersey native Danny DeVito, who hosted the ceremony at the Dream Live Performing Arts Center at American Dream in East Rutherford. Born in St. Louis but raised in Maplewood and a graduate of Columbia High School, SZA kept things playful on Instagram afterward: “Got inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame,” she wrote. “MORE IMPORTANTLY I MET DANNY DEVITO.”
Her acceptance speech was more earnest. “This is probably one of the biggest honors I’ve ever had,” she said, recalling working local jobs from a pizza parlor to a shoe store and crediting the community that raised her. “I come from a small town where everybody knows each other’s first and last name… I just love community, and I promise to take that energy of community around the world wherever I go.”
She also shouted out fellow Columbia High School alum Lauryn Hill, who has not yet been inducted, and pushed back on the tendency to overlook the state: “Sometimes people [skip] over Jersey and go straight to New York. But they’re missing the meat. They’re missing the heartbeat of the tri-state.”
SZA joins a New Jersey Hall of Fame roster that includes Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, Queen Latifah, the Jonas Brothers, Wyclef Jean and the Isley Brothers, among others. DeVito was inducted in 2010.
One of the most commercially dominant artists of her generation, SZA broke through with her 2017 debut Ctrl, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and was certified triple platinum. Her 2022 follow-up SOS debuted at No. 1 and went on to spend 13 nonconsecutive weeks atop the chart, boosted by its 2024 Lana deluxe expansion, while its single “Kill Bill” became one of two RIAA diamond-certified hits in her catalog. A seven-time Grammy winner and 2024 recipient of the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Hal David Starlight Award, she has amassed more than 70 billion career streams.
Michelle Branch has reimagined her 2002 hit “Goodbye to You” as a duet with Maren Morris, pairing the new version with a Laguna Beach-inspired music video starring reality star Kristin Cavallari.
Out now via BMG, the reworked track turns the song into a full duet rather than a straight re-recording, with the two Grammy winners trading its lines about change, independence and letting go. “Beyond thrilled to be joining Maren on her beautiful rendition of ‘Goodbye to You,’” Branch said. “Call me crazy, but I prefer her version to the original.” Morris, who has cited Branch as a formative influence, added: “Michelle was really encouraging to let me make it my own… Her songwriting has always been ahead of its time.” The pair first previewed the collaboration last month when Branch made a surprise appearance during Morris’ 10th-anniversary celebration of her debut album Hero at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
The accompanying video leans hard into early-2000s nostalgia, recreating the prom scene from MTV’s Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County — the reality series that famously featured “Goodbye to You” in its first season, with cast members singing along in a limo. Cavallari, who rose to fame on the show, appears alongside Branch and Morris. “‘Goodbye to You’ is one of those songs that immediately takes me back to a very specific time in my life,” she said, calling the shoot “a fun, full-circle experience.”
The release is the second confirmed track from Everywhere and Back Again, Branch’s EP marking 25 years in music, due Nov. 6 via BMG. The project revisits songs from across her catalog through new recordings with guest collaborators; it launched earlier this year with a reworked “The Game of Love” reuniting Branch with New Radicals frontman Gregg Alexander. The EP arrives as Branch launches her Everywhere and Back Again Tour — a nearly 20-date fall run that sold out nationwide within a week, prompting a 17-date 2027 leg.
“Goodbye to You” originally appeared on Branch’s 2001 debut album The Spirit Room, which sold three million copies worldwide and was certified double-platinum in the U.S., establishing her among a new generation of young women writing and performing their own songs.
The song became her third top-40 hit, peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2002. Branch went on to win a Grammy for her 2002 Carlos Santana collaboration “The Game of Love,” which reached No. 5 on the Hot 100, and topped the Hot Country Songs chart with “Leave the Pieces” as one half of the duo the Wreckers in 2006. Morris, a Grammy winner with a string of country and pop crossover hits, reached No. 5 on the Hot 100 with her Zedd and Grey collaboration “The Middle.”
