Tinashe stepped into Charli xcx’s Austin City Limits Festival spotlight on Friday (Oct. 9), making a surprise appearance during Charli’s headlining set at Zilker Park.
The guest spot gave Tinashe a major festival platform for two songs from her new album, Popstar. She delivered the live debut of “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore” and also performed the dance-pop track “Melatonin.”
Although the onstage arrival was billed as a surprise, Tinashe offered a clue earlier in the day. On Instagram Stories, she posted a backstage video of herself and Charli dancing to “Drop That Kitty,” their 2015 collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign.
A Charli and Tinashe reunion
The ACL appearance continued a collaborative history that began with “Drop That Kitty.” Charli and Tinashe reunited in 2024 for a remix of “B2B,” included on Charli’s Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat.
Tinashe was not the only familiar collaborator to join Charli during her ACL run. During the festival’s opening weekend on Oct. 2, Charli brought out her Sweat Tour mate Troye Sivan. He performed his songs “Le Boy” and “Party” during that appearance.
This time, however, the emphasis was firmly on Tinashe’s latest chapter. Her two-song showcase arrived shortly after Popstar opened at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 in early October. The result is both her highest-charting album and her first top 10 entry on that chart.
Popstar marks a new chart peak
Tinashe celebrated the achievement in an emotional post on X. “I’m so unbelievably grateful, this is CRAZY! #6 BILLBOARD DEBUT,” she wrote, adding crying emojis. She also thanked listeners “so soooooo much” for their love and support before ending the message with, “I’m cryinggggg.”
The No. 6 debut represents a substantial jump from her previous Billboard 200 high. Her 2014 major-label debut, Aquarius, peaked at No. 17. Later albums Nightride and Joyride reached Nos. 89 and 58, respectively, while 2024’s Quantum Baby debuted at No. 199.
Against that chart history, the timing of the ACL performance carried added weight. Tinashe arrived on Charli’s headlining stage with a newly minted top 10 album and used the moment to introduce “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore” in a live setting while also highlighting “Melatonin.”
ShowBiz Take
The surprise worked on two levels: as a reunion between artists who have collaborated across nearly a decade, and as an immediate celebration of Tinashe’s biggest Billboard 200 result to date.
Rather than leaning entirely on their established material, the pair’s ACL moment centered on Popstar. That choice placed Tinashe’s current album—and its historic chart debut for her—at the heart of Charli’s festival set. The backstage “Drop That Kitty” clip acknowledged their earlier connection, while the performance itself moved the focus to Tinashe’s newest music.
Charli’s two ACL weekends also featured distinct guest appearances: Troye Sivan performed two of his songs on Oct. 2, while Tinashe followed on Oct. 9 with two Popstar selections. Together, those appearances added collaborative moments to Charli’s headlining run without relying on the same songs or guest lineup.
What Happens Next?
The 25th anniversary edition of Austin City Limits Festival is set to conclude with another full weekend of headlining performances. RÜFÜS DU SOL, Lorde, Lola Young and Young Miko are scheduled for Saturday (Oct. 10).
Twenty One Pilots, The xx, Geese and Sofi Tukker are due to deliver closing sets on Sunday (Oct. 11), bringing the anniversary festival to an end after Charli and Tinashe’s Friday-night team-up.