Call Her Daddy x YouTube Presents: BTS of Headlining Coachella (ft. KAROL G) - Part 2

Podcast: Call Her Daddy
Host: Alex Cooper
Guest: Karol G
Date: April 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode continues Alex Cooper's backstage interview series with Karol G—the first Latina headliner at Coachella. The conversation digs into Karol G's creative journey, the meaning behind her historic Coachella performance, her role as a cultural icon, her relationship with fans, and the deeper intentions for her set. Karol G opens up about her inspirations, challenges as a Latina woman in music, symbolism in her work, and the impact she hopes to leave both onstage and off.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Karol G’s Reaction to Becoming the First Latina Coachella Headliner

• Being Offered the Headlining Spot:

  • Karol G recalls being called by her sister and manager to tell her she’d be closing out Coachella as the first Latina headliner singing in Spanish.
  • “At that moment, I was, like, kind of little shocked. I got this silent moment, and I was like, okay, let’s do it. … I really want my community to feel proud, and I really want the world to feel that I was ready for this huge opportunity.” [04:49 - 05:49]

• The Responsibility of Representation:

  • She expresses the weight and honor of being a voice for Latina women, stating her desire to make her culture proud and to show the world she’s ready for this.
  • “I think right now I feel so, so special that I have the opportunity to be in this generation that is changing the narrative for our Latina culture. … It felt heavy, you know, it’s kind of like, crazy.” [04:49]

2. Shaping the Show’s Message: Creative Decisions & Intentions

• Weaving Together Themes:

  • Karol G discusses melding different messages—women’s empowerment, Latin culture, and her personal journey—into a single show:
  • “There is still, like, the message of my community. We’re fighting for rights, but at the same time, there’s so many different battles … I was thinking how I can put all of these things together and make it work and make it still like, it’s a show, it’s a concert, you know. So that was the hardest part.” [06:15 - 07:12]

• Inspirations for Set Design:

  • She drew inspiration from the book “Women Who Run with the Wolves,” reflecting her admiration for the “wildness,” intuition, and spirituality of women before societal restrictions.

  • “When I read that book, I was, like, so surprised how they used to be the leader of the tribes and everything because of all the energy … So I was like, that’s a good start to thinking about the stage.” [11:00 - 12:00]

  • The show design included four different stage ‘worlds’ representing a perfect world for women to be free and powerful.

  • “We have like one, two, three, like, four different stages … this world where we live in, that for me, would be the perfect world for women to be free.” [13:40]

3. Latin Music’s Rise and Its Societal Impact

• Changing Perceptions:

  • Karol G hopes to challenge misconceptions and bring unity through her platform.
  • “To have the opportunity to change people’s minds, it’s the most important. … When humans understand why we are here, that we are all a community. … That’s what we need—to get together and speak for everyone at the same time.” [08:20 - 09:09]

• Music as a Unifier:

  • Alex reinforces the idea that “music unites people” and commends Karol G for channeling that power at Coachella. [09:28]

4. Karol G’s Emotional Vulnerability & Relationship with Fans

• Openness About Feelings:

  • Karol G describes herself as “the most emotional person” and credits her fans for allowing her to be real.
  • “I know they call me crier. They call me like I’m immature and everything. And girl, yeah … I still want to be there and I’m still that girl.” [14:28 - 16:00]

• Fan Camaraderie—Hair Color Eras:

  • Iconic hair colors (blue, red, pink) have reflected her emotional states at various times, with fans imitating each era.
  • “My soul at that time was feeling blue. So I just put my hair blue. And I tried to explain to people why it was blue. And I think my fans, they just got this as—‘I’m feeling blue too.’ So they put their hair in blue.” [20:37 - 21:30]
  • “We have a really toxic relationship with my fans. I have a toxic relationship because we go hard.” [24:03]

5. Setlist, Guests, and Coachella Details

• Choosing Guests:

  • She brings out collaborators if it feels authentic to the music and the moment for her fans—not for shock value.
  • “It was about who are the ones that I feel their song to perform … is going to make a moment very special for my fans.” [18:49 - 19:50]

• Set Preparation Rituals:

  • Karol G prefers to spend the day at the venue getting ready and connect with her entire team before the show.
  • “I have a lot of conversations with myself. … It’s my face that is going to pop up there and show the hard work from everyone. So I have to be super … focused.” [39:01 - 41:13]
  • She plans to make her fans, her culture, and herself “proud.” [41:23]

• Who She Wants to See at Coachella:

  • Karol G mentions wanting to see Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter’s sets if possible. She hopes the year feels like a win for all the artists present. [27:00]

6. Colombian Identity and Social Responsibility

• Colombian Pride:

  • Karol G paints Colombia as a nation that rises from adversity with irrepressible optimism.
  • “Colombia is a country that grew from a lot of disaster, from a lot of suffering. My country, it’s the most beautiful country you ever going to see … Even the person in the worst situation, there’s always waking up at 4am … ‘God, this is going to be the day,’ even in the worst situation.” [28:26 - 29:20]

• Redefining Trends and Inclusion:

  • She rejects the idea that “Latino is a trend,” emphasizing that the cultural movement is about welcoming others, not separating.
  • “We’re not taking no one… out of the situation. … We do this because we want everyone to feel welcome to our culture. Don’t feel fear, feel proud.” [31:15 - 32:16; 47:19]

7. Karol G’s Philanthropy: Fundación ConCora

• Purposeful Giving Back:

  • Karol G speaks about her foundation helping seniors and children in Colombia, emphasizing her sense of mission.
  • “With the foundation, we worked a lot, even in my country that is a beautiful country, but we need a lot of opportunities for the people, education and support…” [32:23 - 33:15]

• Fans Involved in the Work:

  • She expresses gratitude that her fans contribute to this work alongside her, seeing it as a joint mission. [33:15]

8. Message to Fans

• Music as a Safe Space:

  • Karol G’s ultimate hope is for her listeners to see her music as a space where all emotions and stories are valid.
  • “I want them to find like a space, like a safe space. … And I want them to feel proud at the same time.” [33:55]

• Advice to Her 10-Year-Old Self:

  • “It’s going to work. Like actually in the show is very deep, dedicated to woman. … Unlocking these superpowers that every woman has in the world. … Keep going, you’re gonna be. It was worth it.” [42:24 - 43:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Karol G describes her fans’ dedication to her hair eras:

  • “My fans, like, please, Carol, stop, bitch, because you’re gonna make my hair and … even my wallet liter.” [25:20]
  • “I was more conscious about, like, my fans, you know? Like, let’s… let her in the hair, too. Exactly. Now I healed.” [25:39]

• On responsibility as headliner:

  • “My face represents the hard work from everyone. So I have to take it with responsibility.” [40:37]

• On the meaning of her Coachella set:

  • “I want everyone in that space, even women, more feeling that powerful energy. … You can feel intelligent and smart and brilliant. Feeling sexy. Hot mamacita. Why not?” [13:00]

• Her closing, heartfelt introduction at Coachella:

  • “I am Carolina Hirado from Made in Colombia. And today, I am the first Latina woman to headline Coachella. … And we don’t do this because we want to take everyone out. Actually, we do this because we want everyone to feel welcome to our culture. Don’t feel fear, feel proud. Write your blood.” [47:19 - 48:15]

Important Timestamps

• 04:49 Karol G describes receiving the Coachella headliner call
• 06:15 Discussion about building the set’s message and mixing themes
• 10:06 How set design and Latin cultural elements came together
• 11:00 Influence of “Women Who Run with the Wolves” on the show
• 18:49 Choosing which artists to bring out as guests
• 20:37 The story and symbolism behind Karol G’s hair color eras
• 28:26 Her nuanced view of Colombian identity and perseverance
• 32:23 Introduction and mission of her foundation, Concorda
• 33:55 What Karol G hopes fans take from her music
• 39:01 Pre-show routine, team connection, and personal pressures
• 41:23 What she wants fans to feel during her performance
• 42:25 - 43:18 Advice to her 10-year-old self before going on stage
• 47:19 Her introduction on the Coachella stage, emphasizing unity and pride

Tone & Language

Karol G is candid, warm, and vibrant, moving fluidly between humor, deep vulnerability, and pride in her roots. Alex Cooper’s tone is supportive, energetic, and inquisitive—balancing admiration and lightheartedness with focused, thoughtful questions.

Summary Takeaway

Karol G’s headline set at Coachella stands as a cultural milestone, not just for herself but for Latin music and women everywhere. Her reflection on her career, her art, her fans, and her activism makes this episode a blueprint for how intentional artistry can mobilize communities and inspire generational pride. From symbolic hair dye to profound community work, Karol G’s story is an invitation for listeners to embrace their voices, cultures, and emotions—fearlessly and together.