Bebe Rexha and Tyler Hubbard’s surprise performance in Las Vegas was… wait for it… meant to be.
Although country music was absent from this year’s Life Is Beautiful lineup, the genre, which is having a huge moment on the charts, made an appearance at the festival thanks to Rexha. During her set on the JBL Stage, the pop star welcomed Hubbard, formerly of Florida Georgia Line, for a performance of their hit duet “Meant to Be.”
“Let me tell you, this guy has been so awesome,” Rexha told the crowd as he joined her onstage. “We’ve become so close. I’m just so thankful that you’re here tonight. Thank you so much.”
“Two minutes ago, I pulled up. I had a show down the street so thank you for having me, Bebe,” Hubbard said, before giving the pop star a hug and singing the track’s first lyrics. “You ready to rock, or what?”
Hubbard — who is on an indefinite hiatus from Florida Georgia Line, his duo with Brian Kelley — performed earlier that evening for his own headlining show at the Red Rock Casino Resort.
Along with the country collab, Rexha performed some of her massive EDM crossovers, including David Guetta’s “Hey Mama” and “I’m Good (Blue),” and Martin Garrix’s “In the Name of Love.” She also played one of her newer EDM collabs, one with Two Friends, titled “If Only I.”
Rexha told Rolling Stone earlier this year she’s considered going the full electronic route. “I’m kind of like, ‘Shit. Should I have done an EDM album?” she said. “In the future, I’m going to make a straight-up dance project.”
Rexha is wrapping up a year of touring and festival performances after releasing her LP Bebe earlier this year, as is Hubbard, who released his self-titled LP in January.
Also performing at Life Is Beautiful 2023 Friday were headliner the Killers, Blxst, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Flume, Slayyyter, and Cloonee. Saturday will see Kendrick Lamar headline, while Odesza will close out the festival on Sunday.
