The queens of pop vulnerability united on Thursday night when Gracie Abrams brought out none other than Robyn to perform her generation-defining anthem “Dancing On My Own” during the closing moments of her Lollapalooza set.
For the thousands packed into Grant Park for Day 1 of the festival, the emotional payoff was huge. Abrams, known for her soft-spoken ballads and Swiftian lyricism, ended her set with a mic-drop moment no one saw coming: a surprise duet with Robyn, the Swedish pop legend who rarely takes the stage.
A Full-Circle Moment
This wasn’t the first time Abrams had taken on “Dancing On My Own.” Back in 2022, she performed the track solo during her Lolla debut on a smaller side stage. Fast-forward to 2025, and she closed out her main stage slot by welcoming Robyn herself.
“Last time we played was in 2022, and I covered my favorite song of all time,” Abrams told the crowd. “Ultimately, the best song ever written, ‘Dancing On My Own’ by Robyn. And by some miracle, the queen herself is here with us tonight!”
The two then launched into a stripped-down, emotionally potent version of the 2010 heartbreak anthem, weaving in a snippet of Abrams’ own “Close To You” in the outro. A fitting blend of past and present, and a reminder that sad girl pop is here to stay.
Robyn’s Rare Return to the Spotlight
Robyn’s appearance marked one of the few times she’s performed live in recent years. Aside from her cameo at the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary concert earlier this year, where she sang the same song alongside David Byrne, her public performances have been few and far between.
Her arrival on the Lollapalooza mainstage felt both intimate and iconic, and the crowd responded in kind. There were tears. There were screams. There were people FaceTiming their exes mid-chorus (probably).
Gracie’s Set: Tear-Stained, Sparkly, and Packed
Abrams’ performance was a masterclass in millennial melancholy, complete with acoustic strumming, sparkly eye makeup, and enough emotional gut-punches to keep tissues in business. Her set leaned heavily into her 2023 sophomore album, The Secret of Us, and included crowd favorites like “I love you, I’m sorry” and “That’s so true.”
The Verdict
If you needed proof that the pop girlies are the new arena rock stars, look no further than Abrams’ Lolla set. In the tradition of last year’s breakout star Chappell Roan, she turned emotional intimacy into a large-scale singalong, and raised the bar by inviting a pop legend to share the mic.
Robyn and Abrams on one stage? That’s not just a crossover, it’s a cultural reset.
