Teddy Swims Talks Coachella, White Claw Collab And Friends Who Matter

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentTeddy Swims Talks Coachella, White Claw Collab And Friends Who MatterByJeff Benjamin,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Jeff Benjamin is a New York-based writer covering global pop music.Follow AuthorApr 23, 2026, 08:40pm EDTDavid Lee Roth, Teddy Swims, Vanessa Carlton and Joe Jonas pose backstage at the Coachella Stage during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 10, 2026 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)Getty Images for CoachellaIf the enormous smile plastered across Teddy Swims’ face for the better part of both Coachella 2026 weekends told you anything, the chart-topping singer is happiest when surrounded by great friends. While the Georgia-born powerhouse has scored sold-out shows, Grammy nominations as well as the record for the longest-charting single ever on the Billboard Hot 100, the achievement he seems most proud of is doing all this with a core group of friends by his side.ForbesAll 95 Surprise Guest Performers And Appearances At Coachella 2026By Jeff BenjaminSwims’ Friday evening set became one of the festival’s earliest big headlines. He brought out Joe Jonas for a duet on the Jonas Brothers’ 2007 single “When You Look Me in the Eyes.” He welcomed Vanessa Carlton to the stage to sing — and accompany him on piano for — her 2002 smash “A Thousand Miles.” And there was legendary Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth, striding out to deliver their ’80s classic “Jump.” By Weekend 2, Roth was back for more and, in a full-circle gesture, Swims returned the favor on the final day of Coachella by popping on stage to perform “Lose Control” alongside fellow soul singer and past collaborator Givēon.After posting that his first performance marked “the best day of my life” on Instagram, Swims explained over Zoom — smiling from a sunny hangout spot near Coachella Valley — what made it so.“It just felt lik...