Jhené Aiko Gets Emotional About Motherhood During Coachella Performance

Jhené Aiko was one of the final acts to close out the first weekend of Coachella 2024 and took a moment during her ethereal 75-minute set to make a vulnerable confession.

The six-time Grammy nominee revealed that it was “quite the journey getting here” and thanked the crowd for supporting her dream—not of being a singer, but of being a mom.

“[My dream] isn’t actually what I’m doing right now. This is beyond my wildest imagination. My dream is actually to be a mom,” Aiko said before getting choked up. She shares a 15-year-old Namiko with singer O’Ryan and 1-year-old Noah with current partner, Big Sean.

Visibly fighting tears, she continued, “Let me get it together. My dream was always to be a mom and be able to support my family. Through your support of my music and the art that I create, I’m able to do that. So, I have to let you guys know how grateful I am.”

The now-36-year-old also reflected on her Coachella debut a decade ago. “I had a lot going on— my brother had passed two years before, my daughter was five and I’m not gonna lie, I was high and drunk out of my mind. I was like blackout high and drunk. I had a good time, but it was probably not my best moment,” she admitted.

Aiko credited God for allowing her to return and give fans a sober performance. “I’ve learned a lot since then. I’ve realized that you have to allow yourself to feel your emotions in order to heal. I’ve also learned that your reality is your choice. Everything that we see in our waking life is just a projection of our state of mind and what we imagine, what we think. I’ve learned that everyone is going through something and is just another version of me. We are all each other’s reflection.”

During her show, Aiko brought out surprise guests Omarion, Saweetie, Tyga, and Sean as she cascaded through the varying eras of her discography with hits including “W.A.Y.S.,” “Bed Peace,” “Beware,” “Post To Be,” “While We’re Young,” “Comfort Inn Ending,” and “Triggered.”

Check out a few highlights below.