If Hayley Williams were a doctor, she would prescribe everyone a dose of ego death.
Ego death was created to help people “deconstruct expired systems” and “survive the daily onslaught of a sexist, racist, white supremacist, phobic and fascist hatred.” Ego death should not be taken by those allergic to empathy. At least, that’s what fans were told during the opening monologue of Williams’ Tuesday night (May 12) performance at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.
Williams released her third solo studio album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party last summer to great critical acclaim and with it, earned herself four nominations at the 2026 Grammys. After a canceled 2020 trek meant to support her first solo LP, Petals for Armor, Williams has finally embarked on her first ever solo tour. Supporting Ego Death, Hayley Williams at a Bachelorette Party kicked off on March 28 in Atlanta before snaking its way across the United States (and a stop in Ontario). This week, the Paramore front woman is closing the North American leg of her first solo tour with three sold-out dates in L.A.
Although Williams brought the Parafour — Paramore’s touring band — along for the ride, fans should not expect to hear any Paramore songs on this tour. In fact, they also should not hope to hear anything off of either of Williams’ first two solo albums — 2020’s Petals for Armor and 2021’s FLOWERS for VASES/descansos — either. Instead of showcasing her other musical ventures, Williams opted to perform every track from Ego Death on this trek. But with a 20-piece track list with songs that cover everything from breakups (“Parachut,” “Good Ol’ Days”) to bigotry in the U.S. South (“True Believer”) to effective antidepressants (“Mirtazapine”), Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party provided plenty of material for an incredible concert set list.
But of course, Williams — who first dropped the album as a series of 17 unannounced singles on her website last August — had a couple of extra tricks up her sleeve. From a surprise Jack Antonoff cameo to a heart-wrenching Nina Simone cover, below are Billboard‘s five favorite moments from the May 12 “Hayley Williams at a Bachelorette Party” show in Los Angeles.
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Covering Nina Simone
After singing “True Believer,” a piercing ballad about racism and hypocrisy in the American South, Williams seamlessly transitioned in a cover of Nina Simone’s 1964 track “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” a song written against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement. As Williams accompanied herself on the piano, her voice rang loud and clear throughout the silent Wiltern when she sang the lyrics, “I’m just a soul whose intentions are good / Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood.”
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Making Space for Politics
From the concert opener condemning racism, sexism and fascism, to the pointed choice in a Nina Simone cover, Williams imbued her progressive politics throughout her show. One particular crowd favorite moment occurred as she sang “Ice in My OJ,” the first track on Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party.
“Motherf— I.C.E.,” Williams yelled into the microphone after singing the lyrics “I got ice in my OJ, I’m a cold heart b—-.”
“And f— this fascist administration too,” Williams also proclaimed to raucous applause from the crowds.
As if her lyrics didn’t do it enough, Williams made it very clear on Tuesday night what she believes in politically and what types of people she wants to see in her audiences. On top of the chants and songs, Williams also had volunteers from HeadCount — a nonpartisan organization that helps register people to vote — present at the venue.
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L.A. ‘Music Friends’ Take the Stage
Image Credit: Zachary Gray Williams informed fans on Tuesday night that she has tried to live in L.A. on three separate occasions, but it never worked out. Now, she sees herself as a tourist in the city and she loves it. One thing she appreciates about being back in the City of Angeles is how many of her “music friends” she gets to see while there. Fans lucky enough to snag a ticket to the sold-out show were treated to cameos by two of these friends.
In between playing the title track and “Whim” off of Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, Williams took a break from songs on the album to invite her friend, singer-songwriter Jay Som to the stage. Together, the duo live debuted their collaboration “Past Lives” from Som’s 2025 album Belong.
The surprises appearances didn’t stop there. For the last pre-encore song, Williams brought none other than Grammy Award-winning producer Jack Antonoff to accompany her on guitar for “Good Ol’ Days.” Williams and Antonoff brought major energy to the track as they both moved around the stage and with each other. During the bridge, Williams and Antonoff leaned on one another as the crowd chanted along the refrain “secret love, secret love.”
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Group Breathing Exercise
It might be seen as “woo woo s—,” but for Williams, deep meditative breathing works. Before breaking into the final chorus of “Love Me Different,” a track about finding self-love in the face of a tough breakup, Williams paused the music and had the entire audience partake in a breathing exercise with her. The singer guided the audience into taking a deep breathe in and letting out a massive, collective sigh together, cleansing everyone of whatever baggage it is they were carrying in them.
After the cathartic breath was released, Williams and the band resumed with one last chorus of “And I know that you’re probably telling yourself / That no one’s gonna love me like you did / And I know that you’re probably right about that / But someone’s gonna love me different / And I want someone to love me different.”
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A Much-Needed Free Fall
Williams closed her show with what is probably the loudest song on Ego Death At a Bachelorette Party, “Parachute.” The crowd’s anticipation for this fan favorite to begin was tangible as the first few notes of the song played and the track’s music video projected across the stage, enveloping Williams and her band in moving lights. As the night came to the close, it sounded as if each of the 2,300 voices in the room used the last of their strength and made sure to scream along to the heart-wrenching chorus, “I thought you were gonna catch me / I never stopped falling for you / Now I know better, never let me / Leave home without a parachute.”
Making the moment even more special, Williams brought a fan up on stage to sing the bridge and final chorus with her — a tradition fans would recognize from when she performs “Misery Business” with Paramore. By the time the song ended, Williams and her band cleared the stage and the house lights came up, the room was absolutely buzzing with a palpable energy from the free fall everyone took together during “Parachute.”
