On May 23, inside a packed SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, pop icon Justin Bieber quietly stole the show—without even singing one of his own songs. During one of the final stops on the Grand National Tour co-headlined by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, Bieber joined the R&B powerhouse for a surprise duet of “Snooze,” and the moment hit like an emotional sucker punch.
There was no flashy entrance, no big buildup. Justin Bieber walking onstage like a secret being told. Together with SZA, he delivered a version of “Snooze” that stripped the song to its most vulnerable core. The chemistry between the two was unmistakable. As she reached out to gently hold Bieber’s face, and their eyes locked, the 70,000-seat stadium somehow felt small, intimate, almost sacred.
“Snooze,” from SZA’s Grammy-winning SOS, has already proven its staying power, spending 30 weeks on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The acoustic remix featuring Bieber, released in September 2023, hinted at a creative spark between the two, but witnessing it live was another experience entirely.
Justin Bieber’s voice—still tender, still recognizable, but now matured—melded effortlessly with SZA’s emotional delivery. It didn’t feel like a guest appearance; it felt like a shared confession between two artists who trust the music more than the spectacle. For Bieber, who’s recently returned to the studio, this kind of performance suggests he’s not just easing back into the spotlight—he’s reclaiming it on his own terms.
The Grand National Tour is wrapping up, but SZA and Bieber may have already delivered its most unforgettable moment. No fireworks. No gimmicks. Just two voices, one song, and a whole stadium holding its breath.