2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival: All The Jaw-Dropping Moments

By Taylor Fields

September 25, 2022

There's only one way to describe the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival: EPIC.

Taking over the stage at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on September 23rd and 24th were performances from Avril Lavigne, Black Eyed Peas, Halsey, Lionel Richie, LL COOL J, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Megan Thee Stallion, Morgan Wallen, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Sam Smith, Sean Diddy Combs, The Black Keys, Diplo, Marcus Mumford and more, and it was all hosted by Ryan Seacrest.

In case you missed it, or just want to re-live all of the amazing performances, The CW will air a two-night television special on October 7th and October 8th from 8pm-10pm ET.

Featuring performances from its star-studded lineup, amazing collaborations and more, here are all of the jaw-dropping moments from this year's iHeartRadio Music Festival:

Pitbull's dance moves during his fiery set were a sight to behold

One of the many reasons to love Pitbull, besides his amazing music and inspirational quotes, are his incredible dance moves, and Mr. Worldwide did NOT disappoint during this year's festival. During his set, Mr. 305 took fans through all of the Pitbull hits we know and love, including "Don't Stop the Party," "Fireball," "Timber," "Give Me Everything," "Can't Stop Us Now" and more.

Photo: Todd Owyoung for iHeartRadio
Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
Photo: Greg Noire for iHeartRadio

Sam Smith surprised the crowd with Kim Petras

Sam Smith not only performed some fan favorites during his set — including "Stay," "Latch" and more — he also performed his brand new song "Unholy," which features Kim Petras. During the performance, Smith surprised everyone in the audience with Petras after she walked onto the stage to sing her verse.

Photo: Jenn Devereaux for iHeartRadio
2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 1 - Show
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio

Lionel Richie brought back all of the 80s nostalgia

Lionel Richie's performance was just as sparkling as the sequins on his silver jacket as he took everyone on a trip back in time to all of his fan favorite songs like "Dancing On The Ceiling," "You Are," "Hello," and of course, "All Night Long." The icon also performed his Commodores hit "Brick House," which had everyone in T-Mobile Arena dancing.

Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio

The Black Keys rocked through a career-spanning set

The Black Keys took over the stage at T-Mobile Arena as they delivered fans a performance that included some of their biggest hits, including "Howling For You," "Lo-Hi," "Wild Child," "Little Black Submarines," "Lonely Boy" and more.

Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
Photo: Greg Noire for iHeartRadio

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo got everyone "All Fired Up"

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo showed everyone why they are being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year. The iconic music couple rocked the house as they performed several fan favorites in a career-spanning set, including "All Fired Up," "Promises," "Love Is A Battlefield" and "Heartbreaker."

2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 1 - Show
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Greg Noire for iHeartRadio
Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio

Black Eyed Peas flexed their iconic evolution with a perfect medley of hits

Black Eyed Peas are responsible for some of the biggest hits that make you wanna dance, and the group showed fans their evolution with a mix of fan favorites, as well as some of their newer songs, during their iHeartRadio Music Festival set. The group took over T-Mobile Arena as they performed songs like "Let's Get It Started," "Boom Boom Pow," "Mamacita," "Pump It," "Don't You Worry," "Where Is The Love," and closed out with the iconic "I Got A Feeling."

Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
Photo: Greg Noire for iHeartRadio

Morgan Wallen impressed with his piano-playing skills during an emotional rendition of "Sand In My Boots"

Morgan Wallen had the crowd cheering throughout his set as he performed some of his biggest hits like "Wasted On You" and "Whiskey Glasses" and more. But, the country singer/songwriter impressed everyone at the very beginning when he sat down solo at a piano for an emotional performance of "Sand In My Boots."

Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images North America
Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 1 - Show
Photo: Getty Images

Diplo and Morgan Wallen performed their collaboration "Heartless" for the first time

Diplo closed out Night 1 of the iHeartRadio Music Festival with an energetic set full of dance hits, but at the very end, he brought out Morgan Wallen to perform their collaboration "Heartless" for the very first time.

Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 1 - Show
Photo: Getty Images
2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 1 - Show
Photo: Getty Images

Avril Lavigne brought back the pop-punk nostalgia with fan favorites

Avril Lavigne's biggest hits have become pop-punk staples today, and she delivered all of the nostalgia during her festival set. Kicking off the second night of the iHeartRadio Music Festival, Avril performed songs like "Girlfriend," "My Happy Ending," "I'm With You," and of course, "Sk8er Boi."

Photo: Adrianna Casiano for iHeartRadio
Photo: Todd Owyoung for iHeartRadio
Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio

Marcus Mumford celebrated his debut solo album with a passionate performance

Fresh off releasing his debut solo album Self-Titled on September 16th, Marcus Mumford hit the main stage at the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival to celebrate. The lead singer of Mumford & Sons kicked off performed songs from the deeply personal new project, including "Prior Warning," "Better Off High," "Dangerous Game," "Grace" and "Better Angels."

Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
Photo: Jenn Devereaux for iHeartRadio
Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio

Luke Combs shared his beer with fans after pitching his red solo cup into the audience

Luke Combs performed several fan favorites during his set at this year's iHeartRadio Music Festival, including "Forever After All," "Kind of Love We Make," "When It Rains It Pours," "Lovin' On You," and more, finishing up with "Beer Never Broke My Heart" — after which he threw his red solo cup with beer into the crowd.

2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 2 - Show
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Todd Owyoung for iHeartRadio
Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio

Sean "Diddy" Combs paid tribute to his late ex-wife Kim Porter and Biggie after surprising the crowd with his son King Combs

Diddy's iHeartRadio Music Festival set was full of surprises and hits — he even brought out Bryson Tiller and his son King Combs. But to finish his set, while performing "I'll Be Missing You," the music mogul paid tribute to his late ex-wife Kim Porter, as well as his friend Notorious B.I.G., as images of them flashed on the screen behind him.

Photo: Todd Owyoung for iHeartRadio
Photo: Jenn Devereaux for iHeartRadio

Maren Morris surprises crowd with her husband Ryan Hurd to sing "I Can't Love You Anymore"

Maren Morris took over the stage at T-Mobile Arena to sing several of her biggest hits, including "The Bones," "Circles," "Good Friends," "My Church" and more, and brought out her husband Ryan Hurd to help her sing "I Can't Love You Anymore."

Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
Photo: Greg Noire for iHeartRadio
Photo: Greg Noire for iHeartRadio

LL Cool J blew fans away with a vibrant mix of his classic hits

Hip Hop icon LL Cool J had the crowd on their feet as he performed a mix of fan favorites in a career-spanning set, including "Rock The Bells," "Headsprung," "Loungin," "Jack the Ripper," "I’m Bad," "I Need Love," "Doin it," and "Mama."

Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
Photo: Todd Owyoung for iHeartRadio
Photo: Jenn Devereaux for iHeartRadio

Halsey turned their stunning set into their birthday party

Just days away from their 28th birthday (on September 29th), Halsey took over the stage at T-Mobile Arena, performing many of their biggest hits. Acknowledging that their birthday is quickly coming up, and that they've celebrated their birthday at the iHeartRadio Music Festival before, Halsey told fans, "I guess this is kind of like my birthday party."

2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 2 - Show
Photo: Getty Images
2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 2 - Show
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio

Megan Thee Stallion brought all the hits and dance moves to her jaw-dropping set

Megan Thee Stallion got all of her hotties riled up during her unforgettable performance. Hot Girl Meg hit the stage in a metallic body suit as she delivered numerous new songs off her new album Traumazine, including "Ungrateful" featuring Key Glock, "Her," and "Plan B." She also served up fan favorites like "WAP," "Body," "Thot Sh*t" and "Freak Nasty" off her Tina Snow project. She even addressed her haters with "What's New" off her sophomore album Good News. Of course, Megan and her dancers had to come through and twerk all over the stage.

Photo: Skyler Barberio for iHeartRadio
2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 2 - Show
Photo: Getty Images
2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night 2 - Show
Photo: Getty Images
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