Karen O was compelled to pull out of her planned appearance at Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival this weekend due to a family emergency.
Early on Sunday, the Heads Will Roll vocalist used social media to explain her absence.
“I was unable to perform at Daisy Chain because of a family emergency,” she wrote. “I’m deeply saddened to miss such a historic music event, but I must be where I’m most needed, with family back east.”
She continued, “My gratitude goes to Olivia for championing women by women who absolutely rock.”
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman had been billed as a special guest for the inaugural Irvine, California festival. Stevie Nicks and Sarah McLachlan, the other special guests on the lineup, joined Rodrigo onstage during her headlining set.
A previously unannounced Alanis Morissette joined Rodrigo for a performance of Ironic during the set, while Karen O did not appear at all.
Rodrigo acknowledged O’s absence during the headlining moment before introducing Morissette as a surprise guest. “The bad news is that unfortunately Karen O is not able to make it tonight, I’m so sad,” she said.
“She was so excited to come, she was one of the first people to say yes to Daisy Chain. But unfortunately she had an unexpected personal matter that requires her to be elsewhere. But let’s send her a lot of love, all of us, collectively. I love her so much.”
Karen O is married to English film director Barnaby Clay, and they share one son together.
