Review: Jennie's Lollapalooza debut offers ‘Ruby’ gems but a bit too much new material to fully grab on to
<p>The smell of kerosene at the start of Jennie’s set Saturday night at Lollapalooza should’ve been the first clue something was off.</p><p>It was just a natural byproduct of using fireballs too early in the show — to give the effect of “burning” a red curtain that eventually dropped to unveil the singer. But in hindsight it felt symbolic of a performance that lacked fire early on.</p><p>Hopes were high for Jennie — who was making her festival debut, marking the first time a female solo K-pop star headlined Lolla — but she struggled on her own, comparative to the times <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2025/07/19/blackpink-has-fans-jumping-for-joy-in-chicago" target="_blank" >she’s been more dynamic with Blackpink.</a></p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-320000" name="image-320000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/83d60d8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9a333e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d5524d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="JO7A1533.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d5524d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cbec0f7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d5524d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Jennie performs on day 3 of Lollapalooza on the Bud Light stage at Grant Park on Saturday.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Though the set had big “Ruby” hits including “Mantra” and “Like Jennie,” with the latter a high point of the set as the singer delivered a high-energy performance that proved why she was tapped as a headliner in the first place, there was perhaps too much space given to new and unreleased music for the masses to fully grab on to in the same way.</p><p>Check back tomorrow for the full review.</p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-510000" name="module-510000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h3><b>For more on Lollapalooza:</b></h3><ul class="rte2-style-ul" id="rte-54423be2-8c82-11f1-ab1f-1b77841512f1"><li>Lollapalooza 2026 kicks off in Grant Park — <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/30/lollapalooza-2026-women-headliners-lorde-charli-xcx-jennie-olivia-dean-tate-mcrae" target="_blank" ><u>Day 1, what to know</u></a></li><li>Photos: <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/30/photos-lorde-john-summit-headline-lollapalooza-day-1" target="_blank" ><u>Lorde, John Summit</u></a> headline Lollapalooza Day 1</li><li>Ahead of Lollapalooza performance, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/30/charli-xcx-lollapalooza-q-and-a-music-fashion-film-reckless-records" target="_blank" ><u>Charli xcx meets fans for a chat</u></a> at Reckless Records</li><li>Review: <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/30/sombr-lollapalooza-2026-undressed-chicago-music-festival-photos" target="_blank" ><u>Sombr</u></a>, with margarita in hand, struts into Lollapalooza like he owns the place</li><li>Elizabeth Nichols dropped out of law school to pursue her music career after viral hits.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>The smell of kerosene at the start of Jennie’s set Saturday night at Lollapalooza should’ve been the first clue something was off.</p><p>It was just a natural byproduct of using fireballs too early in the show — to give the effect of “burning” a red curtain that eventually dropped to unveil the singer. But in hindsight it felt symbolic of a performance that lacked fire early on.</p><p>Hopes were high for Jennie — who was making her festival debut, marking the first time a female solo K-pop star headlined Lolla — but she struggled on her own, comparative to the times <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2025/07/19/blackpink-has-fans-jumping-for-joy-in-chicago" target="_blank" >she’s been more dynamic with Blackpink.</a></p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-320000" name="image-320000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/83d60d8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9a333e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d5524d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="JO7A1533.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d5524d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cbec0f7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d5524d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Jennie performs on day 3 of Lollapalooza on the Bud Light stage at Grant Park on Saturday.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Though the set had big “Ruby” hits including “Mantra” and “Like Jennie,” with the latter a high point of the set as the singer delivered a high-energy performance that proved why she was tapped as a headliner in the first place, there was perhaps too much space given to new and unreleased music for the masses to fully grab on to in the same way.</p><p>Check back tomorrow for the full review.</p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-510000" name="module-510000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h3><b>For more on Lollapalooza:</b></h3><ul class="rte2-style-ul" id="rte-54423be2-8c82-11f1-ab1f-1b77841512f1"><li>Lollapalooza 2026 kicks off in Grant Park — <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/30/lollapalooza-2026-women-headliners-lorde-charli-xcx-jennie-olivia-dean-tate-mcrae" target="_blank" ><u>Day 1, what to know</u></a></li><li>Photos: <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/30/photos-lorde-john-summit-headline-lollapalooza-day-1" target="_blank" ><u>Lorde, John Summit</u></a> headline Lollapalooza Day 1</li><li>Ahead of Lollapalooza performance, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/30/charli-xcx-lollapalooza-q-and-a-music-fashion-film-reckless-records" target="_blank" ><u>Charli xcx meets fans for a chat</u></a> at Reckless Records</li><li>Review: <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/30/sombr-lollapalooza-2026-undressed-chicago-music-festival-photos" target="_blank" ><u>Sombr</u></a>, with margarita in hand, struts into Lollapalooza like he owns the place</li><li>Elizabeth Nichols dropped out of law school to pursue her music career after viral hits. <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/31/how-country-singer-elizabeth-nichols-navigated-the-tiktok-to-irl-pipeline-at-lollapalooza-2026" >Can she make the leap to mainstream success?</a></li><li>Photos: What we saw at <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/31/photos-lollapalooza-day-2-slayyyter-zara-larsson-charli-xcx-smashing-pumpkins" >Lollapalooza Day 2</a></li><li>Review: <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/31/lorde-setlist-chicago-music-festival-lollapalooza-charli-xcx" >Lorde</a> opens woman-forward Lollapalooza with a powerful set and Charli xcx duet</li><li>Heavy rain is expected at Lollapalooza. <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/31/lollapalooza-rain-flooding-evacuation-what-to-know" >Here’s what to know.</a></li></ul></div> </div><p></p>
Read the full report at Chicago Sun-Times ↗
Why it matters
A world story we're tracking; its significance and source trust firm up as more outlets confirm it.
- What's the story?
- <p>The smell of kerosene at the start of Jennie’s set Saturday night at Lollapalooza should’ve been the first clue something was off.</p><p>It was just a natural byproduct of using fireballs too early in the show — to give the effect of “burning” a red curtain that eventually dropped to unveil the singer. But in hindsight it felt symbolic of a performance that lacked fire early on.</p><p>Hopes were high for Jennie — who was making her festival debut, marking the first time a female solo K-pop star headlined Lolla — but she struggled on her own, comparative to the times <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2025/07/19/blackpink-has-fans-jumping-for-joy-in-chicago" target="_blank" >she’s been more dynamic with Blackpink.</a></p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-320000" name="image-320000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/83d60d8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9a333e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d5524d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="JO7A1533.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d5524d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cbec0f7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d5524d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4d%2F27%2F287b38f640d58f243d4dbf4f6aa9%2Fjo7a1533.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Jennie performs on day 3 of Lollapalooza on the Bud Light stage at Grant Park on Saturday.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Though the set had big “Ruby” hits including “Mantra” and “Like Jennie,” with the latter a high point of the set as the singer delivered a high-energy performance that proved why she was tapped as a headliner in the first place, there was perhaps too much space given to new and unreleased music for the masses to fully grab on to in the same way.</p><p>Check back tomorrow for the full review.</p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-510000" name="module-510000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h3><b>For more on Lollapalooza:</b></h3><ul class="rte2-style-ul" id="rte-54423be2-8c82-11f1-ab1f-1b77841512f1"><li>Lollapalooza 2026 kicks off in Grant Park — <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/30/lollapalooza-2026-women-headliners-lorde-charli-xcx-jennie-olivia-dean-tate-mcrae" target="_blank" ><u>Day 1, what to know</u></a></li><li>Photos: <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/30/photos-lorde-john-summit-headline-lollapalooza-day-1" target="_blank" ><u>Lorde, John Summit</u></a> headline Lollapalooza Day 1</li><li>Ahead of Lollapalooza performance, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/30/charli-xcx-lollapalooza-q-and-a-music-fashion-film-reckless-records" target="_blank" ><u>Charli xcx meets fans for a chat</u></a> at Reckless Records</li><li>Review: <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/lollapalooza/2026/07/30/sombr-lollapalooza-2026-undressed-chicago-music-festival-photos" target="_blank" ><u>Sombr</u></a>, with margarita in hand, struts into Lollapalooza like he owns the place</li><li>Elizabeth Nichols dropped out of law school to pursue her music career after viral hits.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 9m ago.
How outlets are framing the same story
Here's how each outlet is covering the story — compare their headlines and timing at a glance.
- Coverage card1 outlet1CoverageScouting report
Review: Jennie's Lollapalooza debut offers ‘Ruby’ gems but a bit too much new material to fully grab on to
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times