Korn guitarist Brian ‘Head’ Welch has reacted to a story about Olivia Rodrigo’s mother skipping her daughter’s Lollapalooza headlining set to watch Korn instead, as shared on Instagram.
Rodrigo had previously recounted the moment, explaining that she and Korn were headlining on opposite stages at the same time — and that her own mother chose Korn over her show. Welch responded to the story with a lighthearted comment.
“This better be true cuz I’ve already decided it’s my favorite story of 2025,” Welch said.
The reaction came after Rodrigo publicly shared the anecdote, describing the unlikely overlap between her fanbase and Korn’s at the festival.
“My mom likes so many crazy metal bands, which you would never guess just looking at her,” Rodrigo said. “I headlined Lollapalooza last year, which was so awesome and such a dream of mine. But they have like headliners go at the same time.”
Rodrigo went on to explain how the scheduling conflict played out in an unexpected way.
“So, like on this specific day, it was me and Korn headlining at the same time on like opposite stages,” she continued. “And everyone’s like, ‘Oh, that’s perfect. You know, the Olivia fans will go see Olivia, the Korn fans will go see Korn. You know, there’s really no overlap.’ But there was one overlap, and it was my mom. My mom skipped my show to go see Korn! I let her do it, I’m happy she got her night.”
Welch’s response quickly drew attention online, adding a humorous footnote to Rodrigo’s already widely shared story.
Consequence reported that Welch framed the moment as a “hard choice” for Rodrigo’s mother. The guitarist humorously noted the reasoning behind her decision, with the exchange including the quip: “We have Olivia Rodrigo at home. I’m going to see Korn while I still can” — a line that quickly took on a life of its own online.
The incident itself stemmed directly from Lollapalooza’s scheduling, which placed both acts as simultaneous headliners on opposite stages. Consequence noted that Rodrigo explained the festival’s format meant two major headliners were performing at the same time. This made her mother the one unexpected point of overlap between two very different fanbases.
Rodrigo herself made clear that her mother’s love of heavy music was no surprise to her, even if it might be to others. As a widely shared post highlighted, Rodrigo noted during a guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live that her mother’s affinity for metal bands was well-established within the family. The Lollapalooza moment simply gave the world a glimpse of it.
The story also sparked broader conversation about the unlikely cultural bridge between Rodrigo’s pop audience and Korn’s legacy fanbase. Fans online noted that Rodrigo’s mother had a point — seeing Korn live is a rare opportunity, while her daughter’s shows are far more accessible. The moment was widely celebrated as a testament to the timeless appeal of Korn’s live performances. Many pointed out that the nu-metal pioneers remain a must-see act decades into their career.
Welch’s enthusiastic reaction only amplified the story’s reach, turning what began as a personal anecdote into one of the more charming music moments of the year.
