RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Tate McRae has fans convinced she has something up her sleeve.
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Days before the singer is set to headline festivals Osheaga and Lollapalooza, attentive fans have been dissecting a set of social media posts that seem to be hinting at a new era. On Instagram, McRae revealed a fresh aesthetic, switching the branding from her So Close to What era for a minimalist photoshoot and a clean, stylish font with the caption, “Montreal, Chicago. See u soon,” referencing her upcoming festival appearances.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Posters were then spotted around Chicago, featuring hand-drawn-style graphics and four different images of McRae, each one listing the dates of her Osheaga and Lollapalooza sets. Fans were quick to home in on another detail: the numbers “10 1,” which many have interpreted as a clue about an Oct. 1 announcement or release. McRae has not addressed the theories or confirmed that new music is on the way. Billboard reached out to McRae’s reps for comment.
She further fueled the fire by sharing a TikTok from the photoshoot, joking in the caption, “Hi I’m Tate McRae and ur watching Disney channel.” The video sent fans spiraling, with one comment writing, “oh i’m shaking TM4 is coming.” The visuals point toward a noticeable difference from the bold imagery that defined the So Close to What album and the Miss Possessive Tour, leaving many fans confident that she’s entering a new era.
Whether the teasers suggest new music remains to be known, but the timing has only heightened anticipation ahead of two of North America’s biggest music festivals. McRae will headline Osheaga in Montreal on Aug. 1 before taking the stage at Lollapalooza in Chicago the following day.
Fans have another reason to keep a close eye on McRae’s Lollapalooza set. During the 2024 festival, the singer premiered the then-unreleased song “It’s ok I’m ok,” making this weekend’s performance a natural source of speculation that she could once again use the stage to preview a new track.
The theories arrive after another banner year for the singer. So Close to What became her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 when it debuted atop the chart last year, while its lead single “Sports Car” became one of several Billboard Hot 100 hits from the project. McRae also earned the Hitmaker Award at Billboard Women in Music 2026 . If the clues are any indication, fans may not have to wait much longer for the pop star’s return.
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