At a Glance
- Reneé Rapp taped her first-ever Austin City Limits TV episode in fall 2025
- The 26-year-old opened with “Leave Me Alone” and closed with crowd-sung “I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone”
- The seven-song set airs Saturday, Jan. 17, on PBS and streams free on pbs.org/austincitylimits and the PBS App
- Why it matters: The performance marks the actress-turned-pop star’s jump from stage and screen to one of music’s most respected TV stages
Reneé Rapp has officially joined the Austin City Limits legacy. In an episode premiering Saturday, Jan. 17, the 26-year-old singer and Mean Girls alum makes her ACL TV debut with a moody, bead-and-sequin-lit set that she teased on Instagram last October.
The taping, held during the show’s 2025 season, spotlights Rapp’s concise but potent seven-song performance. She opened with “Leave Me Alone,” quipping to the crowd that the track is essentially “slam poetry” before sliding into a night of back-to-back songs pulled largely from her 2024 album Bite Me.
Stage Look & Atmosphere
Rapp took the stage in a black dress detailed with intricate beading and sequins in shades of blue and green. The lighting stayed low, bathing the set in a dim glow that matched the emotional tone of the material.
An Oct. 23, 2025, Instagram post showed the performer in the same outfit, captioned “everything’s bigger in texas,” hinting at the taping date and location.
Set Highlights & Crowd Interaction
Midway through the show, Rapp introduced her penultimate number.
“Austin, this next song is called ‘I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone,'” she told the audience.
The crowd erupted. She continued, “I’d really love if you’d sing it with me. How does that sound?”
After cheers, she joked, “Can do? Oh perfect, thank God,” before launching into the ballad.
The moment underscored her comfort with live performance and her ability to turn a TV taping into an intimate, communal experience.
Episode Details & How to Watch
The complete Reneé Rapp episode debuts Saturday, Jan. 17, on PBS stations nationwide. Full episodes stream free at:
- pbs.org/austincitylimits
- The PBS App (no subscription required)
The installment is part of the long-running series’ new season, which closes Feb. 7 with an hour-long finale featuring 2026 multiple Grammy nominee Leon Thomas.
Rapp’s Rise From Screen to Stage
Rapp first gained attention as a theater performer before transitioning to film and television. Her music career launched in earnest with the 2023 EP Everything to Everyone, followed by the full-length Bite Me in 2024. The ACL taping captures her at a pivotal point-moving from pop upstart to established live act capable of commanding public television’s most iconic music stage.
Key Takeaways
- Reneé Rapp’s ACL TV debut spans seven songs, anchored by material from Bite Me
- The episode airs Saturday, Jan. 17, on PBS and free digital platforms
- Her Instagram post from Oct. 23, 2025, revealed the Texas taping in advance
- The season finale Feb. 7 will spotlight Leon Thomas
