Bono texted Rosalía for permission to release U2 song about her
Bono texted Rosalía to ask permission before U2 released a song named after her. The track is called "The Mirror Maker (Rosalía)" and sits at number four on the band's upcoming album Carnaval De Luz, due on 13 November. Rosalía described the exchange during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as reported by Rolling Stone on 8 October.
She called the tribute "insane" and "mind-blowing". She said she felt honoured to be asked. She said yes.
Bono did not have her number at first. He asked actor Penélope Cruz for advice on how to reach Rosalía. Once they connected, the two found common ground in poet Federico García Lorca.
Bono also sent her questions about Spanish. He wanted to know if certain words worked, including one that sounded like "mamole" to Rosalía. She told him it did not exist in standard Spanish. Her advice was simple. Invent his own language.
The song is part of Carnaval De Luz, U2's first album of new material in nine years. The band lists 13 November 2026 as the release date on its official website, with digital download among the formats confirmed by U2. The band has a page for the song on its site, with the lyrics marked as not published yet. Rosalía inspired the song but does not perform on the album, according to Consequence.
Bono has also spoken publicly about why he wrote about Rosalía, in comments noted by Stereogum. His text to Rosalía was part of that process. He wanted her approval before the title went public.
Rosalía spoke about the U2 song while marking the end of her own sold-out Lux tour. She also discussed El Confesionario, a segment within the tour built around on-stage conversation with guests. Recent guests included Chappell Roan, Karol G and Marcello Hernández.
She is booked as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live this weekend. For fans, this means live television first, then a wait until November to hear how Bono's invented Spanish sounds on record.
