Normani just proved her athletic past is more than a fun fact. In the second episode of Billboard and The Players’ Tribune’s crossover video series Switching Stages, the singer steps onto the balance beam with two-time Olympian Jordan Chiles—and promptly nails a cartwheel that leaves the gymnast stunned.
The Instagram clip from the episode captures Chiles breaking down proper beam form after Normani shares she wants to learn an aerial again. Before trying the more advanced skill, the pair starts with a cartwheel. It’s a deceptively simple move on the floor, but on a four-inch-wide beam, every detail matters.
That’s where Normani’s muscle memory kicks in. A former gymnast, the chart-topping performer hops onto the apparatus, squares her hips, and cleanly whips through the cartwheel. Chiles, who knows better than anyone how unforgiving a balance beam can be, reacts in real time, impressed by the control and confidence on display.
Chiles even chimed in under the video, praising Normani’s composure with a playful, "What can’t she do?!" The caption drives the point home: "Cartwheeling on a balance beam is not as easy as it looks… unless you’re @normani."
Normani Stuns With Balance Beam Skills
Normani’s beam moment is a quick reminder of how her precision on stage has roots in athletic training. While she’s best known for powerhouse vocals and dynamic choreography, the singer has long cited gymnastics as part of her background. That foundation shows up in the way she moves—tight lines, control under pressure, and a performer’s instinct for timing.
In Switching Stages, those instincts translate seamlessly. Chiles guides the session like a coach, emphasizing alignment, commitment, and consistency. Normani answers with a clean execution and a light landing—no hesitation, no wobble—earning an immediate vote of confidence from the Olympian standing a few feet away.
The exchange quickly becomes a two-way inspiration session. "I actually feel inspired to get back into the gym," Normani tells Chiles after their afternoon together. Chiles flashes a smile and returns the compliment: "You actually inspired me to start dancing," she says, noting her current stint on Dancing With the Stars, before the two share a celebratory high-five.
Inside Billboard & The Players’ Tribune’s Switching Stages
Switching Stages pairs charting artists with elite athletes and asks each to step outside their comfort zones—on camera. The result is a series built on curiosity and mutual respect: a pop star learning to stick a landing, an Olympian picking up choreography and stagecraft. Episode two’s Normani–Chiles team-up makes the case for how naturally music and sports mirror one another.
"Music and sports have always shared a powerful connection—an energy that fuels artists and athletes alike to perform on the biggest stages," said Billboard Editor-in-Chief Hannah Karp. "With Switching Stages, we’re pulling back the curtain and inviting fans to witness that magic in a completely new way."
Jenna Klein, Global VP of Brand and Athlete Strategy at The Players’ Tribune, frames the collaboration around authenticity. "The Players’ Tribune exists to showcase the human side of the world’s top athletes—off the court and beyond the headlines," she said. "This partnership with Billboard brings that same idea to life, giving fans an entertaining look at how sport and music intersect and inspire one another."
That ethos is all over the Normani–Chiles episode. It’s lighthearted and encouraging, but the challenges are real, and the respect is mutual. You see two performers problem-solving in real time, trading tips, and pushing each other to tap into a different version of their craft.
Why This Crossover Resonates
For both disciplines, performance is performance. Whether it’s a beam routine or a tour stop, success hinges on timing, precision, breath control, and the ability to thrive under bright lights. Normani approaches the beam like a seasoned performer mapping choreography; Chiles approaches dance like an athlete decoding counts and transitions. That shared language is the heart of Switching Stages—and why the concept works beyond a one-off viral clip.
Social media magnifies the appeal. The Instagram snippet distills the episode into a single, satisfying payoff: a clean cartwheel and an Olympian’s delighted reaction. It’s a quick hit that demonstrates skill and personality, while nodding to the deeper episode for fans who want more than a highlight.
Switching Stages is also a reminder that the wall between arenas is thinner than it looks. Artists train like athletes. Athletes perform like artists. Seeing those roles bend—and seeing two pros inspire each other to try something new—makes for compelling, shareable storytelling.
New installments of Switching Stages are rolling out across Billboard and The Players’ Tribune’s platforms and social channels. For viewers, the Normani–Chiles episode is an easy entry point: a tight, feel-good look at what happens when two high achievers swap lanes and meet in the middle—on a balance beam, in the studio, and everywhere the worlds of music and sports naturally overlap.
