Pop
‘American Idol’ Top 7 Make Their Final Argument to the Nation, Describe Dream Debut Album
Season 18 of American Idol has been a real rollercoaster. From the elation of making it to Hollywood and then getting ground to a fine dust by the grueling tinsel town cuts, to the joy of hitting the beaches and stage in Hawaii. And then, the shutdown. The contestants on this year’s Idol have had to contend with a working environment like no other, forced to become overnight lighting and sound technicians as they’ve converted their bedrooms, living rooms and backyards into remote TV studios. But tonight (May 17) they have reached the final stage. It’s not the big, Hollywood soundstage they dreamed of when they auditioned last year, but for the top seven — Arthur Gunn, Dillon James, Francisco Martin, Jonny West, Julia Gargano, Just Sam and Louis Knight...
Justin Bieber Pens Lovey-Dovey Letter to Wife Hailey While She’s Asleep
Late at night when all the world is sleeping, Justin Bieber is writing love letters for wife Hailey (and his fans) to wake up to. A romantic note, which he published in the middle of the night on Friday (May 15) for Hailey to find while scrolling her Instagram feed the next morning, went like this: “Dear Hailey, as I lay here, you asleep next to me, I think to myself how did I get so blessed. You’re humility, joy and desire to grow blows me away! I am honored to be your husband. I promise to love you all the days of our lives. Good night Hailey I hope you read this in the morning and smile! You are my FOREVER.” Bieber’s post amassed more than six million likes, but one person was especially dazzled: his mom, Pattie Mallette. “This makes my mama heart so happy!”...
Barack Obama, Jonas Brothers & Karol G and More: 5 Key Moments From ‘Graduate Together’
With the high school graduating class of 2020 facing stay-at-home orders that make in-person graduations a near impossibility, LeBron James decided to give seniors the send-off they deserve with help from some very famous friends. On Saturday (May 16), James hosted “Graduate Together,” a first-of-its-kind live streamed commencement ceremony, where stars from around the world stopped in to offer their congratulations to the class of 2020. From some stunning musical performances to a rousing commencement speech from Barack Obama, here are five key highlights from “Graduate Together.” [embedded content] Dua Lipa offers a pep rally fantasy with “Break Your Heart” performance For the show’s big opener, pop superstar Dua Lipa made an appearance to perfor...
Karol G Enjoyed ‘Graduate Together’ Performance ‘As If It Were My Own Graduation’
The last voice heard on ‘Graduate Together’? That was Karol G, who put the parting notes to “X,” her collaboration with the Jonas Brothers. The immediately catchy song dropped just last night (May 15). During ‘Graduate Together,’ it was the grand finale of the ceremony, with the brothers singing the catchy tune before Karol G made her appearance, clad in a retro outfit and singing in Spanish. “Taping our performance was amazing to me,” she told Billboard minutes after the show was over. “I enjoyed it as if it were my own graduation. To have the opportunity to reach so many people, give them a good time despite all we’re going through, to celebrate with them this special date … It meant a lot to me.” Karol added: “You don’t know how amazing it was f...
Britney Spears Celebrates ‘Oops!…I Did It Again’ Album Turning 20
Britney Spears almost can’t believe that her hit sophomore album, Oops!…I Did It Again, was released 20 years ago. The pop star came across a compilation of clips of herself circa 2000 and was impressed enough to share it on social media. “Thank you to whoever made this,” she wrote on Instagram Saturday (May 16), the set’s 20th anniversary. “I just nearly dropped my phone I wasn’t expecting it!!!!! 20 years since the Oops! album …. the anticipation and the butterflies I felt before it came out were crazy …. all of my expectations were exceeded!!!! And it’s all thanks to you folks.” Spears added: “Thank you for sticking with me and growing with me. I am one Lucky girl. God Bless and thank you all!!!!!! PS you see even 20 years a...
Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light: 10 Standout Moments
For the first time in Eurovision history, a global crisis has forced the competition to forgo crowning a winner for the year. With competitors self-quarantining to prevent the spread of COVID-19, there was no proper Eurovision Song Contest 2020, but in its place, there was Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light on Saturday, May 16. A global virtual event featuring contemporary and past competitors, the broadcast featured messages of encouragement from artists, clips from songs that would have competed for this year’s win and remote performances aplenty. From one past winner’s walk down deserted city streets to a surprise appearance from an ABBA legend, here are 10 standout moments from Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light. At the close, it was also revealed that the song contest will ret...
Here’s Where the 2021 Eurovision Competition Will Be Held
The location for 2021’s Eurovision Song Contest has been announced. In 2021, Eurovision will be held at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where 2020’s competition was originally set to take place and where some of its remote live special, Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light, which honored the 41 selected delegates from the participating countries of 2020 in a non-competitive format, was filmed. This year’s actual live contest, slated for May 12-16, 2020, was canceled amid the global coronavirus pandemic. “I can promise you: the Eurovision Song Contest will come back stronger than ever,” executive supervisor Jon Ola Sand had said. Watch the promo for 2021 Eurovision, which announces the Rotterdam news, below. [embedded content]
Hailey & Justin Bieber Say This Sitcom Is a ‘Palate Cleanser for the Soul’
For the latest installment of their Facebook Watch series, The Biebers on Watch, Hailey and Justin Bieber went live to answer questions from fans. When asked about the sitcom Friends, the couple couldn’t help but gush, noting that it’s their favorite show. “We watch Friends every night before we go to bed,” Hailey revealed, before adding, “I watched all of Friends from start to finish when I was single, I watched it every day.” “It’s a good palate cleanser for the soul in the sense of–you know how you have ginger when you have sushi? Same vibe,” the “Sorry” singer added. The conversation soon turned to the topic of marriage, and fans wanted to know how the couple felt about being married so young (Justin was 24 and Hailey...
Anthrax & Suicidal Tendencies Members Deliver Rocked Out Version of Billie Eilish’s ‘Bad Guy’
They’re the bad guys (duh). That’s the message Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and Suicidal Tendencies bassist Ra Diaz are sending with their hard rock rendition of Billie Eilish‘s Hot 100 chart topper, “bad guy.” The new rendition still features the 18-year-old star’s vocals, while Benante, accompanies on drums and guitar, and Diaz plays bass. “My daughter @miiabenante would play @billieeilish in the car all the time, when I heard the song #oceaneyes I was hooked,” Benante wrote on Instagram announcing the cover. “When this song came out I knew it was going to blow up and it did. @ra_diaz and I Loved this tune and wanted to do a Remix of it. We added some crunch, some funk, some Gr...
Predicting the Legacies of the Quarantine Livestream Boom
How will the flurry of at-home and in-game performances leave their mark on pop music? “We just wanted to fuck around and have a good time,” Post Malone said, sipping from a beer can in a koozie before holding it aloft. “Cheers, fuckers!” In a thunderous 80-minute set of Nirvana covers, livestreamed from his Utah home on April 24, he was funny and loose, wearing a floral day-dress (not unlike the one Kurt Cobain once wore) and checking if his accompanying band was “hot and ready, Lil Caesar’s style.” “Let’s kick this shit in the ass,” he said, referring to COVID-19, before launching into the whiplashing riff of “Drain You.” Post Malone styles himself as a slouchier version of a golden age axe-wielder. He’s covered rock classics and literally has a Nirvana face tattoo, but on the livestream...
Blackpink’s Playlist With Lady Gaga, Troye Sivan & More Will Brighten Up Your Quarantine: Exclusive
It’s been a while since the world has heard new music from BLACKPINK, but even amid the global coronavirus pandemic, the K-pop quartet are keeping busy. Not only are they going to be in Lady Gaga’s area later this month with a feature on her Chromatica album, but the members have also been seen back in the studio working on their own new music. The group also released the live album from the Tokyo Dome performance of their 2019-2020 In Your Area world tour on Thursday (May 14), for those looking to relive that experience ahead of the upcoming releases. Though South Korea isn’t shut down with stay-at-home orders, life is still in all sorts of tumultuous states for the music industry in Seoul, with stars unable to interact directly with audiences. Like many around the world, BLACKPINK’s...
No Mystery Here: The ‘Scoob!’ Movie Album With Charlie Puth & More Has Arrived
Plus, watch the video for ‘On Me’ by Thomas Rhett and Kane Brown featuring Ava Max. Jinkies! Atlantic Records unleashed Scoob! The Album on Friday (May 15), and it features some high-profile collaborations. The album for the highly-anticipated film features 12 brand new tracks from stars of all genres. Charlie Puth and Lennon Stella collaborated on “Summer Feelings,” while Thomas Rhett, Kane Brown and Ava Max teamed up for “On Me.” Scoob! reveals how lifelong friends Scooby and Shaggy first met and how they joined with young detectives Fred, Velma and Daphne to form Mystery Inc. Later on, Scooby Doo and the gang race to stop a global “dogpocalypse,” and learn that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny. The movie is available for b...
