“You make me laugh and I like it/ You get away with murder so innocent/ But when you throw a moody/ You’re all claws and you bite/ That’s all right!” To those unfamiliar, these may seem like lyrics written by a loving pet parent — and they’d be right. Those sweet and amusing words were penned by none other than the late, great, cat-loving rock icon Freddie Mercury of Queen, for the band’s Innuendo track “Delilah,” which is about his beloved feline of the same name.
So, musicians — they’re just like us! Or is it that we, the normies, are just like them? After all, which of us with furry family members hasn’t made up silly little ditties to sing to our much-adored dogs and cats? (Granted, we don’t get to record them for Billboard-charting albums, but whatever.) Billboard staffers are no different. Not only do we love our four-legged pals, we sing to them, and sometimes, even name them after our favorite musicians!
There’s staff writer Hannah Dailey, who has an adorable kitty named after her “songwriting hero” Stevie Nicks. “Stevie is the first pet I ever owned by myself, so I wanted to give her a name that was particularly special,” she says. “And because she makes me so happy, it only felt right for her to share a name with someone whose music has also added so much to my life.”
Senior photo editor Jenny Regan nearly named her mini goldendoodle Robert Plant because the pooch’s golden locks resembled those of the Led Zeppelin singer in his youth. “But [we] didn’t like ‘Robert’ for a dog,” she shares, noting that her husband is a fan of the band. So the pup was named after another member — Jimmy Page.
While not everyone on our staff has a pet named after a famous artist, some of our furbabies do have their own favorite (and least favorite!) songs and musicians. Take kitty Boba, who prefers to never hear Alvin and the Chipmunks’ cover of “I Gotta Feeling” ever again; good boy Riggins, who is partial to Bad Bunny; regal Paco, who prefers Norah Jones’ soothing tunes during thunderstorms; or Murphy, who’s a huge Swiftie, just like her mom.
Want to meet and learn more about the Billboard staff’s beloved pets? Keep pawing down!
Parent: Jenny Sargent, Photography Director
Hometown: Los Angeles
Breed: Lhasa Apso
Age: 15 years
Favorite food: Eggs, bacon, popcorn, anything that humans get to eat.
Fun fact: His haircuts are more expensive and often than his human’s
Favorite nap spot: On the balcony in the sun
Pet Rescue: Bichons and Buddies
Parent: Ingrid Fajardo, Senior Social Media Manager & Staff Writer, Latin
Hometown: Miami
Breed: Pomeranian
Age: 5 years
Favorite toy: Birthday Party Lamb Chop
How does your pet react when you’re playing music? Depends on the mood, he either makes a dance around me or gives me the side-eye look!
Parent: Samantha Xu, Deputy Photo Director
Hometown: Hackensack, N.J.
Age: 4 years (Tangy) and 1.5 years (Zeke)
How does your pet react when you’re playing music? Tangy is a girly princess who loves to nap and luxuriate, so she prefers music with lo-fi chill vibes and female vocals. Zeke is a very active social boy who is not bothered by loud or fast music — it helps him get hyped for playtime!
Favorite music/song: Tangy loves SZA, Lana Del Rey, Alt R&B, Lofi Girl Radio on Youtube. Zeke loves Turnstile, Power Trip, thrash metal, hardcore punk, jock jams.
Pet Rescue: Rock n’ Rescue (Tangy) and East Coast Maine Coon Rescue (Zeke)
Parent: Josh Glicksman, Deputy Managing Editor
Hometown: Dallas
Breed: Australian cattle dog/American pit bull terrier mix
Age: 1.5 years
Favorite music/song: Bad Bunny. Any time he sees Bad Bunny on TV or hears his music, he’s completely enthralled.
Favorite nap spot: Sunbathing and taking a snooze on his dog bed next to our record player.
Fun fact: Riggins was a member of Team Fluff on Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XX.
Pet Rescue: Heart & Bones Rescue
Parent: Eric Renner Brown, Senior Editor
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Breed: dilute tortie
Age: 3 years
Favorite nap spot: Gaia’s favorite spot is the coveted cat tree hammock or, when mischievous, the turntable!
Favorite food: Terra’s favorite food is any human food she isn’t supposed to be eating!
Pet Rescue: Whiskers-A-GoGo
Parent: Jenny Regan, Senior Photo Editor
Hometown: upstate New York
Breed: mini goldendoodle
Age: 4 years
Favorite food: Cheese or anything on our plates
Favorite toy: Stolen socks
Favorite nap spot: Hanging halfway off the couch
How does your pet react when you’re playing music? He jumps up to give you a hug and slow dance with you.
Parent: Naomy Pedroza, Assistant Photo Editor
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Breed: Bombay
Age: 4.5 years
How does your pet react when you’re playing your music? Boba is a true music critic — she is very vocal about the songs she loves and the songs she loathes.
Favorite music/song: “Right Where You Left Me” by Taylor Swift, but she’s also partial to Boygenius, Norah Jones and Vampire Weekend.
Fun fact: Boba’s least favorite song is a cover of “I Gotta Feeling” by famed rodents Alvin & the Chipmunks.
Pet Rescue: Dixie Girl Dog Rescue
Parent: Michael Calcagno, Photo Researcher
Hometown: Yuma, Ariz.
Age: 1.5 years
Favorite toy: Squeaky pizza toy (courtesy of Billboard‘s own Anna Chan)
Favorite music/song: “Angel of My Dreams” by JADE. My wife and I were obsessed with the song around when we adopted him, and we sing it to him all the time now.
Pet’s best friend: His grandma. She sneaks him what we’ve dubbed as “cute treats” (i.e., treats for just looking cute and not doing anything), and also loves slipping him McDonald’s fries.
Pet Rescue: Friends for Life Animal Rescue
Parent: Anna Chan, Deputy Editor, Digital
Hometown: Seattle (Mabel) & New York (Bean)
Age: 19 years (Mabel) and 9 years (Bean)
How did your pet come into your life? With Mabel, I was volunteering at PAWS in Seattle when I peeked into a cage and found the most brilliant pair of sparkling blue peepers — aka White Walker Eyes — staring back at me from behind the litterbox. The moment we locked eyes, I knew Mabel was mine.
It’s a similar story with Bean: I was doing my weekly volunteer shift at Best Friends when I spotted the cutest Resting Bitch Face of my life. I sat down to pet the little petite black cat, who immediately began to purr — then slapped me quickly and repeatedly with her tiny paw. I was in love with Bean from that moment on.
Pet Rescue: PAWS (Mabel) and Best Friends Animal Society (Bean)
Parent: Dan Rys, Director, Business News
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Breed: Boston terrier
Age: 12 years
Favorite toy: Noise ball because he’s blind
Favorite music/song: Norah Jones when he’s scared or nervous from thunder
Favorite nap spot: On the bed underneath a fur blanket
Parent: Becky Kaminsky, Director, Social Media
Hometown: Georgia
Breed: Supermutt
Age: 6
Favorite food: Beef lungs and beef sticks
Favorite toy: Benebone wishbone and Nylabone football
How does your pet react when you’re playing your music? He gets very hyped if the vibes are there. We always have music playing if we’re cooking or cleaning, and he’ll partake in a dance break with us. He’ll stand up on his hind legs (which makes him almost as tall as me) and two-step with me.
What is your pet’s favorite music or song? Probably all the jingles I make up for him on a daily basis. It’s a full catalog at this point.
Pet Rescue: Puppies and More Rescue
Parent: Taylor Mims, Senior Editor
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Breed: French bulldog
Age: 13 years (Stella) and 4 years (Ace)
Favorite nap spot: Anywhere in the sun for Stella
Fun fact: Stella loves to go paddleboarding
How does your pet react when you’re playing music? Stella snores … very loudly!
Favorite music/song: Ace’s is “Aquí Te Cuido” by Reyna Tropical
Favorite food: Ace’s are rocks, that’s why he’s so heavy!
Pet’s best friend: Ace’s is sister Stella, but she does not feel the same way.
Parent: Abby Webster, Assistant Social Media Editor
Age: 2 years
Favorite food: Cheddar cheese
How did your pet come into your life? My roommate needed safety and companionship after a mouse infestation in her first NYC apartment.
How does your pet react when you’re playing music? She’s a big music video lover. A recent favorite is “Sports Car” by Tate McRae.
Parent: Danielle Pascual, Social Media Manager
Hometown: Noti, Ore.
Breed: Mini Aussiedoodle
Age: 4 years
Favorite toy: Chuckit! squeaker ball — it always has to be near even when sleeping, eating and on walks.
Favorite music/song: “Betty” by Taylor Swift, except every instance of “Betty” is changed to “Murphy”
Favorite nap spot: Mom’s laundry hamper
What is the best thing that your pet has changed about your life? Murphy always knows when I’m having a bad day, and through cuddles and kisses, she never fails to make me feel better.
Parent: Evan Burke, Producer/Editor
Hometown: Los Angeles
Age: 5 years (Roman) and 10 years (Elliott)
Favorite toy: Roman’s is a catnip filled avocado toast
How did your pet come into your life? Roman was adopted on Christmas Eve of 2020 when I needed something to make being stuck at home more tolerable.
Fun fact: Roman is named after Nicki Minaj’s alter ego because I would hear “Roman’s Revenge” in my head when he would get the zoomies.
Favorite nap spot: Elliot, who is a dachshund terrier, likes to nap next to any human
Pet Rescue: Elliot is from the Amanda Foundation
Parent: Ciara Zimring, Director of Strategy & Production, Video
Hometown: Los Angeles
Breed: goldendoodle
Age: 5
Favorite Toy: Giant Lamb Chop
Favorite music/song: Ziggy loves Noah Kahan!
What is the most important lesson your pet has taught you? She’s taught us to stop, slow down and enjoy the present moment. Sometimes life and work can get so hectic, but taking a pause and being in the moment with her has taught us to slow down.
Fun fact: She’s freakishly good at catching any ball that you throw at her. I keep telling her we’re going to put her in the Puppy Olympics!
Parent: Jason Lipshutz, Executive Director, Music
Hometown: Madison, N.J.
Breed: Treeing Walker coonhound
Age: 6 years
How did your pet come into your life? We rescued Murray in December 2019 — he was a sweet boy who simply needed a family. We coordinated an elaborate system of dog walkers while we were at work, but then in less than three months, we were home every day due to the pandemic!
What is the most important lesson your pet has taught you? Murray can be loud, overexcited, needy and destructive, but for every trying moment, there are 100 happy memories. Just like with anyone you love unconditionally, we have adapted to Murray’s rhythms, and our lives are fuller for it.
Pet Rescue: St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center
Parent: Dave Brooks, Senior Director, Touring/Live
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
Breed: terrier
Age: 13
Favorite food: hot dogs
Favorite nap spot: Living room couch with front door cracked so he can bark at the mailman.
Fun fact: Bandit has completed extensive training with obedience, obstacle courses and tricks. He can still do tricks, even at 13!
What is the most important lesson your pet has taught you? Dogs are better than people in nearly all measurable categories.
Pet Rescue: Long Beach SPCA
Parent: Hannah Dailey, Staff Writer
Hometown: Bloomington, Ind.
Breed: torbie
Age: 4 years
Favorite food: dry ass kibble
Favorite toy: my chargers
Favorite music/song: Not even kidding, Stevie hates music. Whenever I start singing, she jumps on me and bites me. She’s a hater.
Who is your pet’s best friend? Her little stuffed elephant I bought for her at IKEA. She drags him around everywhere. His name is Mr. Elephant.
Parent: Rob Levine, Editor at Large
Hometown: Berlin
Breed: Cavapoo
Age: 1 year
Favorite food: Whatever the humans are eating!
Favorite toy: Whatever ball is WAY under the couch at any given moment
Favorite music/song: “Who Let the Dogs Out”
How does your pet react when you’re playing music? Concern about the fairness of streaming royalty rates
Parent: Christina Medina, SVP Talent & Programming
Hometown: West Covina, Calif
Breed: shih tzu
Age: Oreo Lola went to Doggy Heaven on March 18, 2025, at age 17 years
Favorite food: wedding cake
Fun fact: She loved blueberry facials.
Favorite nap spot: Outside in the sun, she loved to sunbathe!