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Ariana Grande had an important member of her real-life family to lean on for inspiration after joining the Focker clan: her late grandmother, who the pop star says has things in common with her Focker-in-Law character, Olivia.
While speaking to Variety on Sunday (Nov. 16) at the 2025 Governors Awards, Grande was asked to confirm rumors that she plays a “ballbuster” in Focker-in-Law. Hitting theaters next year, the film will serve as the fourth installation in the Meet the Parents saga.
“She is, she can be that way,” the singer-actress replied, laughing. “But she’s a really good girl.”
When asked whether she’s also a “ballbuster” in real life, Grande replied, “I’m Italian, so technically, yes, I’m like that.”
“My Nonna was a ball-buster,” she added affectionately.
Grande’s grandmother died at the age of 99 in June. She was a beloved figure in the Wicked star’s fanbase, and by guesting on her granddaughter’s Eternal Sunshine track “Ordinary Things,” Nonna became the senior-most artist to ever chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
Details of Focker-in-Law have largely been kept under wraps, but Grande will star alongside Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner and Skyler Gisondo in the project. After filming wrapped in October, the R.E.M. Beauty founder gushed on Instagram, “these past few months have been so, so unimaginably special. i love my Fockers, and i love my Byrnes… so, so very much. i will miss this bunch terribly.”
Stiller has also previously praised Grande, telling Jimmy Fallon earlier in November, “It’s crazy how talented [she is] … She’s so great with comedy. She’s amazing in Wicked and she’s such a good singer, obviously, too.”
Focker-in-Law is one of several screen projects Grande has taken on since shifting her career to include more acting post-Wicked. She will also lend her voice to Jon M. Chu’s animated film adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, and soon, she’ll make her debut in Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story, reuniting with her “We Can’t Be Friends” music video leading man Evan Peters and former Scream Queens costar Emma Roberts.
Of AHS, Grande told Variety that she only knows “a little tiny bit” about what’s in store for season 13.
“I am coming into the world in a way that I don’t know much about yet,” she revealed. “But I think I’ll probably have a very tiny thing to do in it, but I’ll be grateful to be a part of it because I love everyone involved.”
Watch Grande chat about Focker-in-Law, her Nonna and AHS below.
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A federal judge has held Tory Lanez in contempt of court on the eve of trial in a civil lawsuit filed by Megan Thee Stallion – a move that came after the singer said: “I’m a millionaire. I don’t care.”
In a ruling Sunday evening, the judge said that Lanez (Daystar Peterson) – currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for shooting Megan in 2020 – had behaved so poorly during three different depositions that he must now pay a $20,000 fine.
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According to U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette M. Reid, that’s an outcome Tory already shrugged off during the most recent debacle: “When told his behavior could result in contempt of court and sanctions consisting of fines and additional jail time, Mr. Peterson then said, ‘whatever the fines are, I’ll pay them. I’m a millionaire. I don’t care’.”
The ruling came a day before the start of a jury trial in a civil lawsuit Megan filed last year against social media personality Milagro Gramz (Milagro Cooper). The star claims Gramz waged a “coordinated campaign” with Lanez to “defame and delegitimize” her in the wake of the shooting.
In addition to the monetary fine, the judge also said that jurors in that trial should be told about Lanez’s refusal to answer questions about whether he ever communicated with Gramz – an unwelcome development for her defense attorneys.
Lanez was convicted in December 2022 on three felony counts for shooting Megan in the foot in July 2020 during an argument following a pool party at Kylie Jenner’s house in the Hollywood Hills. In August 2023, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. His appeal of the verdict and sentence was denied last week.
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Last year, Megan filed her civil lawsuit against Gramz, calling her a “mouthpiece and puppet” for Lanez who had been “churning out falsehoods” about the criminal case on his behalf: “Enough is enough,” her lawyers wrote at the time.
Unsurprisingly, Lanez is a key witness in that lawsuit, and Megan’s lawyers have repeatedly tried to depose him from prison. But each time, the singer has disrupted the proceedings and refused to answer questions; Megan’s lawyers have said he’s “made a mockery of the proceedings.”
In her ruling on Sunday, Judge Reid echoed those claims. She said Megan’s lawyers had been “unable to ask more than two questions before Mr. Peterson stormed out of the room.” The judge said Tory later made “derogatory comments” and hurled “multiple expletives” toward Megan’s lawyers and never answered any questions.
Lanez’s attorney, Crystal Morgan, also drew the judge’s ire. Judge Reid said she had objected to questions that were “clearly relevant” during the brief deposition, and had engaged in “coaching the witness.” The judge ordered her to pay $5,000 as her fine.
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Nicki Minaj confirmed that she will be speaking at an upcoming event with U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz about the alleged religious persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
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Time magazine correspondent Eric Cordellessa broke the news regarding Minaj and Waltz’s event slated for Tuesday (Nov. 18).
“U.S. envoy to the UN @michaelgwaltz and rap superstar @NICKIMINAJ will deliver remarks early this week on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” he wrote on Sunday (Nov. 16). “The unexpected collaboration was arranged by Trump advisor @AlexBruesewitz, who will also speak at the Tuesday event.”
Waltz called Minaj “arguably the greatest female recording artist” and a “principled individual” who has refused to “remain silent in the face of injustice.”
“I’m grateful she’s leveraging her massive platform to spotlight the atrocities against Christians in Nigeria,” he added. “And I look forward to standing with her as we discuss the steps the President and his administration are taking to end the persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters.”
The Young Money rapper responded to Waltz on X, explaining that she will “never stand down in the face of injustice.”
“Ambassador, I am so grateful to be entrusted with an opportunity of this magnitude,” she replied. “I do not take it for granted. It means more than you know. The Barbz & I will never stand down in the face of injustice. We’ve been given our influence by God. There must be a bigger purpose.”
Ambassador, I am so grateful to be entrusted with an opportunity of this magnitude. I do not take it for granted. It means more than you know. The Barbz & I will never stand down in the face of injustice. We’ve been given our influence by God. There must be a bigger purpose. 🎀 https://t.co/Mdh0nBWwm1— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) November 17, 2025
Earlier in November, Minaj responded to Trump’s comments regarding Christianity “facing an existential threat” in Nigeria.
“Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion,” she wrote. “We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other. Numerous countries all around the world are being affected by this horror & it’s dangerous to pretend we don’t notice. Thank you to The President & his team for taking this seriously. God bless every persecuted Christian. Let’s remember to lift them up in prayer.”
Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God. No group should ever be persecuted for practicing their religion. We don’t have to share the same beliefs in order for us to respect each other. Numerous countries all… pic.twitter.com/2M5sPiviQu— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) November 1, 2025
Nigeria’s population of 220 million is split about evenly between Christians and Muslims. Trump previously said he planned to add the West African nation to the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” and has threatened to take military action against the nation.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
A Nigerian presidential spokesman told The Associated Press that the U.S. can not “carry out any military operation” in Nigeria over the claims of religious persecution of Christians. Spokesman Daniel Bwala added that this is “Trump’s style of going forceful in order to force a sit-down and have a conversation.”
The Associated Press also found that location plays a heavier factor for murder victims rather than the individual’s religion in Nigeria. “There is no systematic, intentional attempt either by the Nigerian government or by any serious group to target a particular religion,” Information Minister Idris Muhammed told The Associated Press, while downplaying reports of religious persecution.
Similarly, over the weekend a group of prominent white Afrikaners in South Africa pushed back against what Trump has claimed is a “white genocide” in the majority black nation under the “Not in Our Name” banner. They refuted Trump’s repeated claims that the nation’s minority group is facing an “existential threat” as his administration has prioritized resettling white South Africans over refugees from other war-torn nations fleeing well-documented persecution and threats to their lives.
Save StorySave this storySave StorySave this storyThe staff of Pitchfork listens to a lot of new music. A lot of it. On any given day our writers, editors, and contributors go through an imposing number of new releases, giving recommendations to each other and discovering new favorites along the way. Each Monday, with our Pitchfork Selects playlist, we’re sharing what our writers are playing obsessively and highlighting some of the Pitchfork staff’s favorite new music. The playlist is a grab-bag of tracks: Its only guiding principle is that these are the songs you’d gladly send to a friend.This week’s Pitchfork Selects playlist features Robyn, Liam Benzvi, B6, FKA twigs, Mandy Indiana, and more. Listen below and follow our playlists on Apple Music and Spotify. (Pitchfork earns a commission from purchases made through affiliate links on our site.)Pitchfork Selects: November 17, 2025Robyn: “Dopamine”Liam Benzvi: “The Wall (Demo)”Avalon Emerson & the Charm: “Eden”Igwe Aka: “The Answer”B6: “IDK”GENA / Liv.e / Karriem Riggins: “Circlesz”FKA twigs: “Got to Feel”Mandy, Indiana: “Magazine”Um Jennifer?: “Stunning”Voyeur: “I Don’t Want To”
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Disney+ dropped the two-and-a-half minute trailer for the upcoming refresh of The Beatles Anthology series. The beloved documentary chronicling the formation, fame and frenzy surrounding the Fab Four — which was originally broadcast in 1995 in the U.S. and U.K. before being released on video — will make its streaming debut on the service beginning Nov. 26.
The first three episodes will drop that day, followed by parts 4-6 on Nov. 27 and episode 7-9 on Nov. 28. The series has been restored and expanded from eight to nine episodes, including a new ninth ep featuring what a release promised was, “illuminating and previously unreleased footage of Paul, George and Ringo during the creation of the original 1990s Anthology series and music project.”
The series follows John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison as they look back on the legendary band’s eight-year rise to global superstardom, with the Disney+ version slated to feature a new restoration of the footage and a sound mix overseen by the Apple Corps production team working in conjunction with director Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post crew in Wellington, New Zealand.
The trailer opens with the voice of Lennon describing the origins of the group. “I met Paul and said, ‘do you want to join me band?’… Then George joined. Then Ringo joined,” he says. What follows is a whirlwind tour through the group’s early years, with Ringo explaining, “We’ve heard it from everybody else, now you can hear it from us” as archival footage has Lennon lamenting, “the demand on us was tremendous.”
The clip then takes us from a series of high points, the group’s legendary Feb. 1964 Ed Sullivan appearance that launched a million bands to the first-ever major stadium rock show at New York’s Shea Stadium in 1965, which was followed by a second show at Shea that Starr completely forgot about. “I thought we only played there once,” Starr says. “How was it?”
The new ninth chapter finds the then living members — McCartney, Starr and Harrison — regrouping in 1995 to work on the first “new” Beatles song since the group’s split in April 1970, “Free as a Bird.” In addition to the original doc series, The Beatles Anthology project included a four-volume set of double albums (which also contained another “new” song “Real Love”) as well as 2000 coffee table book.
“Nothing will ever break the love we have for each other,” says Lennon, who was murdered by a crazed fan outside his New York apartment building on Dec. 8, 1980. “The Beatles exist without us,” adds Harrison, who died in 2001 of cancer at age 58.
Watch The Beatles Anthology trailer below.
Trending on Billboard Bella Hadid is keeping it one hundred about her love for Taylor Swift‘s biggest The Life of a Showgirl hit. In a recent TikTok, the model kneels on a sandy beach with a friend and does some of the viral choreography to “The Fate of Ophelia,” smiling as she mouths along to […]
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The Jonas Brothers are taking over Christmas with their new film, aptly titled A Very Jonas Christmas Movie.
There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit by watching this Christmas-meets-comedy film that is available to stream now on Disney+ and Hulu. The film sees brothers Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas face a series of escalating obstacles on their journey home from London to New York, racing against time to spend Christmas with their family.
It’s your standard wacky holiday movie, akin to such beloved titles such as Home Alone and Elf. The new movie is directed by Jessica Yu and stars the Jonas Brothers, obviously, alongside talents including Chloe Bennet, Billie Lourd, Laverne Cox, KJ Apa, Andrew Barth Feldman, Andrea Martin, Kenny G, Justin Tranter, Randall Park and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
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Now, this wouldn’t be a proper Jonas Brothers-led film if there wasn’t an original soundtrack. The brothers created an album, produced by Justin Tranter, with seven brand new songs, along with three additional tracks. The soundtrack includes the tracks “Best Night,” “Like It’s Christmas,” “Home Alone” and a live version of their 2019 single “Sucker.” If you’re itching to get into the Christmas spirit a little bit early, here’s how you can watch the Jonas Brothers’ new movie.
How To Watch A Very Jonas Christmas Movie
As mentioned, A Very Jonas Christmas Movie is now available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
Instead of getting one of two streaming services, you can bundle Hulu with Disney+ for $12.99/month. These Disney+ bundles save users on average 44% per month. Think of it this way. A standalone subscription to Hulu and or Disney+ with ads is 11.99/month, which is basically the cost of a bundle. You’re getting more bang for your buck by bundling because it gives you access to a wider variety of streaming services all in one place. Stick with us. Your wallet will thank you.
Subscribers will have access to a wide range of Disney+ and Hulu titles, including movies and series from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic along with and Hulu Originals. Some of our favorites currently, perfect for getting you into the Christmas mood, include Elf, Die Hard and The Polar Express. If it’s too early to jingle bells, you can always tap into other cheerful content including The Simpsons, Elio, Dancing with the Stars and the Glen Powell football comedy Chad Powers.
Watch the Trailer for A Very Jonas Christmas Movie Below
And, if you’re in the mood for more of the JoBros, the pop group is still on their JONAS20: Greetings from Your Hometown Tour in celebration of their 20th anniversary. The band will be making stops in major cities throughout the U.S. and Canada, with a stacked setlist of top tracks sure to get you out of your seat with hits including “Lovebug,” “S.O.S” and “Year 3000.”
The band will be touring up until Dec. 22, when they will make their final stop in Brooklyn, N.Y., at the Barclays Center. If you’re looking to relive the 2000s, we’ve included sites where you can snag tickets to the band’s tour below. You might even be able to grab a deal on ticket pricing, on us, of course.
Where to Buy Tickets to Jonas Brothers’ JONAS20: Greetings from Your Hometown Tour
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low prices
Ticketmaster
Shop tickets for the Jonas’ Brothers’ latest tour via Ticketmaster.
If you’re a Jonas Brothers fan on a budget, Ticketmaster has a good amount of seating options still available for as low as $43 at some venues. Ticketmaster has an initiative in place for ticket buyers called Fan Guarantee that allows for cancellations, refunds or exchanges within 24 hours of booking, subject to certain exclusions, so you’ll never have to prep a backup plan pre-concert.
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StubHub
Shop tickets for the Jonas’ Brothers’ latest tour via StubHub.
StubHub features some of the best seating for Jonas Brothers’ tour we’ve seen so far, even for concerts that are only days away. You can shop a slew of seats, both up close and far from the stage, with ease, thanks to the ticketing service’s FanProtect Guarantee. This ticketing initiative ensures that you’re shopping for valid tickets or your money back. In the unfortunate event that your concert or show gets canceled and not rescheduled, you will receive a credit worth 120% of the amount you paid for the impacted event, or the option of a cash refund.
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Vivid Seats
Shop tickets for the Jonas’ Brothers’ latest tour via Vivid Seats.
You can grab seating options to the Jonas Brothers’ tour with Vivid Seats now for a discounted price when you use promo code BB30 to score $30 off your purchase. When you’re shopping for Jonas Brothers tickets on Vivid Seats, you’ll be able to clearly see which tickets are the most affordable and which ones are going the fastest without even clicking on them, thanks to icons above each venue. Like other ticketing sites, Vivid Seats also has a 100% Buyer Guarantee that vows your transaction is secure, that your tickets will be delivered before your event and that those tickets will be valid and authentic no matter what.
promo codes
SeatGeek
Shop tickets for the Jonas’ Brothers’ latest tour via SeatGeek.
You can shop Jonas Brothers’ tour tickets while still saving on SeatGeek. You can use promo code BILLBOARD10 to receive $10 off at checkout. The ticketing service includes a safety net for prospective buyers with their Buyer Guarantee that ensures smooth ticket purchases no matter the venue.
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TicketNetwork
Shop tickets for the Jonas’ Brothers’ latest tour via TicketNetwork.
You can also shop for JONAS20 tour tickets through TicketNetwork for a fraction of the original cost with our code BILLBOARD300 to save $300 off orders of $1,000 or more, and BILLBOARD150 to save $150 off orders of $500 or more. Waiting on getting paid before you buy your seats? You can also buy your tickets on the website now and pay later with help from Affirm. To further help you narrow down your decision before purchasing, the website includes all-in pricing that lets you see exactly what you’ll be paying before heading to checkout (fees included).
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Lots of seating left
Gametime
Shop tickets for the Jonas’ Brothers’ latest tour via Gametime.
Gametime has a bunch of seating options still available for pretty much all of the stops on the Jonas Brothers’ tour. Pricing varies based on how close or how far you are from the stage, so pick your tickets wisely. The ticketing service guarantees the lowest prices, event cancellation protection and on-time ticket delivery, ensuring a smooth sailing pre and post-purchase.
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One of the Nashville music industry’s most festive weeks launched on Sunday night (Nov. 16), as performing rights organization SESAC honored the songwriters and music publishers behind the year’s most-performed country and Americana songs during its annual Nashville Music Awards. The soiree welcomed more than 500 songwriters, music publishers and other music creatives at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in downtown Nashville.
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Stephen Wilson, Jr., who is up for new artist of the year at Wednesday night’s CMA Awards, opened the show by offering a powerful rendition of his song “Gary.”
“That was the best way to start a show,” said SESAC Sr. VP, Head of Nashville Creative Shannan Hatch, who spearheaded the evening along with SESAC senior directors, creative services ET Brown and Lydia Cahill.
Emily Ann Roberts performed in honor of SESAC affiliates Jim Lauderdale and Steve Bogard’s recent induction to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, with her renditions of the Bogard-written “Carried Away” (recorded by George Strait) and Lauderdale’s “Hole in My Head,” which was also recorded by The Chicks on their 1999 Fly album.
“This song raised me up and made me love country music,” Roberts said of “Hole in My Head.”
Kelsea Ballerini took part in the evening, honoring her longtime co-writer and producer Alysa Vanderheym with her honor for the song “Baggage,” from Ballerini’s current Grammy-nominated project Patterns.
“She’s one of the most inspired, hard-working and fearless people I’ve ever had the pleasure to know and make music with, and as her friend, it makes me really happy to see her honored by SESAC tonight,” Ballerini said of Vanderheym.
Megan Moroney’s “Am I Okay?” earned the song of the year title, and Moroney was honored for her role in writing, publishing and performing the song. Moroney is up for six CMA nominations this year, with three of those nominations being for “Am I Okay?” During the evening, Moroney was also honored for her work on the song “Break It Right Back.”
Songwriter Jessie Jo Dillon honored Moroney, saying, “You are an absolute force. There is no one like you in the country music genre right now. We are so lucky to have you not only as an artist but a songwriter… I’m blessed to watch how much your music connects to fans.”
Standing alongside Dillon, Moroney was visibly emotional in accepting the honor, telling the industry audience, “I don’t think I would get through life without this outlet [songwriting]… country music, hell yeah.”
Moroney also performed her recent release “Beautiful Things,” from her upcoming album Cloud 9, set to be released in February.
Warner Chappell Music was named publisher of the year, marking the music publisher’s fifth win in the last eight years. Among the hit songs the company was honored for publishing are “Cowboy Songs,” “I Am Not Okay,” “Single Again” and “Baggage.”
Michael Tyler was named songwriter of the year. Tyler has written hits including George Birge’s “Cowboy Songs,” Bailey Zimmerman’s “Holy Smokes” and Corey Kent’s “This Heart.” He was celebrated by receiving a custom-created Gibson guitar, while Jostens provided a custom ring.
“Thank you, Jesus, because without Jesus, I would be hanging shingles on a roof somewhere in Missouri right now,” Tyler said, before thanking his family (who were in attendance) and his publishers. He thanked some of his first co-writers in Nashville, Jaron Boyer and Ben Stennis. “They took me under their wing and how write a song and sing a demo vocal and most importantly, they taught me about Jesus and showed me what it means to be a good husband and father and friend… you don’t know how much it shaped me as a person.”
For a full list of honorees, visit sesac.com.
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The holidays are right around the corner, which means everyone will be searching for the best gifts to give that special someone, whether that be your significant other or your kids. Our pick for the hottest gift of the season? KPop Demon Hunters merch, obviously.
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While you might be torn between HUNTR/X and their boy-band counterpart Saja Boys, the animated girl group’s success is undeniable. HUNTR/X’s uplifting track “Golden,” sung by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, has had an insane run on the Billboard Hot 100, topping the charts for a whopping 15 weeks thus far. Recently, the faux girl group was just nominated for six awards at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, primarily for their track “Golden.”
In the box office, the Netflix animated film topped with roughly $18 million over two days. With a release in theaters around Halloween, the movie collected $5 million to $6 million, which was a shock, given it’d already been widely available to watch on streaming. With all this in mind, you’ve got plenty of reasons to shop the girl group’s merch before it’s gone for good, especially given that a lot of their merch is currently on sale. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites below, including t-shirts, pillows, hoodies and so much more that would look great under the tree or neatly nestled in a gift box this holiday season.
KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Officially Licensed T-Shirt
$16.99
$22.97
26% off
A T-shirt featuring all of the HUNTR/X members on the front.
Kpop Demon Hunters Halloween Derpy Playing with Plant Vase T-Shirt
$16.99
$19.99
15% off
A white tee with Derpy on the front.
The retailer has a slew of options for everyone, from unisex cotton tees to insulated tumblers, all up to 15% off. This is official licensed merchandise. Some of our favorite pieces include the HUNTR/X sweatshirt with a large graphic on the front depicting members Rumi, Mira and Zoey in purple, blue and pink hues. The sweatshirt, like a majority of the clothing items featured in this article, ranges in size from small to XX-large.
You’ve also got a HUNTR/X iPhone case affixed with a graphic of the members posed in an action shot, ready to battle some demons. The case is a two-parter made from a premium scratch-resistant polycarbonate shell layered over a shock-absorbent TPU liner that protects against drops from high heights. The case fits the iPhone XR. The HUNTR/X hoodie is another winner in our book. It comes in three different colorways and is made of a cozy mix of cotton and polyester. Sizing options range from medium to XX-large.
KPop Demon Hunters Band Logo Officially Licensed Pullover Hoodie
$36.52
$42.97
15% off
A hoodie with the HUNTR/X logo on the front.
KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Officially Licensed Throw Pillow
A pillow with all the HUNTR/X members on it.
This film aptly capitalizes on the success that the K-pop genre has seen not only in South Korea, but all over the world. You’ve got crisp and colorful animation brought to you by the same crew that did Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, along with punchy action sequences and foot-tapping original music tracks that take inspo from the best of K-Pop, and you’ve got a clear recipe for success.
So we know the inspiration for this film was K-Pop, but how did it all come about? Demons and K-Pop aren’t really the first two things we think of when playing word association. Well, the film draws heavily from director Maggie Kang’s South Korean roots along with South Korean folklore surrounding demons and mythology. Of course, Kang’s love of K-pop was also a huge inspiration. The film is currently available to stream exclusively on Netflix.
If you’ve missed the viral phenomenon, we’ll catch you up to speed: The movie centers around world-renowned K-pop girl group HUNTR/X, as the members balance their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as demon hunters. Each group and musical number was based loosely on some of your favorite K-pop acts, including MONSTA X and BLACKPINK to Itzy and EXO. K-Pop is interwoven throughout this endeavor. In fact, tracks featured in the film are even sung by former and current K-pop idols such as Kevin Woo from UKISS to Twice’s track “Takedown,” sung by members Jeongyeon Jihyo and Chaeyoung.
Kpop Demon Golden Merch Rumi Zoey Mira Inspired Bracelets
$11.99
$12.99
8% off
Four bracelets with gold and black beads.
KPop Demon Hunters Juniors Huntrix Holographic Logo Sweatshirt Black M
A sweatshirt with the HUNTR/X logo on the front.
More KPop Demon Hunters Merch we Love
KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Logo Girls Mineral Wash Crop T-Shirt
$21.52
$26.90
20% off
A distressed cropped tee with the HUNTR/X logo on the front.
KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Group Panels Garment Dye T-Shirt
$26.32
$32.90
20% off
A purple tee with the HUNTR/X members on the front.
KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Logo Hoodie
A black hoodie with HUNTR/X’s logo on the front.
KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Hero Group T-Shirt
$15
$24.90
40% off
A black tee with the HUNTR/X members on the front.
Watch the KPop Demon Hunters trailer below:
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This week, Carly Pearce gets vulnerable about the sacrifices often required to chase the dream of being in the spotlight, while Kashus Culpepper returns with smoldering track about heartbreak and denial. Also issuing new songs this week are Muscadine Bloodline, Waylon Wyatt, Owen Riegling and bluegrass artist Irene Kelley.
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Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of some of the best country, bluegrass and/or Americana songs of the week below.
Carly Pearce, “Dream Come True”
In her latest, Grammy Award and CMA Awards winner Pearce lays bare the deep sacrifices that have been required for her to chase her dreams in music, from missing a friend’s wedding due to being on the road, to seeing personal life splashed across the headlines. “Nobody tells you everything you’re gonna lose/ Tryin’ to make the dream come true,” she sings softly, putting her heart and vulnerability at the fore on this unfiltered, introspective track. She wraps the song with devastating final lines about about not seeing her mother as often as her parent grows older, and grapples with the temptation to quit music, though quickly remembering how hard not only she, but her parents, have worked for her to have the career she has. Pearce proves yet again why she’s an artist unafraid of writing deep and etching songs that cut to the core.
Kashus Culpepper, “In Her Eyes”
Since breaking through and gaining acclaim with songs such as “After Me?” and “Believe,” Culpepper follows with this eruption of raging soulfulness, as he sings of the tugging truth that a potential lover, whose “hair shined like sin” and who is as deceptive as she is tempting. “In Her Eyes” froths and surges into a percussion and electric guitar-ripped freefall, commandeered by Culpepper’s soul-scraping, angst-fueled rasp of a voice. Culpepper wrote “In Her Eyes” with Oscar Charles and Brent Cobb, and the song is part of Culpepper’s upcoming project Act I, out in January 2026.
Muscadine Bloodline, “Peter From Picayune”
Duo Muscadine Bloodline delivers its second album of 2025 with Longleaf Lo-Fi, veering from the grizzled rock and full-bodied sound of …And What Was Left Behind and offering up a scaled-back, low-production project that feels tailor-made for the season. Among the standouts is an official studio version of a song the duo first previewed for fans a few years ago. The duo’s Charlie Muncaster and Gary Stanton are heartfelt and unhurried as they unfurl a vivid tale of South Mississippi native Peter, a young man who enlists in the Marines to serve his country when he doesn’t have enough money to enroll in college. They chronicle his deployment overseas and his determination in the heat of battle, with the acoustic-centered production lending extra somberness to lines such as “That boy wouldn’t want a welcome home parade/ Wouldn’t wanna talk about it anyway,” as the song stands as a stellar, humble tribute to military members and their sacrifices.
Waylon Wyatt, “Frostbite”
In his latest, Arkansas native Wyatt delivers a haunting performance, with his voice threading through somber fiddle, organ and guitar. He draws a parallel between the bitter ache of heartbreak and loneliness and the stark, frozen quiet of deep winter. “I’ve been yearning for some burning back in my life/ But it seems to me to be more like frostbite,” he sings, as he distills the yearning for love and sting of loss into piercing lyrics.
Owen Riegling, “Phone Call From Home”
Canadian country singer Riegling has been piling up the career milestones this year, signing with Big Loud, and seeing his album Bruce County (From the Beginning) named album of the year at the Canadian Country Music Awards. He follows his breakthrough with songs such as “Taillight This Town” with this slice of polished, swaggering country-rock, which conveys feelings of chasing dreams through long flights far from home, and piling up bleary-eyed late nights and long days — but still knowing that that familiar feeling of home is there on the other end of the line. Here, Riegling offers more evidence why his smooth vocals and vibrant songwriting are making him an artist on the cusp of wider acclaim.
Irene Kelley feat. Kruger Brothers, “Coal Dust”
Kelley teams with The Kruger Brothers as she pays homage to her grandparents’ story of being hardworking immigrants seeking to build a new life in the United States, and particularly her grandfather’s journey of working in the unforgiving coal mines in order to provide for his family. Kelley’s warm, conversational singing style is astutely complemented by warm guitar, banjo and mandolin. Kelley wrote this tender tribute with Bobby Starnes.
