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Taylor Swift Donates $5 Million to Hurricane Helene & Milton Relief Efforts

As severe hurricanes continue to tear through parts of the American South, Taylor Swift is doing her part to help.

On Wednesday (Oct. 9), Feeding America announced that the pop star has donated $5 million to relief efforts serving Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina amid Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “This contribution will help communities rebuild and recover, providing essential food, clean water and supplies to people affected by these devastating storms,” reads a statement from CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot on the organization’s Instagram.

“Together, we can make a real impact in supporting families as they navigate the challenges ahead,” the message continued. “Thank you, Taylor, for standing with us in the movement to end hunger and for helping communities in need.”

Billboard has reached out to Swift’s rep for comment.

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The 14-time Grammy winner’s gesture comes less than two weeks after Helene made landfall in Florida on Sept. 26, reaching a record storm surge of 15 feet high and unleashing an unprecedented 40 trillion gallons of rain on the area, according to the Associated Press. The outlet estimates the death toll to be above 230 people.

Millions of Floridians are now evacuating the state as Milton barrels toward the Gulf. The second storm is expected to make landfall late Wednesday.

Swift’s donation marks the latest instance of the pop star giving away portions of her staggering net worth — newly estimated at $1.6 billion, making her the richest female musician — to charitable causes. The “Karma” artist has been supporting numerous food banks all throughout her global Eras Tour, and in December, she doled out $1 million to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee after tornadoes ravaged the state.

See Feeding America’s announcement below.

Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton & Christina Aguilera’s Recent Slays | Billboard News

The Y2K queens have been slaying lately, and we run through their latest moments. Keep watching to see what they’ve been up to!

Tetris Kelly:

Our early 2000s queens are still slaying and staying timeless. From a “Dirrty Queen” to a Freakier Friday.

Lindsay Lohan:

Where was this in the ’90s?

We are taking some time to say “that’s hot.” Paris Hilton is promoting her “Bad Bi— Academy” track with Megan Thee Stallion in a super sexy new post and fans are completely gagged. Fans have been feeling the same way about Christina Aguilera as of late.

The pop queen has looked beautiful, all pun intended, as she celebrated 25 years since her debut and she’s staying fit at Barry’s. Sign me up. And as Lindsay Lohan has been gearing up for the Freaky Friday sequel. She absolutely slayed the house down at Paris Fashion Week, and in a new ad for Nexxus products. Yes queen!

Lindsay Lohan:

Darling, always live like the cameras are watching.

The Best Amazon October Prime Day Deals On Tech Items

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In this photo illustration an Amazon Prime day logo seen...

Source: SOPA Images / Getty / Amazon October Prime Day

It’s Prime Day again, specifically for Amazon Prime members. Luckily, we are here to help you find some tech-related deals.

Amazon is looking out for Prime members and wants to help you get a leg up on your holiday shopping lists, specifically for the techie and gamer in your life.

Beginning on October 8 and ending on October 9, Amazon slashes prices on headphones, earbuds, gaming headphones, smart televisions, and games. So, the last two days have definitely been good days to be an Amazon Prime member, and if you’re not, it’s not too late to become one to take advantage of the deals we are about to list below.

Wireless Headphones & Earbuds

Beats Solo 4 & Solo Buds

Source: Apple / Beats / Beats Solo 4 & Solo Buds

Are you looking for a new pair of wireless headphones or buds? There are plenty to choose from right now. Here are some of the best deals on Amazon.

Gaming Headsets

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless Headphones

Source: SteelSeries / SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless Headphones

Outside of controllers, televisions, and monitors, gamers need headsets to lock in and secure the W. Thankfully, there are some great options available on Amazon at great prices.

Video Games

EA Sports Madden NFL 25

Source: EA Sports / Tiburon / EA Sports Madden NFL 25

There aren’t many games getting that Prime Big Day Deal treatment, but there are some bangers worth adding to the gamer in your life or your personal collection.

Smart TVs

SKOREA-IT-SAMSUNG-EARNINGS

Source: JUNG YEON-JE / Getty

Now is a better time than ever to get a new smart television. Below are some hot deals.

Happy shopping.

Watch Beyoncé Wipe Away Tears as Tina Knowles Gives Speech About the ‘Incredible Joy’ of Motherhood

Tina Knowles may be one of Glamour‘s women of the year in 2024, but she’s been Beyoncé‘s woman of the year since 1981.

The superstar was in the house Tuesday night (Oct. 8) to watch as the publication honored her mom at its Woman of the Year event in New York City, a ceremony also attended by Billie Eilish, Anna Wintour, Kelly Rowland, Demi Lovato and more stars. At one point, Knowles stood up in front of the gathering and made an emotional speech about motherhood, getting choked up as Bey wiped away tears in the audience.

“My daughters have brought me such incredible joy in my life, far more than anything else,” the businesswoman said, getting choked up. “They’ve been right there by my side at the lowest points of my life and have cheered me on at the highest points of my life, making me feel like I could conquer anything.”

As the “Break My Soul” singer smiled encouragingly and blinked back tears, Knowles continued: “I am asked most often, ‘What is the proudest moment you’ve had with your daughters?’ My answer is always the same. What I’m most proud of is the human beings they are.”

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The celebration came a few days after Knowles graced the cover of Glamour alongside Maggie Baird, Mandy Teefey and Donna Kelce, who are the moms of Eilish, Selena Gomez and Travis Kelce, respectively. The former hairstylist echoed her pride for Bey, Solange and honorary daughter Kelly Rowland in the cover story, as well as reflected on how she taught the 32-time Grammy winner to stay humble despite finding fame as a teenager.

“We had some moments where I was like, ‘Listen, they can pick up their own suitcases,’” Knowles recalled of raising Bey. “’You look people in the eye, say hello, don’t turn into a diva. That’s not going to work here.’ You have to teach your kids that … because everybody’s trying to handle everything for them and kissing their butts sometimes. And I am like, ‘No, no, no, you’re not helpless.’”

While at the Women of the Year event, Bey also posed for photos with her mom and Rowland as well as chatted with 2024 Olympian Suni Lee. In one clip, the musician wrapped the gymnast in a hug as a stunned Lee said, “Oh my gosh, thank you!”

See clips of Bey tearing up at Knowles’ speech and hugging Lee below.

This Fender x Teufel Portable Speaker Just Hit Its Lowest Price Yet for October Prime Day

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Fender has expanded beyond artist-approved instruments and guitar amps to create a portable speaker that is ready to give concert-grade audio with each play. In collaboration with the German audio brand Teufel, Fender released a compact and weather-proof speaker, and now it’s on sale for its lowest price yet during the final hours of Amazon’s October Prime Day.

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Designed to look like an amp, the Fender x Teufel Rockstar Go 2 wireless speaker was made for travel. A fully charged battery will get you up to 28 hours of uninterrupted use, while the included carrying strap can be used to attach the device to your bike or backpack, or you can carry it by hand. For a limited time, you can take advantage of 23% off the speaker and enjoy booming stereo sound for only $100.

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Keep reading to learn more and shop the Fender x Teufel portable speaker below.

Amazon

Fender x Teufel Rockstar Go 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

$99.99

$129.99

23% off

Getting caught in the rain won’t deter the Fender x Teufel speaker from optimal performance as it’s made with materials that are dust-, shock- and waterproof as well as cold-resistant. Amazon shoppers have been impressed with its performance giving the speaker a 4.7 star rating.

And it’s clear to see why: inside, the two aluminum full-range drivers and single passive bass radiator delivers a deep stereo sound while the Dynamic Bass promises to deliver a “crisp low-range” no matter the volume.

The Bluetooth compatibility will allow you to connect your smart devices and instantly play your party playlist whether you’re indoors or hosting a party in the park. You can also connect up to two Go 2 portable speakers for a more immersive listening experience.

For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best soundbar under $200, waterproof outdoor speakers and over-ear headphones.

Lil Nas X Says New Music Is Coming ‘Next Month’

New Lil Nas X music is around the corner!

The 25-year-old superstar took to social media to tease a release he has in store. “GUESS WHOS FINALLY DROPPING NEW MUSIC NEXT MONTH ?!!” he captioned the self-taped video, in which he’s seen dancing around his bedroom to a bouncy unreleased song. “Hit me with your lovin’/ Boy I know you want it/ Pick me up and love me/ I’ll be waiting on you,” Lil Nas X sings on the breezy track.

The Georgia native hasn’t released an album since his 2021 debut LP Montero. Featuring the Billboard Hot 100-topping hits “Industry Baby” and “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” the project peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

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He released a handful of singles over the years, including “J CHRIST,” “Where Do We Go Now?” and “Here We Go!” off the soundtrack for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. He also recently teamed up with Camila Cabello on the single “He Knows,” which followed his duet “Tennessee” with Kevin Abstract.

Back in January, he unveiled the documentary Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero on HBO. The 95-minute feature follows the star over the course of 60 days as he embarked on the North American leg his first-ever headlining tour in late 2022.

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Taylor Swift Re-Creates Game-Day Photo With Pregnant Brittany Mahomes: ‘Same Girls, New Bump’

Taylor Swift is back to her game-day routine with the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs now five games into the 2024-25 season, and she and Brittany Mahomes have the pictures to prove it.

On Wednesday (Oct. 9) — two days after the reigning Super Bowl champions won against the New Orleans Saints — Mahomes shared a game-day snap showing the friends re-creating one of their favorite poses from last season. In the photo, the pop star sips her drink while resting a hand on the former college soccer player’s baby bump, as Mahomes smiles into the camera with Lyndsay Bell standing on her other side.

“Same girls, new bump,” wrote the Kansas City Current co-owner, who is married to Patrick Mahomes and expecting her third baby with the quarterback.

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The picture is a callback to one the three ladies snapped in early January, which found them standing in the same position but with Lyndsay — who is married to tight end Blake Bell and was pregnant at the time — standing in the middle instead of Brittany. When the Chiefs won the AFC Championship later that month, the trio took another picture in the same position.

In all three photos, Swift sips on a drink — but in the latest iteration, her cup is decorated with a bedazzled “87” patch in honor of Travis Kelce’s jersey number. It wasn’t the only sparkly thing about the “Anti-Hero” singer Monday, though; looking chic in a plaid dress and knee-high platform boots, Swift arrived at Arrowhead Stadium with glittery faux freckles on her cheeks.

Brittany first revealed that she was pregnant with her third baby in July, sharing an adorable video with her husband and their two kids — 3-year-old daughter Sterling and almost-2-year-old Bronze — showing off No. 3’s sonogram. “Round three, here we come,” the onetime Sports Illustrated model captioned the post, which Swift and Kelce both “liked.”

This football season, Swift also recreated another one of her iconic photos from last year with Chariah Gordon, who is engaged to wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. In October 2023, Gordon shared a photo of herself cuddling up to Hardman while the 14-time Grammy winner planted a kiss on Kelce’s cheek. Almost a year later, Gordon posted a new picture of the foursome striking the same poses, this time on the first Chiefs game of fall 2024.

GloRilla, Offset & More of the Best Music Moments From HBCU Homecoming | Billboard News

We’re running through the best music moments at HBCU Homecoming, presented by Capital One. Keep watching to see what they are!

Tetris Kelly:

GloRilla, Offset, Lil Durk and more have taken the stage at homecoming celebrations, and with homecoming season in full swing, we have your go-to guide of the best events around the country. At HBCUs, homecoming is more than a weekend of events; it’s a celebration of culture and legacy. Each school brings their own vibe, but one thing is certain: No matter where you go, it’s going to be lit. Howard University has a history of throwing the hottest concerts with legends, attracting both fans and celebrities. Last year, their annual homecoming concert “Yardfest” featured performances from Offset and Victoria Monét. The Tennessee State Tigers pop off every time. In 2022, they had something for everyone, including trending acts like GloRilla and icons like the Ying Yang Twins. Atlanta University Center combines the power of several schools for one epic concert. Last year, Morehouse and Spelman teamed up to host a show with Lil Durk, Young Nudy and Veeze — what a lineup! Happy homecoming season to all who are celebrating, and check out more music that’s shaping culture on Billboard.com.

Best Photos From the 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards Red Carpet

The 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards took place Tuesday night (Oct. 8) at Drai’s Beach Club in Las Vegas. The awards show will air Oct. 15 on BET at 8 p.m. ET. Fat Joe steered the show for the third consecutive year as the host.

There was plenty of star power taking over Sin City. Soulja Boy, 2 Chainz, 41, Big Boogie, Skilla Baby, Lola Brooke, E-40, Lightskinkeisha, Odumodublvck and more had the red carpet going up on a Tuesday.

“Joe Crack is back for the three-peat, night night baby,” Fat Joe said in a statement. “It’s been a dream to host the BET Hip Hop Awards the past few years, and I’m looking forward to taking things to the next level in Las Vegas. We’re going to be in a new city and location, but the excitement and entertainment at the awards will be even bigger than ever.”

Travis Scott was honored with the 2024 I Am Hip Hop Award. He follows recent I Am Hip Hop Award winners like Marley Marl, Trina and Nelly. La Flame earned six nominations in total.

“Travis Scott is a visionary artist who continues to push the boundaries of music, culture, and live performance,” Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming and music strategy said in a statement. “With his unmatched creativity and relentless passion, he has redefined what it means to be a captivating, inspiring entertainer within the hip hop genre. We look forward to celebrating him at BET Hip Hop Awards 2024.”

Megan Thee Stallion led all artists with 12 nominations to her name, including hip hop artist of the year and three separate noms in the best collaboration category. This is only the fourth time that the BET Hip Hop Awards have taken place outside Atlanta since 2006.

Tune in on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m. ET to watch the 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards on BET, and find photos from the red carpet below.

Barry White’s Estate Files Copyright Case Over ‘Like That’ — But Not Against Future and Metro Boomin

Barry White’s estate is suing over allegations that a prominent sample at the heart of Future and Metro Boomin’s chart-topping “Like That” infringes the copyright to a 1973 song by the legendary singer — but they aren’t accusing the stars of any wrongdoing.

In a complaint filed last week in Manhattan federal court, White’s estate claimed that a 1986 hip-hop song called “Everlasting Bass” by the duo Rodney-O (Rodney Oliver) & Joe Cooley stole key elements from White’s 1973 song “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby.”

Attorneys for the White estate say they waited nearly four decades to sue over the song because it was “released prior to the internet and was not widely distributed,” leaving the estate “unaware of the song when it was first released.”

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White’s heirs are certainly aware of “Everlasting” now, and it’s not hard to guess why: The song was heavily sampled in “Like That,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 earlier this year — so prominently that Future and Metro Boomin credited Rodney-O & Joe Cooley as co-writers.

By using an infringing sample, the lawsuit claims that “Like That” also infringes White’s copyrights: “‘Like That’ copies substantial elements of ‘I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Babe’ … including but not limited to the iconic, immediately recognizable bass line,” the estate wrote in its Thursday (Oct. 3) complaint.

But crucially, the White estate isn’t accusing Future, Metro Boomin or co-creator Kendrick Lamar of any legal wrongdoing. The lawsuit pins the blame solely on Rodney-O & Joe Cooley, saying they agreed to defend the stars against such accusations when they cleared the sample.

The duo did not immediately return a request for comment on the lawsuit’s allegations.

Released in March as the third single off Future and Metro’s collaborative album We Don’t Trust You, “Like That” reigned at No. 1 for three weeks and spent another 28 weeks on the chart. At the time of its debut, most of the focus was on the lyrics — since the track was one of the early salvos in the diss war between Kendrick and Drake.

But the underlying music featured a sample from “Everlasting Bass,” a classic early hip-hop track that’s also been sampled by Three 6 Mafia, Lil Wayne and E-40. In an April interview with Vibe, Rodney-O said he loved what Future and Metro did with his song.

“It is crazy because the song was big when it came out and for it to be even bigger now all these years later, it’s crazy,” he said. “I heard the song, I knew it was good, but when it comes out and the world hears it how you hear it and react to it the way you reacted to it, that’s confirmation.”

As for White’s song, “Gonna Love You” is one of the legendary singer’s top commercial hits, peaking at No. 3 on the Hot 100 in June 1973 and ultimately spending 18 weeks on the chart.