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The Smile Cancel European Tour As Guitarist Jonny Greenwood Receives ‘Emergency Hospital Treatment’

Radiohead off-shoot group The Smile was forced to cancel its European tour last week after guitarist Jonny Greenwood was hospitalized for a serious infection. “A few days ago, Jonny became seriously ill from an infection that needed emergency hospital treatment, some of it in intensive care,” read a statement from the group on Friday about the unspecified ailment that struck the guitarist and Oscar-nominated composer (The Phantom Thread, There Will Be Blood).

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“Mercifully he is now out of danger and will soon return home. We have been instructed by the medical team in charge of Jonny’s care to cancel all engagements until he has had time to make a full recovery. To that end, the Smile tour of Europe in August is cancelled. Refunds for headline shows will be available from your ticket provider. We all wish Jonny a speedy recovery.”

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The group fronted by Radiohead singer Thom Yorke that also features drummer Tom Skinner launched a European swing in support of the band’s Wall of Eyes album with a run of shows in June that hit Germany, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Romania, Croatia and Bulgaria before winding down in Italy on June 23. They were slated to pick up dates again on August 13 in Sigulda, Latvia, followed by dates in Warsaw, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Bordeaux and Valencia after an earlier run of Euro dates in March.

To date the trio has not announced any North American gigs in support of the full-length follow-up to their 2022 debut studio album, A Light For Attracting Attention.

See the band’s statement below.

Jason Aldean Dedicates ‘Try That in a Small Town’ Performance in Nashville to Trump

Country star Jason Aldean turned up the political heat at his recent concert in Nashville on July 13, dedicating his controversial hit “Try That in a Small Town” to former president Donald Trump.

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The singer, who has long been a vocal Trump supporter, took his admiration to new heights during the performance.

In a TikTok video shared by user @susanelizabethphoto, the “Dirt Road Anthem” singer is heard saying, “What happened in Pittsburgh today with our former president, Mr. Trump, you guys know about this, right?

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“President Trump’s a friend of mine so I want to send this next song out to him. We all know what’s going to happen come November, so it’s all good.” He continued, “Just goes to show you there’s a lot of bullshit in the world, and that’s kind of what this song right here was about, so this one goes out to the pres.”

Aldean also shared his support via Instagram, “This is what a warrior looks like! This is MY guy,” sharing the famous photo of a bloodied Trump raising his fist in defiance.

“Donald Trump, we are thinking about you and praying for you and your family. God has a bigger plan for you, my friend, and I think we all know what that is by now.” He also extended his condolences to the families of the victims affected by the incident, calling it a “cowardly act.”

The dedication aligns with Aldean’s ongoing support for Trump. He and his wife Brittany have been fixtures at Trump events and recently promoted merchandise supporting Trump’s campaign.

Aldean wasn’t the only musician to rally behind Trump following the apparent assassination attempt. Kid Rock posted a fiery video on social media, declaring, “You f— with Trump, you f— with me,” and shared a link to a GoFundMe page for the victims of the shooting, which has raised over $2 million.

“Try That in a Small Town” has been at the center of heated debate since its release, with critics arguing the lyrics promote vigilantism and contain racial undertones.

Aldean has consistently defended the song, maintaining it celebrates small-town community values.

The controversy surrounding the track, however, has not hindered its success; the song rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Aldean’s first leader on the chart. It generated major buzz after CMT pulled its video after some labelled it as pro-gun, pro-violence and akin to a “modern lynching song”.

“Try That in a Small Town” also topped the Digital Song Sales chart and vaulted up the Streaming Songs chart, and topped Google’s 2023 Trending Musicians list, with “Try That in a Small Town” leading song searches.

Watch Jason Aldean dedicate “Try That in a Small Town” to Donald Trump in Nashville below.

Kasabian’s ‘Happenings’ Rocks to U.K. No. 1, Toppling Taylor Swift

Kasabian is back on top! The Leicester rockers have claimed their seventh Official U.K. No. 1 album with their latest release, Happenings.

The eighth studio album sees Sergio Pizzorno, Chris Edwards, Ian Matthews, and Tim Carter displace Taylor Swift to clinch the chart-topping spot.

Happenings joins an illustrious lineup of previous U.K. No. 1 albums, including Empire (2006), West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (2009), Velociraptor! (2011), 48:13 (2014), For Crying Out Loud (2017), and The Alchemist’s Euphoria (2022).

Their debut album, Kasabian (2004), peaked at No. 4, while their compilation album Kasabian: The Albums reached No. 22.

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Speaking to the U.K. Official Charts, Pizzorno expressed the band’s gratitude: “What’s up, pop pickers? That’s seven U.K. Official No. 1 albums on the spin. Thank you to our fans, the greatest in the world. We’re nothing without you, we absolutely adore you!”

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Kasabian also celebrated their achievement with a more colorful remark: “That’s wonderful, f–k yeah! Come on!”

In addition to topping the U.K. Official Albums Chart, Happenings leads the Official Vinyl Albums Chart as the most popular record on vinyl this past week and the U.K. Official Record Store Chart.

Kasabian’s seventh chart-topping album places them in the esteemed company of other music legends such as Blur, Muse, The Prodigy, Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Cliff Richard, and Ed Sheeran.

Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department drops to No. 2 after spending eight non-consecutive weeks at the top. The album remains the U.K.’s biggest of 2024 so far, having shifted over 542,000 chart units since its release in April.

Chappell Roan breaks into the U.K. top 5 with The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, while Eminem’s Curtain Call: The Hits rises two places to No. 7 following the release of his new album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).

Fleetwood Mac’s 50 Years – Don’t Stop climbs four places to No. 8, coinciding with Stevie Nicks’ headlining performance at London’s BST Hyde Park.

Zach Bryan’s The Great American Bar Scene debuts at No. 16, marking a career-best for the Oklahoma country star, while The Killers’ Rebel Diamonds jumps 14 spots to No. 32 as they begin their six-night residency at London’s The O2.

Bean There, Done That: Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Espresso’ Reclaims U.K. Singles Top Spot

Sabrina Carpenter is serving up another round of success with her hit “Espresso,” which has percolated its way back to No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart.

This chart-topper sees Sabrina grinding out her own competition, as her other smash “Please Please Please” cools off to No. 2. This feat makes her the first artist since Ed Sheeran and Elton John to replace their own No. 1 hit, a milestone last achieved in December 2021.

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“Espresso” now enjoys its sixth non-consecutive week at the peak of the charts, steamed by a whopping 6.3 million streams.

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The song’s resurgence extends Sabrina’s record as the female artist to simultaneously hold the top two spots for the most consecutive weeks. She now matches Justin Bieber’s four-week streak, proving her flavor is anything but bitter.

Riding a wave of national pride, the iconic football anthem “Three Lions” by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner, and The Lightning Seeds has surged 53 places, re-entering the top 20 at No. 20.

This leap follows England’s semi-final victory over the Netherlands in Euro 2024, setting the stage for another chart climb with the team facing off against Spain in the final on Sunday, July 14.

Elsewhere, Belfast’s rising star Jordan Adetunji continues to impress, with “KEHLANI” reaching a new peak at No. 21. Chappell Roan’s energetic “HOT TO GO!” climbs to No. 24, while the collaborative hit “Kisses” by Bl3SS, CamrinWatsin, and bbyclose debuts strongly at No. 26.

The Kid LAROI maintains his upward trajectory, with “Nights Like This” now sitting at No. 28.

In a remarkable leap, the powerhouse collaboration of Eminem, Big Sean, and BabyTron sees “Tobey” rocket 49 spots to No. 29 amid the release of Eminem’s highly-anticipated new album The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce).

Rounding out the week’s notable entries, Quavo and Lana Del Rey’s genre-defying “Tough” makes its chart debut at No. 32, further propelling both artists’ impressive chart legacies.

Shakira Shines During Halftime Show at 2024 Copa America Final Match

Shakira officially made her Copa America debut during the final match’s halftime show on Sunday (July 14). In the midst of the Argentina vs. Colombia game, the Colombian global star took the Hard Rock Stadium by storm with a medley of old and new hits.

Presented by Verizon, the superstar, dressed in a metallic silver skirt and halter top, kicked off the performance singing “Hips Don’t Lie.”

“Te Quiero, Colombia!” (I love you, Colombia), she chanted in the middle of the song. Accompanied by a group of dancers—female and robots alike—she continued with “Te Felicito,” “TQG,” and “Puntería,” where she also flaunted her flawless dancing skills.

On TV, the soccer field showcased large 3D wolves and floating gems, all representing her new era.

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Shak has taken center stage at many renowned sports events including the World Cup, Davis Cup, NBA All-Star, and Super Bowl, but this marks her first performance at the oldest international soccer tournament.

“Shakira is an extraordinary South American star who has dazzled the entire world,” Alejandro Domínguez, president of CONMEBOL, previously said in a statement. “Her songs are sung and danced to in every corner of the planet, turning her art into a global phenomenon that crosses borders and is enjoyed by millions of people. We are sure that her performance at the Copa América USA 2024 will enhance the message of healthy passion and unity through sport.”

Ahead of her performance, fellow colleague Karol G performed Colombian’s national anthem, and Abel Pintos performed Argentina’s national anthem. Feid and Maluma were also amongst the other music stars present at the match.

In the United States, Copa América 2024 is broadcast in Spanish on Univision, TUND, and UniMás, and the match is available on FuboTV, DirecTV Stream and TUND’s streaming platforms. Plus, the halftime show can be seen on FOX, Fubo Sports, Fox Sports App, FOXsports.com, TyC Sports Internacional, and FOX Sports 1.

Karol G & Abel Pintos Sing National Anthems at 2024 Copa América Final Match

After a more than one-hour-long delay due to a mass of non-ticket holders forcing themselves into the stadium on Sunday (July 14), the 2024 Copa America final match — where Argentina and Colombia face each other on the field for the championship trophy — officially began at 9:15 p.m. ET.

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As tradition holds, the national anthems of each country were performed ahead of the big game: Karol G helmed Colombia’s national anthem, and Abel Pintos sang Argentina’s national anthem. Videos of the two acts rehearsing at the stadium circulated on social media early Sunday, confirming both of their performances.

Pintos — dressed in a royal blue suit — performed the anthem backed by a passionate and emotional team who sang along. Meanwhile, Karol rocked the signature Colombian jersey and a black leather skirt with knee-high boots as she was accompanied by a roaring crowd.

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Pintos and Karol were not the only music stars present at the soccer tournament. Maluma, Feid, Ryan Castr and Blessd, were also spotted at the stands in support of their national team.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Shakira will perform during the halftime show, marking the first time that the Colombian hitmaker will perform at the oldest international soccer tournament. “Get ready to feel the greatness in a show that will make the continent vibrate!” read the official announcement.

On game night, the Colombian global star expressed in her Instagram story, “See you tonight at the Copa America final. I’m nervous!”

Both the Colombian and Argentine national teams have proven to be the best in the field since the soccer tournament began on June 20, eliminating other strong countries such as Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela. Now, renowned athletes such as Colombia’s James Rodriguez and Argentina’s Lionel Messi are battling out on the field for the 2024 championship title.

Up to now, Argentina has won 15 Copa titles, while Colombia nabbed one in 2001.

Taylor Swift Accidentally Inhales a Bug, Has a Piano Malfunction & Debuts Dresses in Milan

Pest problems. Piano problems. Taylor Swift had to stop performing mid-song over a couple unexpected, but funny, incidents during her acoustic set in Milan, Italy, on Saturday and Sunday (July 13-14).

“Swallowed another one,” Swift dryly remarked to a loud, supportive audience Saturday night in Milan, accepting her fate when a bug flew into her mouth while on stage for the surprise song section at San Siro Stadium.

The pop icon — no stranger to an unfortunate run-in with a bug on an international tour that’s made its way to many an outdoor stadium — wasn’t surprised. “I knew it would happen ’cause there’s so many bugs here tonight,” she told the crowd, pausing for a moment and then explaining the protocol: “I just need to cough a little bit.”

She was sitting at the piano, playing a rather sad and angry Red-era mashup of “I Almost Do” and “The Moment I Knew,” when the insect intruder interfered with her art.

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That mashup on the keys on Saturday followed “The 1″/“Wonderland” on acoustic guitar. (“I’ve never done this in the acoustic section before,” Swift revealed of “The 1,” the opener of Folklore. The song used to be on the main Eras Tour set list, but lost its place when Swift reworked the long-running show to include selections from her newest album, the 31-track collection The Tortured Poets Department, the reigning No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

On Sunday, Swift’s acoustic guitar surprise was a mashup of “Mr. Perfectly Fine” and “Red”; her piano surprise Sunday night was “Getaway Car” with “Out of the Woods,” but she didn’t get very far with that one before noticing something was not quite right with her piano.

“You know what, we finally broke it. We have finally broken this thing,” quipped Swift while someone from her tech crew swiftly helped fix the issue with the Eras instrument.

The star still had trouble closing its top, but celebrated once she got it shut: “I did it!” she squealed, and with a grin got back to performing, starting the song again: “No, nothing good starts in a getaway car.”

In planned surprises from Milan that also had fans talking over the weekend, Swift debuted three Eras Tour costumes: new dresses for her Fearless and Tortured Poets eras of the concert on Saturday, and a new gown for the show’s Speak Now moment on Sunday.

For Fearless, she took the stage in a new, shimmering black-and-gold number (pictured at the top of this article, and in motion in the short concert video below) that was a fun fit for such a big sing-along part of show. The look also calls back to the aesthetic of Swift’s Reputation, fans noticed, feeling a bit Gatsby in design while also reminding Swifties of this bodysuit from the Reputation Tour.

Swift’s new Tortured Poets costume, seen in the image below, is of the same design as her previous one — but with new lyrics written around its skirt. Instead of words from the album’s title track, the updated version of the white Vivienne Westwood dress features lyrics from Swift’s rage-filled “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” “You should be,” it reminds those watching.

And on Sunday, Swift performed “Enchanted,” the one Speak Now song that has a permanent place in the Eras set, in a new ballgown in a color that can best be described as Speak Now purple. Check out a fan’s collage of Swift’s sparkly Speak Now gown collection from The Eras Tour.

See highlights from Swift’s weekend in Milan with the surprise song performance clips embedded below. Next up on the hitmaker’s Europe itinerary, she’ll get to visit Germany, bringing the summer Eras Tour to the cities of Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg and Munich.

2024 Copa América Final: Karol G Will Sing Colombia’s National Anthem

Karol G is set to sing Colombia’s national anthem at the 2024 Copa América final tonight (Sunday, June 14), and Abel Pintos will sing for Argentina. Their performances will be ahead of Shakira‘s anticipated halftime show at the Argentina-Colombia match in Miami, Florida.

Though Karol G’s appearance was apparently meant to be a surprise, the Colombian star confirmed the news herself in a quick chat with Noticias RCN on Sunday afternoon at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, where she was seated next to Feid.

A few hours before the event’s start time, videos of Karol rehearsing at the stadium on Sunday had begin to circulate across social media — so the cat was out of the bag.

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Shakira’s halftime show will mark her first time performing at the oldest national soccer tournament. She’s expected to appear just after the first half of the game.

The 2024 Copa América final is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT.

In the United States, Copa América 2024 will broadcast in Spanish on Univision, TUND, and UniMás, and the match will be available on FuboTV, DirecTV Stream and TUND’s streaming platforms. Plus, the halftime show will be shown on FOX, Fubo Sports, Fox Sports App, FOXsports.com, TyC Sports Internacional, and FOX Sports 1. Find out more details about how to watch here.

Watch the interview with Karol G below, plus a few different teaser clips of her singing at rehearsal at the Hard Rock Stadium. Plus, don’t forget to check out Billboard‘s ultimate playlist of songs to enjoy in celebration of the final match on Sunday.

Fans Choose ENHYPEN’s ‘Romance: Untold’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music in All-Genre Poll

ENHYPEN‘s Romance: Untold has topped this week’s new music poll that features artists in various genres of music.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (July 12) on Billboard, choosing the K-pop seven-piece’s new album as their favorite new music release of the past week.

Romance: Untold brought nearly 76% of the vote on the poll, securing a notable edge ahead of new releases from Katy Perry (“Woman’s World”), Eminem (The Death of Slim Shady), Ice Spice and Central Cee (“Did It First”), Clairo (Charm), and others.

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ENHYPEN unveiled their long-awaited sophomore album, Romance: Untold, on Friday (July 12). The set is a follow-up to the boy band’s 2021 debut, DIMENSION : DILEMMA, which debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart.

“Since our debut, we have been expressing our experiences as artists and honest emotions through our music. ENHYPEN’s authentic story of growth is the biggest inspiration for our music,” member Jungwon previously told Billboard.

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Romance: Untold “marks the beginning of a new chapter for ENHYPEN. The pioneering storytellers have previously captivated audiences with their series of narratives BORDERDIMENSIONMANIFESTO, and BLOOD where they ventured across boundaries, confronted themselves in a complex world, took the first step forward to connect with their peers, and made sacrifices for the blood-bound ‘you,’” per a press release that announced details of the project last month.

It’s been an exciting year for ENHYPEN. In May, the group — featuring members Sunghoon, Heeseung, Sunoo, Jay, Jake, Jungwon and Ni-ki — announced that a feature documentary film focused on its dedicated fan group, ENGENE, is in the works from Hello Sunshine, the multimedia company founded by actress Reese Witherspoon. FANMADE : ENHYPEN will reportedly focus on the relationship between the group and the fan community by celebrating “ENHYPEN’s fans (ENGENEs) and putting them at the heart of the concert creation process.”

Trailing behind Romance: Untold on this week’s poll is Perry’s “Woman’s World,” with 13% of the vote. The song serves as the lead track to the pop star’s upcoming dance-pop album, 143, which arrives on Sept. 20.

See the final results of this week’s poll below. Check out Billboard‘s Friday Music Guide to catch up with more must-hear releases from this week.

Here’s Katy Perry’s Response to Criticism Over Her ‘Woman’s World’ Video

Katy Perry appears to be responding to criticism over her new “Woman’s World” music video.

On Saturday (July 13), the 39-year-old pop superstar shared a behind-the-scenes clip from the video shoot, explaining her intentions for the seemingly female-empowering visual.

“YOU CAN DO ANYTHING! EVEN SATIRE!” Perry captioned the Instagram post.

Following its release on Thursday, some reviews suggested the “Woman’s World” video was a dated attempt at writing a feminist anthem. The visual finds Perry dressed as a pin-up girl and working on a construction site before being hit by an anvil.

Perhaps adding fuel to the fire, the track was co-produced by Dr. Luke, who was accused of sexual misconduct by Kesha. (In 2023, the singer and hitmaker settled their bitter, nine-year legal battle before it was scheduled to go to trial.)

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In her response clip, which seemed to anticipate the forthcoming backlash, the singer is surrounded by dancers on set at the video shoot as she explains the thinking behind it.

“We’re kind of just having fun being a bit sarcastic with it, it’s very slapstick, and very on the nose,” Perry says of the first half of the video, which features half-naked dancers, Perry chugging Whiskey, and her entourage pretending to relieve themselves in urinals.

“With this set, it’s like, ‘We’re not about the male gaze but we really are about the male gaze,’ and we’re really overplaying it and on the nose because I’m about to get smashed, which is like a reset, a reset for me, and a reset for my idea of feminine divine, and it’s a whole different world we go to after this.”

Perry concluded her response, stating, “We wanted to open this video making it look like a super high gloss pop star video, and that’s what it is.”

“Woman’s World” marks Perry’s first proper release since 2020’s Smile, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200. The song serves as the lead track to her upcoming, long-awaited dance-pop album, 143, which is code for “I love you.” The project arrives on Sept. 20.

Watch Perry’s reaction to criticism over her “Woman’s World” video on Instagram below.