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02 Jul 2024

Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Girl Meets World’ Co-Stars Celebrate ‘Espresso’ Success: ‘Been Fans Since 2013’

Isn’t the Girls Meet World cast sweet? I guess so!

Sabrina Carpenter is fresh off two top 5 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, with “Espresso” hitting No. 3 on the all-genre songs tally and “Please Please Please” marking the pop star’s first chart-topper.

To celebrate her recent success, her two former Girls Meet World co-stars, August Maturo and Ava Kolker, took to TikTok to share a sweet video. “How you guys know Sabrina vs. how we know Sabrina,” Maturo wrote over a clip of himself and Kolker lip syncing along to “Espresso” before a series of photo of the duo posing with Carpenter on the Disney Channel series set flashed on the screen.

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“We’ve been fans since 2013 y’all are just catching up,” Maturo captioned the post.

Carpenter celebrated the news of her first Hot 100 No. 1 on Instagram, posting a three-item carousel to her feed last week. The first photo is the graphic of the Hot 100, followed by a video of Carpenter performing the signature claps in “Please Please Please” with co-writer/producer Jack Antonoff and co-writer Amy Allen, plus engineer Laura Sisk off camera.

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“MY FIRST #1 on the @billboard HOT 100!!!!!!!” reads Carpenter’s caption on Instagram. “And espresso at #4.. I’m very immensely grateful so i will surely always remember this day for the rest of my life! @jackantonoff @amyallen i deeply love this song and i love you both!!!!! I love our pitchy claps!!!!! I love @sharp_stick [Sisk] !!!! good things come in three’s. thank you everyone who’s listened and made it so much fun to have these songs out in the world. more to come soon.”

02 Jul 2024

Amazon’s $30 Personal Air Conditioner Has Reviewers Praising Its ‘Powerful’ Cooling Technology

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.

July 2023 was considered to be the hottest month in the global temperature record, according to NASA findings, and this summer is proving to be similarly toasty. Staying cool during especially hot days is essential for your health and safety, whether it’s with a handheld fan or turning up the air conditioner. Increased use of your AC though, means you’ll likely have higher electric bills, but that’s where owning a personal air conditioner can come in handy.

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Amazon has discounted one of its most highly sought after personal air coolers by 40% off, bringing it down to a wallet-friendly $30. More than 2,000 shoppers have purchased the device this month claiming “it offers exceptional cooling with its powerful evaporative technology and quiet operation.” And, since it comes in a compact size, you can take it practically anywhere.

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Keep reading to shop the deal now.

blue portable air conditioner

editor’s pick

Wesapor Portable Air Conditioner

$29.98

$49.98

40% off

Wesapor’s Portable Air Conditioner isn’t a traditional air conditioner per se, but it offers similar cooling capabilities for a major steal, compared to the in-window units that typically run hundreds of dollars. While it won’t be powerful enough to turn your room into arctic-like temperatures, it does have the ability to decrease the heat by using a cooling fan system that relies on water. The device has a 1000 ml capacity and turns cold water into a cold breeze. Unlike a regular air conditioner, this portable version operates using low energy to help save you money. The touchscreen also allows you to change the settings, whether you want to add a time, change the fan speed, or have some light misting.

Shoppers can’t get enough of how “outstanding” the cooler works, claiming when you add ice to the reservoir, it can last a day, making it a “good replacement for an air conditioner.”

There are a variety of other air cooling solutions out there that will have you ditching an oscillating fan to keep your room at a more comfortable temperature. The main differences between a traditional air conditioner and air cooler is that an air conditioner must be vented in order to circulate cold air whereas an air cooler doesn’t need ventilation — just add water and the device will suck fresh air through a filter and produce colder air in turn.

In case you’re looking for more options, keep reading.

What Are the Best Personal Air Conditioners?

To help you find the best personal air conditioners and cooling fans, ShopBillboard rounded up a variety of top-rated models you can buy online now.

walmart portable air conditioner with black touchscreen

without hose pick

KLOUDIC Portable Air Conditioner

$42.99

$59.99

28% off

This portable air conditioner from Walmart eliminates the need for having to stick a hose out of your window thanks to its slim construction. All you need to do is add water to the reservoir (up to 800 ml) and turn it on. There are three fan settings to choose from and you can also switch the device from a portable AC to a humidifier or just a plane fan. The touchscreen also includes a built-in light for added ambiance.

Some reviewers have labeled the bestselling mini air cooler “better than an oscillating fan” claiming the light misting helps quickly cool them down — especially when you place it next to you at night.

mini gray air conditioner on top of table

EDITOR’S CHOICE

EvaCHILL

$84.90

$99

14% off

$99

EvaChill‘s evaporative cooler keeps things compact in a small size that you can easily place on a side table without leaving it feeling cluttered. It uses evaporative technology that utilizes water as a way to push cold air into your space. Attached to the design is a built-in handle that’ll allow you to transport the mini air cooler from one place to another more easily.

Verified Amazon reviewers have described how “shocked” they are over its cooling results, saying it “adds just the right amount of cool to keep me comfortable all night long without drying me out like a fan.”

model using evaporative air cooler with remote

evaporative cooler pick

Vebreda Evaporative Air Cooler

$79.98

$259.98

69% off

For 69% off, you can score Walmart’s bestselling evaporative cooler, which will help bring a chill vibe to your room. Unlike a personal air cooler, an evaporative design like this model will cool the air by using evaporated water. This design comes with a tank that holds up to five liters you can pre-fill with water. Its versatile build also allows it to switch to a fan, humidifier and purifier just through a push of a button on the included remote.

Reviewers claim it’s best for “drier” climates since the device adds cold moisture to the air using evaporated water.

For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best box fans, music coolers and portable ice baths.

02 Jul 2024

Country Musician-Songwriter Rusty Golden, Son of Oak Ridge Boys’ William Lee Golden, Dies at 65

William “Rusty” Golden, a musician, songwriter and son of The Oak Ridge Boys member William Lee Golden, died July 1, 2024 at his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was 65.

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Golden was born Jan. 3, 1959 in Brewton, Alabama and was the eldest son of William and Frogene Golden. By age 13, he was playing drums for the band The Rambos, featuring songwriter Dottie Rambo. He wrote his first song by setting one of his grandmother’s poems to music. After being inspired by an Elton John concert in 1972, Golden began learning to play piano and by 17, he was touring with Larry Gatlin as a keyboard player, before playing on studio recordings including Gatlin’s 1977 album Love Is Just a Game, Marty Stuart’s 1999 concept project Pilgrim and more.

A few years later, he moved further into the spotlight, forming The Boys Band, with the group recording their debut album which included the 1982 song “Runner” (the song’s video was the first produced in Nashville for MTV) and “Don’t Stop Me Baby (I’m on Fire),” which entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The group disbanded in 1984.

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That same year, Golden earned an RIAA Gold record as a songwriter for The Oak Ridge Boys’ Bobbie Sue album, which encouraged Golden to start writing songs with Marc Speer. In 1985, Golden and Speer launched Golden Speer, which included Golden’s brother Chris Golden on lead vocals. By the following year, the label had shifted directions, with Rusty and Chris recording as the duo The Goldens and releasing the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart entries “Put Us Together Again” and “Sorry Girls.”

They moved to Capitol/SBK Records and issued the 1990 album Rush For Gold, which included the songs “Take Me Back (To the Country),” “Keep the Faith” and “Long Gone.” Rusty then returned to his gospel music roots, writing songs including the 2008 songs “What Salvation’s Done For Me” from The Booth Brothers, and Karen Peck & New River’s “I Want to Thank You.” He also released the solo albums Sober and Angels.

In 2020, Rusty and Chris teamed with William Lee Golden for the family band William Lee Golden and the Goldens. They were joined by brother Craig, nieces Elizabeth and Rebekah and nephew Elijah to create a three-generation family band. The group released a trio of projects—Country Roads: Vintage Country Classics, Old Country Church Gospel and Southern Accents: Pop & Country Rock. Last year, Rusty was honored for his musicianship when he was named keyboard player of the year at the Josie Music Awards.

William Lee Golden said in a statement, “This is the hardest thing ever for a father to have to face. I love family more than anything. Rusty was a great musician, a talented songwriter and a wonderful son. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers for the days ahead. I love you, son.”

Rusty Golden is preceded in death by his mother Frogene Normand, grandparents Luke & Rutha Mae Golden, and Elliot & Estelle Normand. He is survived by his father William Lee Golden (Simone), and brothers Craig Golden, Chris Golden (Marie), and Solomon Golden, as well as many nieces, nephews, other extended family members.

02 Jul 2024

BTS’ Jin to Serve as South Korea’s Torchbearer at 2024 Paris Olympics

Jin is representing his home country at the 2024 Olympics!

The BTS superstar will participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay as a torchbearer from South Korea, it was announced on Tuesday (July 2). While specifics have yet to be revealed, Jin’s relay aims to spread the message of “harmony” and “peace,” per a press release.

The ceremonial Olympic Torch Relay happens before each set of games, and features the Olympic flame traveling from Olympia, Greece, through various countries and ending up at the site of that year’s Olympic games. It was first performed at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics.

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Jin recently completed his mandatory military service, and celebrated the special moment by reuniting with his BTS bandmates, who were all given leave to mark the milestone.

The Paris Summer Olympics begin on July 26, and earlier this year, it was announced that Snoop Dogg will be joining NBC’s team to report on the games this summer, and will be onsite to deliver “regular reports” on the Olympic Primetime Show.

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“I grew up watching the Olympics and am thrilled to see the incredible athletes bring their A-game to Paris. It’s a celebration of skill, dedication, and the pursuit of greatness,” Snoop said in a statement at the time of the announcement. “We’re going to have some amazing competitions and, of course, I will be bringing that Snoop style to the mix. It’s going to be the most epic Olympics ever, so stay tuned, and keep it locked. Let’s elevate, celebrate, and make these games unforgettable, smoke the competition, and may the best shine like gold. Peace and Olympic LOVE, ya dig?”

The Paris Games are set to take place July 26 through Aug. 11. NBC and its streaming service, Peacock, will be providing coverage of the Olympics.

02 Jul 2024

Rudy Giuliani Disbarred In New York For Spreading 2020 Election Lies On Behalf Of Donald Trump

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Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor and attorney to Donald Trump, was disbarred in New York on Tuesday in connection to spreading lies about the 2020 election and attempting to overturn the results. Rudy Giuliani was one of the chief Trump proponents who pushed the angle of their being an election fraud during the former business mogul’s failed bid for reelection.

NBC News reports that Rudy Giuliani, 80, is still facing charges of election tampering on behalf of the presumptive Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump in the states of Arizona and Georgia, and was named as a co-conspirator in the federal election interference case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.

In an order that was entered on Tuesday, Smith stated that Giuliani had no “good faith basis” to put all of his chips in with Trump in pushing the election fraud narrative. In a New York appeals court, several statements made by Giuliani were presented and painted as false, including those made during a post-election press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping amid reports that many outlets called the race for President Joe Biden.

“These false statements were made to improperly bolster respondent’s narrative that due to widespread voter fraud, victory in the 2020 United States presidential election was stolen from his client,” read the decision from a New York appeals court. Giuliani also faces being disbarred in Washington, D.C. after a recent recommendation from the D.C. Bar’s Board of Professional Responsibility.

This latest setback Giuliani adds to a mountain of other happenings since aligning himself with Trump. Back in May, Giuliani’s WABC radio show was eventually canceled after a suspension. Further, a Georgia jury awarded two poll workers $148 million after Giuliani claimed the pair were enacting election fraud without any proof to show.

Rudy Giuliani has not made a statement regarding his disbarment from New York.

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Photo: Getty

02 Jul 2024

Justice Sotomayor Condemns Trump Immunity Ruling By SCOTUS, President Biden Agrees

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The Supreme Court’s ruling on the claim of immunity by former President Donald Trump was condemned in a dissent by Justice Sonia Sotomayor and President Joe Biden afterward.

The nation was rocked on Monday (July 1), as the Supreme Court issued its ruling on former President Donald Trump’s claims of absolute immunity for his actions in office. The vote was 6 – 3, as all of the conservative justices including Chief Justice John Roberts ruled that Trump was entitled to absolute immunity for acts carried out in his official capacity as president, but also ruled that not all of those acts were official. The ruling was seen as a major win for Trump as his trial to determine his role in the events leading up to the January 6 insurrection will now not take place until after the November presidential elections.

The three liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson – dissented, with Sotomayor delivering a blistering opinion underscoring the severity of what took place. “Today’s decision to grant former Presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the Presidency,” Sotomayor wrote, pointedly criticizing their conservative colleagues and Roberts, who authored the ruling. “Orders the Navy’s Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune.” She would end the dissent with “The indictment paints a stark portrait of a President desperate to stay in power. Because our Constitution does not shield a former President from answering for criminal and treasonous acts, I dissent.”

Sotomayor’s opinion also called out how the majority – including Trump-appointed Justices Neil Gorsuch, Amy Comey Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh – didn’t offer clear guidelines as to what is deemed official. President Joe Biden issued a nationwide address on Monday evening noting that “America will have to render a judgment about Donald Trump’s behavior” and said the ruling “almost certainly means that there are almost no limits to what the president can do. “This is a fundamentally new principle,” Biden said. “It’s a dangerous precedent, because the power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law.” Biden also highlighted the danger apparent if Trump returns to office in November urging people to vote for democracy, stating that he “will be even more emboldened to do whatever he pleases whenever he wants to do it.” 

02 Jul 2024

Dua Lipa Goes Shares Romantic Photos With Boyfriend Callum Turner at Glastonbury

Glastonbury was both a romantic and professional outing for Dua Lipa, who both headlined the festival and enjoyed the event with boyfriend Callum Turner by her side.

And now that the weekend is over, the 28-year-old pop star shared a carousel of photos from her time on the grounds — featuring a couple sweet snaps with the Fantastic Beasts actor that mark the couple’s Instagram debut.

In one of the pictures, Turner appears to kiss Lipa’s head, one arm around her shoulder. In another, the pair lays together on the grass, engrossed in conversation with big smiles on their faces.

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“dancing until you see the sunrise at stone circle is the glasto ritual,” she captioned the post, which also featured photos of the singer with friends as well as a video snippet of her headlining set.

In addition to Lipa, Coldplay and SZA also led the 2024 festival June 26-30. Plus, Camila Cabello, Avril Lavigne, Cyndi Lauper and dozens of other artists took the Glastonbury stage.

The “Levitating” singer and Turner have been rumored to be dating for months. In February, they attended a British Vogue party in London together followed by a BRIT Awards afterparty in March. By the time several fan cameras captured them holding hands at Glastonbury over the weekend, it had been pretty well established that the two stars are a couple.

Lipa’s headlining set at the festival comes about a month after her latest album Radical Optimism debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, her highest peak to date. The musician has several tour dates slated across Europe throughout the summer, as well as a string of performances in Asia for November and December.

The “Houdini” artist also recently opened up about her political opinions, especially concerning her recent support for Palestine amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. “It’s always going to be met with a backlash and other people’s opinions, so it’s a big decision,” she told Radio Times last month. “I balance it out, because ultimately I feel it’s for the greater good, so I’m willing to [take that hit].”

02 Jul 2024

Ye Sued Again by More Former Yeezy Employees | Billboard News

Ye is being sued again, along with his former head of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, for intolerable harassment and discrimination. Keep watching to learn more.

Tetris Kelly:

Ye is facing yet another lawsuit. Let’s break it down. A new lawsuit, filed in the District Court of the Central District of California, is alleging Ye and his former head of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, subjected employees to intolerable harassment and discrimination. The eight plaintiffs came from across the United States, the UK, Hungary, and Nigeria to work at Yeezy. Some plaintiffs claimed they were as young as 14 while working. The claims made by the plaintiffs include being segregated into different working environments by race, where Black and African employees were given less favorable work assignments, minors were allegedly exposed to pornographic images related to Ye’s scrap YZY PORN venture, and all eight of the former employees claimed they were not paid for their work. While Billboard has reached out to Ye’s rep for comment, Yiannopoulos addressed the lawsuit on X, writing in part, “All I’ve done since has tried to get these app developers paid, as voluminous correspondence demonstrates. Anyone asserting otherwise is uncritically repeating mendacious lies from a lawsuit that takes more imaginative leaps than The Lord of the Rings.”

02 Jul 2024

Juice WRLD Honored by LeBron James’ Son Bronny With Lakers Jersey Number Choice

LeBron James’ son Bronny James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers last week and he’s paying tribute to Juice WRLD with his No. 9 jersey.

James was officially introduced as a Los Angeles Laker in a press conference on Tuesday (July 2) where he explained how the late rapper served as the inspiration behind his jersey number selection.

“Juice has been a big part of me keeping calm in some situations that I’ve been through. Just paying homage to him, especially cause he passed. It’s a really important thing for me.”

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The Chicago native was a mental health advocate and vulnerably opened up about his battles with substance abuse, which helped Bronny navigate certain times in life with the spotlight on him as the teenage son of one of the best to ever pick up a basketball.

Back in 2022, Bronny got Juice WRLD’s “9 9 9” affirmations tattooed on his neck behind his ear. Juice explained to MTV News in 2018 that “9 9 9” stood for turning negatives in life into positives, which Bronny struck a chord with James.

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“9 9 9 represents taking whatever ill, whatever bad situation, whatever struggle you’re going through and turning it into something positive to push yourself forward,” Juice told host Sway Calloway at the time.



Unfortunatley, Juice WRLD’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 21 when he passed away from an accidental overdose due to oxycodone and codeine toxicity after suffering a seizure at Chicago’s Midway Airport in December 2019.

Juice burst onto the hip-hop scene in early 2018 with massive anthems such as “All Girls Are the Same” and the Sting-interpolating “Lucid Dreams.” The latter reached No. 2 on the Hot 100.

LeBron reposted a photo of his son in the No. 9 Lakers jersey to his Instagram Story last week with an homage to the “Robbery” rapper: “999 @Bronny,” he wrote with several fire emojis.

If carrying the James name wasn’t enough pressure, Bronny will look to keep Juice’s message and legacy going while rocking the No. 9 this season for the Lakers.

Los Angeles drafted Bronny with the 55th pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft last week to make good on LeBron’s desire to suit up with his son as Laker teammates this season.

Watch Bronny give Juice WRLD his flowers below.

02 Jul 2024

Zac Efron Reveals the ‘Get’cha Head in the Game’ Scene in ‘High School Musical’ Was Filmed in Just 5 Takes With ‘No CGI’

Zac Efron really had his head in the game and his heart in the song while filming High School Musical.

The beloved actor recently sat down with Vanity Fair to revisit some of his most famous films, including the 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie that skyrocketed him into superstardom. In HSM, Efron plays Troy Bolton, a star basketball player at East High School who must make a decision between continuing his life as an athlete or persuing his passion as a performer.

Upon watching the scene for the song, “Get’cha Head in the Game,” in which Efron and his cast mates sing and dance, while also performing basketball stunts, the actor revealed that the stunts were all real. “I really drilled all those shots. No CGI in there, I don’t think we had the budget for that. That makes me feel good,” he shared.

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Efron continued, ”That just takes me back to where all of us were at, all the young men on that team. We were so young and so incredibly motivated. Not a lot of people know this, but High School Musical was just a made-for-TV movie and it was a very small, condensed shooting schedule. There was very limited rehearsal time.

“Kenny Ortega had pretty big ambitions for this movie, but I think he was pleasantly surprised when all the boys were excited to not only fulfill what he wanted, but also to take it one step further. This scene with the basketballs and the dribbling, we started practicing with the basketballs and I think we might have practiced for two days prior to doing that scene. After like five takes, we nailed it. We got it all in one. We didn’t cut from start to finish.”

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Efron concluded by noting, “I think that was the first time all of us went, ‘Is this going to be cool?’”

Watch Zac Efron react to High School Musical, as well as films like Neighbors, A Family Affair, The Greatest Showman and The Iron Claw, below.