Author: djfrosty
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It goes without saying that on the upcoming third season of Max’s rich-people-behaving-badly-in-paradise smash, The White Lotus, things are not going great. As usual, director/writer/creator Mike White has gathered a yacht-load of A-list and character actor killers for the latest edition of the show, described in a release as a social satire set “at an exclusive Thai resort,” which once again follows the exploits of guests and employees over the span of a tumultuous week.
The new trailer for the eight-episode seasons slated to premiere on Feb. 16 also puts a further spotlight on BLACKPINK‘s LISA, who makes her acting debut in the series alongside stars Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walter Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Michella Monoghan, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Natasha Rothwell, the latter serving as the only known returning cast member from season two.
As in a previous sneak peek, we see Lisa (listed in the credits by her full name: Lalisa Manobal), as both a prim staff health mentor at the resort, as well as a dancer in a traditional glittering headpiece entertaining guests at a late-night beach party.
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Over a montage of sex, fireworks and screaming, an off-camera voice warns: “at the end of the week, you will be an entirely different person,” followed by the maxim/warning, “what happens in Thailand, stays in Thailand.” The eponymous resort is, of course, the real star, serving as a hedonistic playground for the rich and entitled, and, if the trailer tells us anything, as well as the site of at least one murder.
Bibb, Coon and Monoghan play a trio of longtime friends escaping on a girls’ trip, with Lisa making her first appearance as a smiling, waving guest greeter as the series stars arrive on a luxury yacht. “I hope you enjoy Thailand,” she says with a smile to Posey and husband, wealthy businessman Timothy Ratliff (Isaacs).
As in past seasons, the first trailer introduces us to the couples, families and friends looking for a reboot getaway, immediately setting up some of the simmering tensions/personality conflicts in their relationships. Lisa’s character, named Mook, gives a wan smile and joins a fellow employee for a traditional dance mid-way through the preview, with a voiceover intoning, “everyone comes to Thailand, they’re either hiding from someone or they’re looking for someone.”
When Isaacs’ character learns that his fortune has been wiped out things begin going haywire, with a masked gunman holding up a luxury shop, leading a White Lotus security guard to lament “I don’t want to hurt anyone” as he hits the gun range for practice.
“You have to be stronger than this to do this job,” Lisa’s Mook tells him in Thai. As tensions begin to flare cracks show in the various relationships, leading a final, chaotic montage of sex, partying, gunplay and, as usual, at least one bodybag. As with past seasons, White has kept the details of the plot a closely guarded secret so far.
Lisa follows fellow BLACKPINK member JENNIE into the acting lane, with the latter making her debut in the one-season-and-done HBO music drama The Idol, which starred Lily-Rose Depp and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye.
Watch the season 3 The White Lotus trailer below. The White Lotus season 3 debuts on HBO at 9 p.m. on Feb. 16 and will be available to stream on Max afterwards.
Kane Brown and Jelly Roll have partnered for a rock-fueled track that addresses depression and despair. Meanwhile, Lauren Alaina honors the strong women who have raised and supported her. Meanwhile, Kashus Culpepper and Hudson Westbrook both issue new music, while duo Pitney Meyer (Mo Pitney and Johnny Meyer) release a new bluegrass collaboration.
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Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of the best songs from country, Americana and/or bluegrass of the week below.
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Kane Brown feat. Jelly Roll, “Haunted”
These two headlining artists team up for an unfiltered, gut-punch of a song aimed at supporting listeners who have (or do) struggle with depression and/or thoughts of self-harm. Jelly Roll’s career has been defined, in part, by his musical mission to give a voice to those who have weathered addictions, mental health issues and a myriad of hardships. Meanwhile, Brown, long known for straddling musical genres, has remained consistent in being open with fans Together, Jelly Roll’s charismatic, dramatic vocal makes for a dynamic pairing with Brown’s grounded, foreboding vocal, as they sing about how wealth doesn’t always equal happiness and contentment, nor is it a shield from persistent, invasive thoughts. The song’s slow groove builds in force with every verse, with a crash of searing guitars mirroring the intensity of the song’s message.
Lauren Alaina, “Those Kind of Women”
In her latest release, Lauren Alaina honors the strong, supportive women in her life — women who throughout her life have given constant support, a shoulder to cry on, someone to celebrate with, and women with wisdom to share. It’s a tender ballad, with Alaina braiding her warm vocal with lyrics laced with imagery of sweet tea, emergency funds tucked away in coffee cans and a childhood surrounded by the music of “Dolly and Dylan.” “Those Kind of Women” was written by Lainey Wilson, Derek George, Lynn Hutton and Monty Criswell. Alaina also had a sweet surprise for fans at the end of the video for “Those Kind of Women,” revealing that she is expecting her first child this summer.
Kashus Culpepper, “Jenni”
Alabama-born singer-songwriter Culpepper doesn’t need much to issue a compelling song — in this case, he uses little more than guitar, harmonica and his soulful, silky-yet-grainy voice to create this open-hearted love song, inspired by seeing an audience member when he was brought onstage to sing with Zach Bryan during a music festival last year. Culpepper wrote “Jenni” with Jordan Dozzi and Jacob Durrett; on this splendid track, Culpepper offers up his organic sound with a brand of hard-earned, raw realness that can’t be feigned.
Hudson Westbrook, “Mine Tomorrow”
Texas-born Westbrook has broken through in recent months with songs including “5 to 9” and “House Again,” and returns with “Mine Tomorrow,” the first new music since the release of his self-titled EP. This tender track finds Westbrook declaring that his future is secure no matter what happens–as long as his lover is by his side. Westbrook wrote “Mine Tomorrow” with Dan Alley and Ryan Beaver, and Westbrook delivers this laid-back love song with a warm, nonchalant country charm.
Pitney Meyer, “Bear Creek Clay”
Singer-songwriters Mo Pitney and Johnny Meyer recently teamed up for the collaborative bluegrass outfit Pitney Meyer, releasing their latest song, “Bear Creek Clay,” a weaving of fiery bluegrass pickin’ with layered harmonies. The song centers on someone intent on making their home in wilderness, “a place where the water springs forth like a fountain.” The track features Meyer on lead vocals and banjo, Pitney on guitar and harmony, as well as instrumental work from Nate Burie (mandolin), Jenee Fleenor (fiddle) and Blake Pitney (bass). Mo Pitney, of course, is known for his solo country music work, but has long taken inspiration from bluegrass. “Bear Creek Clay” is the third release from this duo, which will issue its debut project, Cherokee Pioneer, in April.
LISA couldn’t be more excited to paint the town red with Doja Cat, whom she called her “dream” duet partner ahead of the duo’s upcoming “Born Again” collaboration with Raye.
In a new interview with Capital Breakfast‘s Jordan North posted Monday (Jan. 27) — seemingly filmed before the BLACKPINK star announced her new project featuring Doja and the “Escapism” musician on Jan. 24 — LISA was immediately ready with her answer when asked which artist is her “dream” collaborator. “I want to team up with Doja Cat,” she said, smiling excitedly.
The Thai performer coyly said that she wasn’t sure if she could call Doja a friend just yet, but noted that they’re both “in the same company.” Both LISA and the “Woman” musician are signed to RCA Records, the former in partnership with her self-owned LLOUD company and the latter through RCA’s Kemosabe Records imprint.
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The interview comes three days after LISA announced that she was joining forces with Doja and Raye on “Born Again,” sharing a chic photograph of the trio posing in glamorous black cocktail dresses on Instagram. The girl group star also revealed at the time that the new track will drop 7 p.m. ET on Feb. 6.
A few weeks after “Born Again,” LISA’s debut solo album, Alter Ego, will arrive Feb. 28. So far, the K-pop phenom has released three singles from the project: “Rockstar,” which reached No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100, “New Woman” with Rosalia and “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me).”
Recorded partially in Thailand while LISA was filming The White Lotus — “I don’t sleep,” she joked on Capital Breakfast of making her acting debut and music at the same time — Alter Ego will find the star exploring five different inner personas, each of which have their own names and character traits. Her favorite is one named Vixi, she revealed on the show, because “she’s the bada–, she’s a villain.”
“I was trying so many different kinds of music styles while I was recording,” LISA added of her album. “I was like, ‘Oh, well I’ve never done this kind of stuff before, but it sounds great. Why not just kind of like put all the different styles into the album and call it Alter Ego?’”
As for Doja, the Los Angeles native hasn’t dropped an album since 2023’s Scarlet, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Her most recent project wasn’t music-related at all, but rather a charitable undertaking supporting wildfire relief in her home city; earlier this month, the Grammy winner unveiled a line of custom merchandise that’ll funnel 100% of its proceeds to the American Red Cross’ efforts in Southern California as the L.A. area rebuilds from the deadly fires that have left tens of thousands of residents displaced with immeasurable damages to the city’s infrastructure.
See the “Born Again” announcement below.
AXS, AEG’s ticketing and event access platform, is launching a new global biometric authentication feature for its mobile app across all smart phone devices. The technology marks the first time a ticketing smart phone app utilizes biometric security features, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, to provide users with a secure way to access their […]
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The tech bros are kissing Donald Trump’s ring, and companies like Target are using his push to make America white again as an excuse to roll back diversity programs.
Following Orange Menace’s executive order calling for the end of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the federal government, Target’s discount store chain followed in the footsteps of Walmart and other American companies, which began ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Target announced it would be making changes to its “Belonging at the Bullseye” strategy along with axing a program that helped Black employees build better careers within the company, improve the shopping experience for Black customers, and promote Black-owned businesses, which all came after the tragic killing of George Floyd in 2020 at the hands of law enforcement.
The company claims that it planned on ending its racial program this year, basically trying to say the decision has nothing to do with the conservative backlash against DEI.
Target, which has nearly 2,000 stores nationwide and employs more than 400,000 people, is ending the DEI goals it set three years ago.
In a memo sent to workers, Kiera Fernandez, Target’s chief community impact and equity officer, described the company’s decisions on DEI as the “next chapter” of its efforts to create “inclusive work and guest environments that welcome all.”
“Many years of data, insights, listening, and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” Fernandez wrote in the memo shared by Target on Friday. “And as a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future.”
The Social Media Fallout
As expected, the fallout from Target’s decision was instant and immediately led to calls for a boycott. Tabitha Brown, who has partnerships with Target, broke her silence on the matter after followers called on her to end them.
In the video, she explained that ending her partnerships wouldn’t be simple. She could be sued for breach of contract, and she could not boycott but still support the Black-owned brands that have deals with the company. Brown also added that if the Black-owned brands don’t sell, companies like Target can use that excuse to pull those products and replace them with other brands.
She caught a lot of flack for her video, leading to her to send a follow-up response writing:
“Since so many people didn’t watch to the end of my video and have created a false narrative… this is not about me… this is bigger than me. I’m grateful for all the support over the years but if i don’t get it anymore, I OVERSTAND and I’m ok. But it’s bigger than me!”
While Target is catching well-deserved flack for their decision, other companies like Apple, Microsoft, Costco, and JP Morgan are doubling down on their DEI initiatives.
Longtime activist Rev. Al Sharpton led a “buycott” at Costco after the company said it would not end its DEI initiatives.
In the gallery below, you can see reactions to Target and Tabitha Brown speaking out.
3. They definitely we’re not
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Lil Wayne recently made a special cameo in his son Lil Novi’s upcoming music video, showing love and support in the best way he knows how. Although Weezy wasn’t rapping in the clip, he appeared as a proud father and hypeman, backing up his son in the background. It’s clear Wayne’s role was to be there for Novi, providing that encouragement and presence that only a father can.
Lil Novi, who’s been building his own path in the music industry, recently went viral when he named his dad’s Carter V as his favorite album. It’s a nod to the impact Wayne’s music has had not just on his fans, but on his own son as well. Despite growing up in the spotlight, Lil Novi keeps his feet grounded and embraces the normal side of life. He addressed the curious reactions he gets from others about being Wayne’s son, saying, “Some kids, they be like, ‘Oh that’s crazy. How does it feel to wake up every day?’ I be like, bro, it’s regular. I’m a human. I’m just like y’all.”
For Novi, having Wayne as a father might come with its unique challenges, but he clearly sees himself as just another person in the world, doing what he loves. It’s also evident that Lil Wayne is all in on his son’s journey, supporting him every step of the way—whether it’s in the studio or in the video, showing that father-son bond is strong.
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. It’s been more than a year since Jessica Simpson last teased new music, but the “Public Affair” singer is keeping busy […]
Lady Gaga is getting ready to unleash mayhem on her Little Monsters, with the pop superstar finally announcing her highly anticipated seventh studio album Monday morning (Jan. 27). Shortly after fans woke up to find billboards in New York City displaying a black-and-white photo of the star with her new album’s title and release date […]
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President Donald Trump and Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro clashed over the handling of deportees from America to the South American nation via military planes, with Petro initially denying entry. After President Donald Trump threatened to impose stiff tariffs on Colombia, President Gustavo Petro agreed to the terms that allow immigrants to return who entered the United States illegally.
CNN was one of several outlets covering the brief yet intense exchange between the two leaders that began on Sunday (Jan. 27) when military planes from the United States carrying illegal immigrants attempted to land in Colombia. The outlet said it examined documents that showed the country approved the flights yet President Petro says that wasn’t the case with officials stateside saying that Colombia retracted the authorization. There have been reports on social media that the migrants were placed in shackles.
Petro initially denied access to the planes from landing stating that American officials handling the migrants as criminals and demanding a more humanitarian approach. In response, Trump threatened tariffs on imports against Colombia, which has been a longtime trade partner with America. Trump also said he would levy a travel ban on citizens of the country, revoking visas, and halting visa processing for both immigrant and non-immigrant visas.
The visa restrictions were particularly alarming as they typically only arise for countries or individuals that have committed human rights abuses. Petro fired back with tariff threats of his own and had choice words for Secretary of State Marco Rubio via social media.
By Sunday evening both sides stated that they reached an agreement, with some framing the actions of Colombia’s agreement with the United States and backing down from Trump. However, it appears that Petro was able to negotiate terms that were more in line with other deportation exchanges done under the Biden administration which ever escalated into a trade dispute.
“We will continue to receive Colombians and Colombian women who return as deportees, guaranteeing them decent conditions as citizens subject to rights,” Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said in a statement. Murillo then shared that deportation flights are clear to go and that they will send the Colombian presidential plane to help with the efforts of bringing citizens back.
The White House issued a statement in connection to the brief standoff.
“Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again. President Trump will continue to fiercely protect our nation’s sovereignty, and he expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States,” read the statement.
On X, formerly Twitter, some are discussing the exchange between President Gustavo Petro and President Donald Trump while expressing disappointment that the country didn’t stand up further for itself. We’ve got those reactions below.
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After BLINKs sniffed out a possible Valentine’s Day surprise two weeks ago when BLACKPINK’S JISOO shared a cryptic teaser hinting at a mystery project coming in February, the singer confirmed their suspicions on Sunday (Jan. 26). Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The long-awaited details of JISOO’s debut […]