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When Shakira announced the stadium tour dates for her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran trek, Chicago was not part of the list, leaving fans wondering why the Windy City was left out. Soon after, it was unveiled that she’d headline Sueños Festival and on Saturday (May 24), the Colombian star closed out day one of the two-day event in Chicago’s Grant Park.
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What was originally billed as a two-hour performance starting at 8 p.m., Shakira went onstage closer to 8:30 p.m. and played a 90-minute set. The crowd — which had quickly dispersed after Peso Pluma’s set — slowly returned to find a good spot to watch Shakira and the empty spots filled up, especially when the main stage lights were turned on.
Shakira’s crowd was multigenerational, which is noteworthy given that Sueños caters to a younger, perhaps Gen Z-leaning crowd. Many women in attendance paid homage to Shakira, wearing her signature belly-dancing hip belts. And Colombians proudly waved their flags, eager to hear La Loba howl.
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“I was really looking forward to being with you tonight,” a beaming Shakira said, speaking in a mix of English and Spanish. “This is incredible. This city, wow I’m in love with this city, it’s so beautiful. Thank you for making me feel at home. There is definitely no better reunion than a she-wolf with her pack. Chicago, tonight, we are one.”
While it’s hard to replicate a stadium tour stage in a festival setting, it’s safe to say Shakira gifted Chicago fans an unforgettable night. Going from wearing a shimmery white jumpsuit and large black sunglasses to a sparkly pink dress in a blink of an eye, the “Pies Descalzos” singer, backed by a troupe of fierce dancers, kicked off with bangers, including “Girl Like Me,” “Las de la Intuición,” “Estoy Aquí,” “Inevitable,” “Te Felicito,” “TQG” and “Don’t Bother.”
“These last few years have not been easy for me, nobody is saved from falls. But if I have learned anything, it’s that the fall is not the end but the beginning of a higher flight. We, women, get up a little stronger, a little more wiser, every time we fall,” Shakira said, a nod to the empowering theme of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran era, inspired by the healing that comes from a heartbreak.
During her 90-minute set, Shakira’s hypnotizing dance moves and choreography were on full display, including her unmatched belly-dancing in “Ojos Asi” and the champeta and calypso footwork during “Waka Waka.” But a fan favorite moment was when Shakira revisited her rockera roots, singing “Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos” and “Antología.”
Of course, she closed with the global hit “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” which had all the women in attendance singing at the top of their lungs, ending an epic reunion between a she-wolf and her pack.
Sueños continues on Sunday (May 25) with Grupo Frontera and Don Omar as headliners. Meanwhile, Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran is set to visit Boston, Atlanta, Miami and Los Angeles next.
Sueños fans waited one year for Peso Pluma to headline the Latin music festival in Chicago’s Grant Park after his set was canceled by festival organizers last year over thunderstorms.
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“It’s good to be in Chicago,” Peso told attendees at the top of his one-hour-and-15-minute set on Saturday (May 24). “Remember last time we got rained out? Well, no rain can stop me this time.”
The significant crowd that gathered to see him perform at the event’s main stage roared, crowding the stage area to be closer to Peso.
Although the air was crisp and unseasonably cold temperatures had festival-goers rethinking their summery wardrobe choices, it did not rain. This time, mother nature was on Peso’s side. And so he went on to sing his biggest hits, including “AMG,” “Rubicón,” “Nueva Vida,” “La Patrulla,” “Rompe La Dompe” and “Lady Gaga,” to name a few on his Sueños setlist.
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Dressed casually in jeans, a black T-shirt with a black puffer jacket over it and a black and white Chicago White Sox baseball cap (which he later traded for a beige one), Peso was accompanied by his band composed of nearly 10 musicians — giving life to signature sound powered by instruments like charchetas, trombones and trumpets and following Peso’s lead.
“They are my family,” Peso gushed about his band. “Over the past three years, we’ve grown this project together.”
A handful of artists joined him onstage as special guests, including Oscar Maydon and El Alfa — both who had performed earlier in the day — and labelmates Tito Double P and Jasiel Nuñez. Throughout his show, Peso expressed his Mexican pride and wrapped a Mexican flag at the end of his set saying, “Viva la cultura mexicana!”
And, although he didn’t address head on the bans on narcocorridos in Mexico and the U.S., and how they’ve impacted a few of his fellow regional Mexican hitmakers, Peso made note during his set that he’s focusing on romantic corridos.
According to Sueños’ website, as of Saturday, about 95% of the passes to the event were sold, although actual daily attendance figures were not made readily available by festival organizers. Now in its fourth edition, day one of Sueños featured other acts like NSQK, El Malilla, Dei V, Oscar Maydon, El Alfa and Arcángel. Shakira closed out Saturday with a 90-minute set.
Don Omar and Grupo Frontera will headline day two of Sueños on Sunday (May 25).
Laura Segura, executive director of MusiCares, has departed the organization after five years as executive director, according to an email sent to staff by Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares.
The memo announced a “key leadership transition” heading into Memorial Day weekend, revealing that Segura is “no longer with MusiCares” — and that Theresa Wolters, who’s been serving as MusiCares’ head of health and human services, “is stepping into the role of interim executive director.”
No reason or details regarding Segura’s departure were given. Billboard reached out to the Recording Academy and MusiCares on Saturday (May 24) for comment.
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The leadership and staff directory on MusiCares’ website no longer includes Segura’s name and lists Wolters as interim executive director.
Segura was named executive director at MusiCares in 2020, after serving as vp of membership and industry relations at the Recording Academy.
She was honored at Billboard‘s Women in Music, which recognizes top executives in the industry, in both 2022 and 2023.
Segura and Wolters, who is now MusiCares’ interim executive director, co-penned a guest column for Billboard, “Health Insurance Isn’t Enough — Music Also Needs a Financial Safety Net,” published in March.
MusiCares, founded by the Recording Academy in 1989, provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community. The U.S. based, independent 501(c)(3) charity offers financial grant programs, support resources and crisis relief.
Earlier this month, MusiCares reported that nearly $10 million raised for Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts during the 2025 Grammy Awards was distributed to recipients across the region. As of May 2, $6,125,000 was disbursed to more than 3,100 music professionals across L.A, and $3,969,005 had been directed to the community-based organizations California Community Foundation, Direct Relief and Pasadena Community Foundation.
An additional $16 million was raised by MusiCares and the Recording Academy during Grammy weekend with the MusiCares Fire Relief campaign and its annual Persons of the Year gala. $6 million of that amount was allocated to longterm fire relief efforts, and $10 million will go toward the organization’s year-round mission delivery.
“What moved us most in the days following the Grammy telecast wasn’t just the scale of support, it was the spirit behind it, Segura said in a statement on May 2. “Thousands of people gave what they could, and together, their generosity became a lifeline for those in crisis, which reached far beyond our industry. That’s why we partnered with trusted community organizations who are helping Angelenos across the region access the care, resources and support they need to rebuild.”
Sophie Turner seems to be streaming her ex’s new album. The actress posted Joe Jonas‘ Music for People Who Believe in Love on Saturday (May 24) in an Instagram Story, where she also shared a note of support for his latest solo release.
“Go go @joejonas,” Turner wrote on the post, which showed an image of the album on Spotify and tagged her ex-husband’s Instagram profile.
Her reaction to Music for People Who Believe in Love‘s release comes after the former couple — who co-parent their two children, four-year-old Willa and two-year-old Delphine — finalized their divorce in September 2024. Jonas, who outside of his solo endeavors is one third of the Jonas Brothers, met Turner in 2016. They were wed in 2019.
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Though Jonas and Turner initially had a disagreement over custody, they voluntarily entered into a confidential parenting plan and separation agreement that was in the best interest of the family, a judge declared on final judgement paperwork for the divorce, dated Sept. 6, 2024.
“After four wonderful years of marriage we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage,” they said in a joint statement that first announced their split in 2023. “There are many speculative narratives as to why but, truly this is a united decision and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children.”
Turner later said the breakup “was incredibly sad.” “We had a beautiful relationship, and it was hard,” she told Harper’s Bazaar.
Music for People Who Believe in Love was released on Friday (May 23) via Republic Records. The set is Jonas’ second studio album as a solo artist, following 2011’s Fastlife, and features the singles “Work It Out,” “What This Could Be” and “Heart By Heart.”
Working on the personal project “was scary at times, and also freeing,” Jonas told Billboard last summer. “I’m not trying to come for anyone on this album. I’m not trying to put stuff on blast. I have a beautiful life that I’m grateful for. I’ve got two beautiful kids. I’m a happy person, and the music needed to resemble that — but also, the journey to get here.”
Billboard has learned the identities of all six individuals killed in a fiery jet crash early Thursday morning (May 22) in San Diego, California.
The victims of the crash include Kendall Fortner, Emma Lynn Huke, Dominic Damian and Celina Kenyon. Billboard previously reported that talent agent and the flight’s pilot, Dave Shapiro, and Daniel Williams, former drummer with metal band The Devil Wears Prada, were among those who perished in the crash early Saturday morning just two miles south of an executive airport in San Diego. The crash caused a massive fire as it tore through the residential enclave, damaging homes, melting vehicles and causing panic in the coastal suburb where residents were shocked but, thankfully, uninjured from the violent crash that killed all six passengers.
Fortner, 24, had interned at Sound Talent Group while a student at San Diego State University, joining the company after graduating in 2021 with a degree in business. Fortner was born in Glendale, California, and raised in Santa Clarita, attending West Ranch High School.
Kendall Fortner
The Fortner Family
“Ever since Kendall’s father took her to concerts at a young age, she was hooked on music,” a letter from Sound Talent Group reads. “From 1950s doo-wop to classic rock, Green Day to Ed Sheeran, Kendall loved it all. She taught herself to play a variety of instruments, including piano and guitar.”
Fortner had expressed interest in working in the music business as a teenager, “and the job at STG was a perfect fit that showcased her work ethic and ability to plan tours and festivals nationwide,” the letter continued. “Fiercely independent and strong-willed, Kendall was the life of the party and lit up any room she entered.”
Fortner is survived by her parents Gary and Kristin, her brother Justin and his wife Hannah and their son, Theo, and her brother Jordan and his wife Kailey.
Huke, 25, was born and raised in Orange County, California, and attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School, where she was part of a national championship-winning dance team.
Emma Huke
The Huke Family
“After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2022 with a degree in journalism, Emma completed several internships in the music industry before joining Sound Talent Group in 2024 as a booking associate,” according to STG.
“There was nothing Emma loved more than live music. She worked hard to save up money so she could travel to concerts and festivals. And while she loved all genres of music, her favorite artists to see live were Taylor Swift and The 1975,” the letter read. “Emma also brought that passion for live music to her work. She was smart and organized, helping STG plan and promote their biggest tours. Clients and friends called Emma a force of nature, and she was a beautiful soul who brought joy and a light to everyone in her presence.”
Huke is survived by her parents, Tim and Allison, and her younger sibling, Ellis.
Damian was a personal friend of Shapiro and worked as a senior software engineer, according to his LinkedIn page.
Damian held a black belt in Brazilian Jui-Jitsu who trained at Baret Yoshida’s gym in San Diego, where Damian lived. The gym is honoring Damian on Monday (Mat 26) in a special event.
“Dom was intelligent, thoughtful and had amazing jiu jitsu. A really kind guy who will be missed,” one online poster wrote.
Kenyon, 36, was a professional photographer who had joined the group to take photographs at a concert. Kenyon “decided to fly home to San Diego with other crew and friends on a late night private flight rather than a commercial flight so she could get home early to take her daughter to school,” a letter from Kenyon’s family reads, describing the San Diego resident as “an amazing mother, daughter, sister, grand-daughter, partner and friend.”
“Celina’s legacy is her daughter and partner, her parents, as well as countless family members,” they continue. “Our family is devastated beyond these words. The world has lost a beautiful bright light.”
The letter from STG also included additional information about Shapiro, who had moved to Alaska in 2020.
“Dave’s superpower was his ability to recognize new talent, work with their unique skills and sound, and give them the counsel and resources to make a living in the music industry. Some of your favorite bands wouldn’t be on your playlists right now without Dave,” the letter read.
“Dave impacted the lives of countless people in the music industry, but on a personal level, he was the best friend you could ever want – funny, full of life, always passionate about music, and never jaded. He was the guy that would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it,” according to the letter.
Shapiro is survived by his wife, Julia; his sister, Jennifer, and her children, Isabella and Jonathan Lee, and Dave’s beloved dogs, Amigo, Juneau and Monster.
Williams, 39, is a former drummer and founding member of the band The Devil Wears Prada. He was a native of Dayton, Ohio, who began playing drums in the sixth grade.
Williams left the band in 2016 to pursue a career in the tech industry, serving as a senior software architect at GoPro and Apple Inc.
D’Angelo has dropped out of the 2025 Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, citing medical complications related to a previous surgery.
On Friday (May 23), the iconic R&B artist announced through social media that he will no longer headline the Roots Picnic, scheduled for May 31 and June 1 at Philly’s The Mann in Fairmount Park. The decision was made following medical advice related to an “unforeseen” delay in his surgical recovery.
“It is with the deepest of regrets that [I] must cancel my performance at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia next weekend,” D’Angelo wrote in a statement shared through the Roots Picnic’s Instagram page. “But, due to an unforeseen medical delay regarding surgery [I] had earlier this year, [I’ve] been advised by my team of specialists that the performance this weekend could further complicate matters.”
The festival added its support in the post’s caption. “Due to a longer-than-expected surgical recovery, @thedangelo won’t be able to join us at Roots Picnic this year. We’re sending love and keeping him in our thoughts as he continues to heal!” organizers wrote.
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The 17th annual Roots Picnic will still go forward with a stacked lineup including headliners Meek Mill and Lenny Kravitz. Other performers include GloRilla, Miguel, Tems, Latto, Kaytranada, and Jeezy.
D’Angelo was originally slated to perform alongside festival curators The Roots. Stepping in as his replacement is fellow neo-soul icon Maxwell, the festival announced Friday on Instagram.
“It is nearly impossible to express how disappointed [I am] not to be able to play with my Brothers ‘The Roots,’” D’Angelo added. “And even more disappointed to not see all of You.”
The singer closed the message by thanking fans for their continued support, hinting at new music on the horizon. [I’m] currently in the Lab & can’t wait to serve Up what’s in the Pot!” he wrote. “LOVE U All and will see you very soon!” he wrote.
D’Angelo last performed at the Roots Picnic in 2016, during the festival’s first-ever New York City edition. The appearance followed the release of his acclaimed third album, Black Messiah, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 in January 2015.
Sacha Jenkins, a pioneering hip-hop journalist, author, filmmaker and cultural historian, has died at the age of 54.
Jenkins passed away on Friday (May 23) at his home due to complications from multiple system atrophy, his wife, journalist and filmmaker Raquel Cepeda, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
Throughout his multifaceted career as an author, producer, magazine founder and filmmaker, Jenkins was widely regarded as a key authority on hip-hop culture. Born in Philadelphia and raised in New York City, he moved to Queens in the late 1970s — a formative time when hip-hop, punk, graffiti and skateboarding were all rising cultural forces.
Jenkins was the son of Horace Byrd Jenkins III, an Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker who worked on 60 Minutes and Sesame Street. He began his own career by founding Graphic Scenes & X-plicit Language, an early magazine dedicated to graffiti art. Jenkins later co-founded the hip-hop newspaper Beat Down with childhood friend and fellow music journalist Elliott Wilson.
In 1994, Jenkins and Wilson launched the influential hip-hop and skateboarding publication Ego Trip. The magazine ran for 13 issues and spawned two acclaimed books: 1999’s Ego Trip’s Book of Rap Lists and 2002’s Ego Trip’s Big Book of Racism! Alongside team members Jefferson “Chairman” Mao, Gabriel Alvarez and Brent Rollins, Ego Trip also branched into television, producing several shows for VH1, including 2007’s The (White) Rapper Show.
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Jenkins contributed his writing to publications like Spin, Rolling Stone and served as both music editor and writer-at-large at Vibe. He recently held the position of creative director at Mass Appeal, according to Rolling Stone.
As a filmmaker, Jenkins directed and produced a range of projects. His work includes Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (2022), Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James (2021), Fresh Dressed (2015), All Up in the Biz (2023) and Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos (2024). His 2019 docuseries Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men earned him an Emmy nomination.
Jenkins is survived by his wife, Raquel Cepeda, and their two children.
Justin Bieber made a rare onstage appearance with SZA during her concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on May 23.
The surprise collaboration took place during the second Los Angeles stop of SZA and Kendrick Lamar’s co-headlining Grand National Tour, which launched in April.
Bieber, who is currently working on new music, stunned the packed crowd as he joined the five-time Grammy nominee for a flirty rendition of “Snooze.” The pop superstar previously featured on the acoustic remix of the track, originally released on SZA’s 2022 sophomore album, SOS.
Wearing an all-black ensemble topped with a Balenciaga jacket, Bieber traded verses with SZA, kissed her hand multiple times, and danced with her throughout the sultry performance.
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The singer’s wife, Hailey Bieber, showed her support by sharing a clip of the moment on her Instagram Story, captioning it, “My 2 favorite artists.”
“Snooze” earned SZA her second No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in July 2023, and also topped the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay tally.
The unplugged version of the track featuring Bieber dropped in September 2023. The music video also stars Young Mazino, Woody McClain and Benny Blanco.
This isn’t Bieber’s first time performing “Snooze” live. In February 2024, he attempted a solo rendition during a surprise appearance at the NHL All-Star Draft in Toronto, according to Rolling Stone. Friday’s performance at SoFi Stadium marked the first time Bieber and SZA have performed the song live together.
Bieber has made several surprise appearances at concerts in recent years, including a performance of “Private Landing” at Don Toliver’s L.A. show in October 2024, and a cameo during Tems and Wizkid’s Coachella 2024 set to perform the “Essence” remix. He hasn’t played a full solo concert since September 2022.
During the first night of the Grand National Tour’s Los Angeles stop on Wednesday (May 21), SZA brought out surprise guest Lizzo for a live performance of their “Special” remix. SZA and Lamar are set to play one final show at SoFi Stadium on Saturday.
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
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Los Tigres del Norte Honored in New York
Los Tigres del Norte Way is officially a street in New York, named after the legendary norteño group. “As of today, a street in Brooklyn bears the name of Los Tigres del Norte. Thank you for walking with us, today and always,” the group posted on Instagram. See the photos from the street naming presentation here.
During their stop in New York — where they are set to perform at Madison Square Garden today (May 24) — Los Tigres also honored the fallen Mexican Navy cadets, América Yamilet Sánchez and Adal Jair Marcos, who died after crashing into the Brooklyn Bridge on May 17. “Honor and eternal memory,” the Mexican band posted with a video from the vigil alongside New York’s Mayor Eric Adams.
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Rauw Alejandro & Dad
During one of his Cosa Nuestra shows in New York, Rauw Alejandro and his father shared a special moment onstage. “I want to introduce you to my dad, Raul Ocasio on the guitar,” he told the crowd. The moment was particularly special given that his father was born in Brooklyn and the Cosa Nuestra tour concept pays homage to the Nuyorican diaspora.
See the sweet moment onstage below:
Billboard Latin Music Week Dates Unveiled
Billboard Latin Music Week will return to Miami from Monday, Oct. 20 to Friday, Oct. 24, with the Billboard Latin Music Awards set for Thursday, Oct. 23.
Set once again at the historic Fillmore Miami Beach, ticket and lineup information for Billboard Latin Music Week 2025 will be announced in the coming weeks. Pre-register now for the latest information at billboardlatinmusicweek.com.
More than 10,000 people attended Latin Music Week last year, including the live shows by Fuerza Regida with Majo Aguilar; a reggaeton night with Omar Courtz, Dei V, and Saiko; and LMW’s 35th anniversary party with Young Miko, Tito Double P, Belinda, Elvis Crespo and more, among other events.
Myke Towers’ New Soccer Initiative
Myke Towers’ Young Kingz Foundation and soccer star David Villa’s DV7 Academy officially kicked off their global partnership earlier this weekend. The event, held in Madrid, marked the start of a series of joint initiatives with projects underway in Puerto Rico, Colombia and Spain that include free sports clinics, exchange programs, urban space revitalization and educational support for vulnerable youth.
“I’m not doing this expecting it to blow up like a song,” Towers told Billboard Español then. “It’s more about leaving a legacy. Creating a habit. Inspiring those who can help to do so, in their own way.”
Get more details on the partnership here.
Roger Nichols, best-known for co-writing such Carpenters hits as “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “I Won’t Last a Day Without You” with lyricist Paul Williams, died on May 17. He was 84.
Williams confirmed Nichols’ death in an extended, and deeply affectionate, post on Instagram. Williams didn’t list a cause of death, though he reported the basic circumstances of the death. “Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family …his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin at his side.” (See full text of Williams Instagram post below.)
Nichols signed as an artist to A&M Records in 1968, a year before Karen and Richard Carpenter were signed to the Los Angeles-based label. His debut album Roger Nichols and the Small Circle of Friends was produced by Tommy LiPuma, engineered by Bruce Botnick, and featured session contributions from Van Dyke Parks, Randy Newman and Lenny Waronker. Although the album failed to crack the Billboard 200, A&M co-founder Herb Alpert thought there was something there and recommended that Nichols be hired by A&M’s publishing company as a staff songwriter. It was during this period that he was introduced to Williams.
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That was a characteristically astute call on Alpert’s part. Williams and Nichols were one of the hottest pop songwriting teams of the early 1970s.
Williams and Nichols took off as songwriters in the fall of 1970, when they had two songs in the top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. On the charts dated Oct. 17 and 24, Carpenters’ version of “We’ve Only Just Begun,” a ballad which had originated as “soft-sell” commercial for Crocker-Citizens National Bank, was in the top five (on its way to a No. 2 peak). Three Dog Night’s “Out in the Country” was holding at its No. 15 peak.
The Carpenters smash, an instant standard, was lushly romantic. The Three Dog Night hit was a fresh-sounding mix of pop, rock and folk. Having two simultaneous hits by two different acts in two different styles caught the industry’s attention. “We’ve Only Just Begun” went on to receive two Grammy nominations – for song of the year and best contemporary song — at the first live Grammy telecast in March 1971. (It lost both awards to Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”)
Williams and Nichols continued writing songs for the Carpenters, including “Rainy Days and Mondays,” a superb and remarkably adult ballad which reached No. 2 (it took Carole King’s letter-perfect “It’s Too Late” to keep it out of the top spot), “Let Me Be the One” (another first-rate ballad that the duo never got around to releasing as a single), and “I Won’t Last a Day Without You,” a 1972 album track that was finally released as a single in 1974, when it climbed to No. 11.
Barbra Streisand covered “I Won’t Last a Day Without You” on her ButterFly album later in 1974. On her following album, Lazy Afternoon, she recorded another Williams-Nichols song, “I Never Had It So Good.” Both of those albums went gold.
Art Garfunkel recorded a tender Williams-Nichols song, “Traveling Boy,” for his first solo album, 1973’s Angel Clare, which made the top 10 on the Billboard 200. The song was released as the third single from the album, and bubbled under the Hot 100.
Nichols also had some successes with other collaborators. He teamed with William Lane to write “Times of Your Life,” which Paul Anka recorded in 1975. Like “We’ve Only Just Begun,” this song was also adapted from a popular TV commercial – for Kodak. Anka’s recording reached No 7 on the Hot 100 in February 1976.
Nichols retired soon afterwards, but his songs live on. R.E.M. covered “Out in the Country” as a B-side for their 2003 single “Bad Day.” Rumer covered “Traveling Boy” on her 2012 album Boys Don’t Cry.
Nichols was honored during Florida Chapter Presents The Recording Academy Honors 2006 at Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami.
He was nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Nov. 12, for the class that will be inducted on June 12. He wasn’t elected (the competition is fierce every year), but the ballot listed the five songs that are probably his most famous and enduring: “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “I Won’t Last a Day Without You,” “Out in the Country,” “Times of Your Life”
In a comment on Williams’ Instagram post, Nichols’ daughter Claire wrote, “My mom, Terri, and my sisters, Caroline and Caitlin, are all so proud of the man he was, and are in awe of the legacy he leaves.”
Here’s the full text of Williams’ Instagram post announcing Nichols’ death.
“The first song, Roger Nichols and I wrote was called “it’s hard to say goodbye. “… Sadly, we hit the nail on the head. Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family …his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin at his side. They were his dream come true. His greatest joy“Roger was my writing partner and my music school… a collaboratorfor years and a friend for life. I was an out of work actor looking for a career in music when I was signed by A&M records publishing. They were looking for a lyricist for Roger Nichols. An industrial strength, lucky break that changed my life.“We wrote almost every day for several years. He was as disciplined as he was talented. I had the attention span of a sea otter… I was ready for a break after three hours and Roger would plunge ahead for another four or five. The words were born of the beauty in his completed melodies.I wrote what I heard, note for note…word for word. The lyrics waiting in the emotion already in his music. He made it easy.“After many wonderful productive years, I wanted us to write songs for movies. He had another dream. He said I wanna go fishing … wanna go back to Montana. He smiled and said something about having a family and maybe making a home by a nice little river… it was clear that he was already gone. A few years ago, I visited him and met Terry and the girls at the house by the river …and I knew he found his dream.“One last story. Roger was really excited when his daughter Caitlin was getting married last September. He chuckled and asked, “can you picture me wheeling down the aisle in my wheelchair, holding my daughter’s hand?”“Of course, I said yes then …. and right now Roger, I can picture thousands of proud dads and their beautiful daughters that walked down the aisle to your gorgeous music or danced their father and daughter dance to We’ve only just begun… picture them standing and applauding what you brought to their lives and to mine. You brought love and beauty into this world, and we will never forget you.In gratitude with much love… Paul”
