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LALI on How Her Success Is Backed by a Female Team: ‘Empowerment Is a Collective Thing’

If her Instagram account is any indication, LALI is living her best touring life.

Most recently, the Argentine singer-songwriter — who’s on her Disciplina trek — made history with a sold-out concert at the Velez Sarsfield Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in front of more than 45,000 people, becoming the first singer to sell out a show at that soccer stadium.

“It’s impossible to express what I feel after this sold-out show,” she wrote on social media. “Thanks to all who vibed with me. I am so proud of my dream team that is always by my side and made this happen. I’m also proud of myself for working hard to give you the best of me. A dream, that was once just a dream, came true.”

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LALI owes this career milestone, and others like it, to her female-led team that backs her up. “For me, empowerment is a collective thing,” she tells Billboard. “It’s not so individual or personal, it’s more what I learn from others and what I can spread to others.”

In honor of Women’s History Month, Billboard kicks off its “Las Poderosas” series featuring a select number of powerful Latinas who get real about the word “empowerment,” their space in Latin music, and more. The series launches Monday (March 20) with LALI. Read our exclusive Q&A below:

What does empowerment mean to you as an artist and as a woman?

Being able to develop freely and with that freedom generate a contagion effect on other colleagues. For example, not only those of us who are at the forefront of a project but also those who are working behind our projects. [Empowerment] means generating that feminine synergy in a work environment that not only embraces one as the main artist but also all the people who participate in the project, mainly the women who promote the artist. For me, empowerment is a collective thing. It’s not so individual or personal, it’s more what I learn from others and what I can spread to others.

What does empowerment NOT mean to you?

The opposite of what I just said… looking at empowerment as an egoic matter and of personal success. Using your role as a woman in the industry and if you only achieve it as your own success or for yourself, then I think it doesn’t make sense to talk about empowerment.

Lali Esposito, FIFA World Cup final, Qatar

Lali Esposito during a performance of the Argentine national anthem ahead of the FIFA World Cup final at Lusail Stadium, Qatar. Picture date: Sunday December 18, 2022.

Nick Potts/PA Images/GI

What is the best advice you have received as a woman in music?

I don’t know if it was advice but I think that thanks to other women who set the trends, I realized that in the end, they had told us that there is always a guy behind the success of certain women. But finding out on my own by being behind my idols, I realized that no. That the ideas are generally theirs, that they have defended positions, and that to break structures you have to stand up as a woman and your vision, and for that, you need others on your team to elevate that.

Which woman has served you as a mentor or role model? Who do you admire and why?

Artistically, I feel that for me in my teens Beyoncé was very important because I realized that my dream was to do 360 of everything. There was content, there were lyrics, there was dancing, well… singing like her, but without a doubt, she was a woman who marked me a lot. And of Argentine national rock, there are many women who have marked my childhood, thanks to my mother who has made me listen to a lot of music such as Celeste Carballo and Fabiana Cantillo. They were women who at the time have been pioneers and came to occupy a place in a very difficult environment where normally it was all male.

Have things changed for Latin women in music in the last five years and how?

I don’t know if things have changed, I think there is a bit of everything. It was about time that there was a real force of women to occupy a leading role, to compete with men on the charts, or see that there really are Latina women today No. 1 in the world. That is incredible, it is necessary, and it also speaks of an audience that she has understood. Not only would it be possible for women to do a good job and place themselves there, but the public understood that women can occupy those spaces, and the public has re-educated itself and pushed women where they should be. I think it’s a collective effort.

What is your favorite “girl power” song?

Wow! They are a lot. I think Beyonce’s “Formation” could be it. It lifts me up!

How to Watch the 2023 Samsung Galaxy Creator Collective 

The Samsung Galaxy Creator Collective is set for Dallas this week, and Billboard will be on-site to unique panels, performances, and programming that’ll highlight how Samsung tools help content creators elevate their work to the next level. 

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Taking place over the course of two days (March 21 to March 22), the Samsung Galaxy Creator Collective aims to elevate and aid creators who are especially passionate and career-minded when it comes to producing content and want to turn their passion into a career. The collective’s goal is to foster a learning environment where both newcomers and more established acts can further grow their followings across all platforms. 

By using products like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy Book3 Ultra, and Galaxy Flip4, creators can heighten the quality of their content, potentially appealing to an even wider audience and working with their ideal brands.

Billboard will kick things off with an opening party featuring performances from the respective winners of Samsung and Billboard’s NXT 1.0 and 2.0 Bronze Avery and Nyla XO, and TikTok artist DJ Habi Beats.

Moderated by Tetris Kelly, Billboard will also host a panel on March 21 featuring a wide range of media and licensing experts including Billboard’s Chief Brand Officer Dana Droppo, Music Licensing Consultant Greg Cahn, VP of Creative Marketing at Sony Music Publishing James Armstrong, and Latin Creative Music & Commercial Licensing at TikTok Leslie Arredondo-Cordero. The segment — titled the Do’s and Dont’s of Music Licensing — will inform creators about the logistics behind music inclusion in their content and arm them with the knowledge to avoid challenges and pitfalls involved in licensing music across different social media platforms. 

TikTok creator Tefi, who first went viral for her no-holds-barred advice and thoughtful takes on pop culture goings on is set to appear as a special Keynote Speaker. She will deliver a speech about her journey as a creator and the integral part Samsung can play in helping to achieve goals.

Additionally, Billboard will host a segment called Making the Hit, where Toronto-based YouTuber Andrew Huang will get at the heart of song construction. Aided by a Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra, the musician and video producer will effectively deconstruct a song live, offering viewers an in-depth look into his unique creation process.  

Finally, Billboard asked several major player creators to collaborate on a playlist that will serve as the soundtrack during the final morning of the Samsung Galaxy Creative Collective. Creators from every industry were enlisted to contribute, ensuring an expansive and varied set of songs that’ll encompass the diversity of the attendees themselves. Fans can visit Billboard.com to check out the full playlist.

The Samsung Galaxy Creator Collective will be available via livestream beginning on March 21 at 9 a.m. CT/10 a.m. EST on Samsung’s Twitch and YouTube channels.

Swiftie Couple Gets Married During Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Stop in Arizona

Taylor Swift‘s The Eras Tour kicked off with a pair of dates in Glendale, Ariz., over the weekend and saw the pop star performing hits and fan favorites from her nearly two-decade career. The Saturday (March 18) concert date was extra special for one couple in attendance that got married during Swift’s performance.

In a fan-captured video of the nuptials, René Hurtado and Max Bochman used a break during the pop star’s set to get married, wearing a white dress and veil and tuxedo, respectively, to exchange their vows. While it’s unclear whether any “paper rings” were exchanged during the romantic moment, the newlyweds shared a kiss, which prompted the surrounding Swifties in attendance to cheer them on.

According to TMZ, the couple considered eloping the day of Swift’s concert and using the concert itself as the wedding reception. Ultimately, the lovers decided to get married during the show instead. Taking to Instagram following the show, Hurtado gushed about scoring such great seats and essentially having Swift play at her wedding (kinda). “Do you understand how close I was to her? I’m deceased,” she wrote via her Instagram Story.

Elsewhere during the show, fans were treated to a whopping 44 songs on Swift’s setlist, dazzling outfits and too many memorable moments to count.

The marriage comes after a fan proposed during Harry Styles’ concert in Singapore on Friday and another couple attending Adele’s Las Vegas residency in their dress and tux following their wedding (the “Easy on Me” singer signed the bride’s dress).

Watch the bride’s Instagram Story about getting married at last weekend’s Taylor Swift concert here and here before the posts disappear.

Jonas Brothers Light Up Broadway With ‘The Album’: 5 Best Moments From the Marquis Theatre

Come on along and listen to the Jonas Brothers on Broadway! Throughout last week, the superstars took over the Marquis Theatre in midtown Manhattan for an exhilarating five-night residency on the very same stage where Nick Jonas made his Broadway debut as Little Jake two years into the 1999 revival of Annie Get Your Gun.

Each night, Nick, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas shone the bright lights of Broadway onto one of their past albums — starting with 2007’s Jonas Brothers and moving chronologically through 2008’s A Little Bit Longer, 2009’s Lines, Vines and Trying Times and 2019’s Happiness Begins.

“It really is kind of an emotional experience because you’re walking through different chapters of your life and your journey, both as a band and also as family, and kind of where we were at those pivotal moments when we released those albums,” Nick dished to Billboard at SXSW ahead of the residency’s first night.

But those first four shows, filled with songs some of which the siblings hadn’t played in over a decade, were all leading up to Saturday night (March 18), when the JoBros debuted their forthcoming sixth album, The Album, live for the very first time for a select audience of friends, family and superfans lucky enough to snag a ticket. (Yes, Danielle Jonas, Sophie Turner and Priyanka Chopra were all present and accounted for to cheer their husbands on for the evening, as were Mama and Papa Jonas.)

Billboard was also on the scene to hear The Album ahead of its May 12 release via Republic Records. Read on for all the best and most exciting moments from the special, one-night-only occasion.

“Wings” is the One, the Sun, the Light of Day

It’s been less than a month since the Jonas Brothers kicked off their latest era with lead single “Wings.” But that was, of course, more than enough time for fans to memorize every word to the soft rock-laced bop. And though they performed it as part the set during each of the four preceding nights, “Wings” certainly hit differently in context with other songs from The Album. With Nick and Joe trading vocals and a theater full of Jonatics gleefully singing along, the earworm went all the way to the rafters.

It’s Always Love at the “Waffle House

“Waffle House,” which the siblings have already started teasing on social media, just might be their most personal song yet. “One of the things that we used to do back in the day before we were old enough to go and decompress post-show at a bar, was we would just go to a Waffle House,” Nick explained while introducing the song, “and sit there and spend hours talking about those experiences on stage, life on the road, and it really became a foundation for our relationship as brothers outside of the music that we did together.”

As evidenced by the JoBros sneak peek on TikTok, the surefire highlight — which would be perfect as The Album‘s next single — jitters with a funky groove and harmonies fit for a gospel choir as Joe and Nick preach, “No, don’t get stressed, it’s gon’ get figured out/ Oh, deep conversations at the Waffle House/ Headstrong father and a determined mother/ Oh, that’s why some nights we try to kill each other/ But you know it’s always love.”

The Rest of The Album Is Going to Slap

Nick wasn’t kidding when he declared that the band’s sixth album would be pulling influences and musical inspiration from ’70s acts like the Bee Gees, America, Boston and Stevie Wonder. Track for track, the sneak peek of The Album was an instantly nostalgic thrill ride filled with plenty of harmonies, guitar and the most mature, intimate songwriting from the brothers to date — from the disco-lite pulse of “Sail Away” to the melodic, sensual “Vacation Eyes,” which Kevin adoringly dedicated to Danielle in the orchestra.

Tender ballad “Little Bird” — which the trio wrote from their newly shared perspective on fatherhood (“we’re all dads, but we’re girl dads,” Joe stated to an explosion of cheers from the crowd) — is primed to be a father-daughter dance of choice at Jonatic weddings for years to come, and the horn-infused “Celebrate!” earned the exclamation point in its title by getting the party started as the very first song of the night.

Jonas Brothers on Broadway

Jonas Brothers on Broadway

Cynthia Parkhurst

“Montana Sky”(the first song the brothers wrote for The Album) was perhaps the most immediate album cut outside of “Waffle House” thanks to its dueling America-style guitars, shoutouts from New York City to George and a lovestruck refrain of “You’re the one, you’re the one walkin’ in my head.” And even without its guest feature from Bellion, album closer brought the theater to a state of euphoria as it morphed from a thoughtful plea into a bombastic, arena-ready finale.

Took a Ship to the Year 3000

After a proper, Broadway-style intermission, Act 2 of the show played out like the greatest of greatest hits collections, including the requisite forays into Nick’s solo career and Joe’s work with DNCE. Especially for the occasion, the former resurrected the gospel version of his 2014 single “Jealous” to divine effect and the latter happily shared the spotlight with DNCE guitarist JinJoo Lee on fan favorites like “Toothpaste” and “Cake by the Ocean.”

But nothing could top classic JoBros hits like “S.O.S.,” “That’s Just the Way We Roll,” “Lovebug” and “Burnin’ Up,” complete with Nick’s iconic delivery of “red dress” which elicited Beatlemania-level screams of adoration from the audience. And yet, no other song from the band’s ’00s-era catalog got quite the same reaction as “Year 3000.” Every fan scream-sang every single word of the 2006 single, filling the Marquis Theater with an electric energy that could’ve super-charged a Flux Capacitor.

Jonas Brothers on Broadway

Jonas Brothers on Broadway

Cynthia Parkhurst

Kevin’s Lullaby of Broadway

Hysterically, much was made throughout the evening of Kevin finally making his Broadway debut years after his brothers. It even started with Broadway actors Sis, Alex Boniello and Andrew Barth Feldman reading from “The Book” as Nick, Joe and Kevin, respectively, at the start of the show. (“Yeah guys, we know you all did theater! We get it!”) But the running gag turned serious and sentimental when Joe — who took his first Broadway bow in Baz Luhrmann’s 2002’s production of La Bohème — paused the show midway through the second act to properly celebrate Kevin’s debut on the Great White Way. And naturally, he did so by singing the hook from Hilary Duff’s “What Dreams Are Made Of,” giving fans the Disney Channel crossover they didn’t know they needed for the night.

Cast Of Ted Lasso Spoke On Mental Health During White House Visit

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Ted Lasso, one of the most acclaimed television shows to come out in the past few years, shined a light on the importance of mental health with a careful and deft hand. The cast of the hit Apple TV+ series visited The White House on Monday (March 19) to touch more on mental health and more.

As reported by The Washington Post, the cast of Ted Lasso was in Washington, D.C. to speak on the underlying theme of the show, which is Coach Ted Lasso’s journey toward addressing the things that plague him mentally. Played with expert pluck by Jason Sudeikis, the actor shared that the heart of the show is to work on healing what ails us and said that it’s more common than one would think.

From the Post:

“So, please, you know, we encourage everyone and it’s a big theme of the show is like to check in with you know, your neighbor, your co-worker, your friends, your family and ask how they’re doing and listen sincerely,” Sudeikis said.

“And while it’s easier said than done, we also have to know that we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help ourselves,” he added. “And that does take a lot, especially when it’s something that has such a negative stigma to it, such as mental health, and it doesn’t need to be that way.”

Ted Lasso is set to enter its third and potentially final season although Sudeikis seemed warm to the idea of continuing the tale of the beloved American college football turned-soccer coach.

Ted Lasso returned to the airwaves on March 15.

Photo: Getty

Kenan Thompson & Kel Mitchell Confirm ‘Good Burger 2’ Is Coming To Paramount+, 90s Babies Are Excited

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Kenan Thompson And Kel Mitchell In 'Good Burger'

Source: Archive Photos / Getty / Good Burger 2

All That fans rejoice. Dexter and Ed are coming back for Good Burger 2.

Yes, you read the correctly. A sequel to the 1997 film Good Burger, based on the popular All That sketch, is in the works and is coming to Paramount+.

Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell made the big announcement on Friday’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Production for the sequel begins in May and will arrive on the streaming network sometime in 2023.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=E1pd-yz0FvA&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Per The Hollywood Reporter, the film’s plot will “follow them as they reunite in the present day at fast-food restaurant Good Burger with a new group of employees. Phil Traill (The MiddleBrooklyn Nine-Nine, and Single Drunk Female) will direct the film, with Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifert (All That and Good Burger) serving as writers and executive producers.”

In a statement announcing the film, Thompson said, “I can’t believe it’s been a little over 25 years since great customer service was born at Good Burger! Being a part of something so many generations of people have come to love has made me so proud, and now to be back where it all began working on the sequel is surreal! Love performing with my brother Kel and can’t wait to show the fans what these characters have been up to since we last saw them.”

“Ed is one of those timeless characters that has brought so much joy and laughter to fans, and it’s such a beautiful blessing to still be doing it after all these years. It’s super awesome to come back and continue the stories of Dex, Ed, and Good Burger for both the people who grew up watching and their kids,” Mitchell added.


https://youtube.com/watch?v=AHTPfDgIwIk&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

90s Babies Are Excited For Good Burger 2

Good Burger first gained popularity as a sketch on Nickelodeon’s sketch comedy show All That and subsequently turned into a film. It would gross $24 million at the box office, easily recouping its reported $8 million budget.

The movie became a cult hit with fans, with Mitchell and Thompson reprising their Good Burger characters on The Tonight Show for a 2015 sketch.



Those same fans are now reacting to the big news positively and negatively. You can see the reactions in the gallery below.

Photo: Archive Photos / Getty

2. Exactly

3. Well, there are some who don’t want to see Good Burger 2

5. We don’t count this.

6. Howling

John Fogerty to Receive Music for Life Award at 2023 NAMM Show: Exclusive

John Fogerty will be presented with the National Association of Music Merchants’ (NAMM) prestigious Music for Life Award at the 2023 NAMM Show, the organization revealed on Monday (March 20).

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The Grammy-winning composer and musician will receive the entertainment technology industry’s highest honor on April 13 in Anaheim, California, in recognition to his lifelong contributions to music and his commitment to inspiring music makers worldwide. With the award, Fogerty will join a list of iconic past recipients including Quincy Jones, Garth Brooks, Melissa Etheridge, Jason Mraz, Graham Nash, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Yoko Ono, Henry Mancini, Bob Weir and Nancy Wilson. Most recently, Kenny Loggins was presented with the award in 2022.

John Fogerty is a living example of inspiration and character, as a singer, guitarist, songwriter, and artistic visionary,” said NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond in a press statement. “When I was 10, my dad brought home the Creedence Clearwater Revival album Green River and said, ‘Play like this.’ That moment started my own musical journey, and I imagine many walking The NAMM Show floor can say the same thing. Honoring him with the Music for Life Award will be a personal highlight for me and a huge privilege for all NAMM members.”

The exciting news comes following an already great year for Fogerty, who gained worldwide control of his Creedence Clearwater Revival publishing rights in January after a half-century struggle. The treasure trove includes such rock classics as “Proud Mary,” “Down on the Corner,” Fortunate Son,” “Bad Moon Rising” “Up Around the Bend” and “Green River.”  

Fogerty and his band will also be hitting the road this year for The Celebration Tour, where he’ll be joined by his sons Shane and Tyler, as well as their band, Hearty Har.

Registration is open for the 2023 NAMM Show. Sign up here.

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Wardrobe: Here’s How to Re-Create Your Favorite Looks for Less

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.

Welcome to Swift City! Taylor Knight kicked off her highly anticipated Eras Tour on Friday night (March 17) at the State Farm Arena in Glendale, Ariz.

Swift played to a sold-out crowd, pulling out all the stops while running through a whopping 44 songs with 16 costume changes, and she returned for night 2 with a fleet of new costumes.

Taylor Swift

Representing different eras in her career, Swift’s wardrobe consisted of custom pieces from Roberto Cavalli, Oscar De La Renta, Christian Louboutin, Alberta Ferretti, Versace and Zuhair Murad.

For the fashionable Swifties who want to re-create Swift’s stage looks for less, we’ve got your covered.

Below, find a roundup of outfits inspired by The Eras Tour.

Mauve Maxi Dress

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona.

John Shearer/GI for TAS Rights Management

The tour is just getting started, and Swift has already worn a number of colorful maxi dresses onstage. The 33-year-old singer looked positively etherial in a mauve Alberta Ferretti dress during her Folklore set. The custom, chiffon, crystal-embellished gown features flutter sleeves with a plunging neckline and lace insert.

Shop the Look:

Channel Swift’s boho style in this textured tiered midi dress from ASOS. The dress has a plunging neckline with lace insert, a tiered skirt and an open back. The dress is available in sizes O-14.

ASOS

ASOS Textured Tiered Midi Dress

$85

In case the dress pictured above is out of stock, another option is this boho square neck long sleeve maxi ($44.99 at Amazon).

Free People has a selection of boho maxi dress as well like the Beach Bliss Maxi ($118) and Jewel Maxi ($128). And if you want to show a little more skin, try this purple floral wrap dress $78 from Lulu’s.

Oversized Sparkly Blazer

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).

Kevin Mazur/GI for TAS Rights Management

Swift performed “The Man” in an oversized sparkly Versace blazer and sequin body suit with custom Louboutin boots.

Donatella Versace posted photos of Swift’s “breathtaking” outfit on Instagram over the weekend. “You are breathtaking in Versace,” she wrote. “I’m so proud of you. Best of luck on The Eras Tour.”

Shop the Look:

Oversized blazers are trendy right now and therefore not very hard to find, however a silver, sequin or bedazzled blazer might be harder to get your hands on.

ASOS

4th & Reckless Silver Faux Leather Oversized Blazer

$58.50 $78 25% off% OFF

We found a couple of cool (and affordable) alternatives to Swift’s blazer, such as this oversized faux leather blazer from ASOS ($58). For more sparkle, check out this Extro & Vert oversized sequin blazer ($108).

Swift’s boots were also custom made, so while you won’t find them in stores, you can find a variety of similar styles such as the rhinestone boots pictured below.

Zappos

Blue by Betsey Johnson Rhinestone Boots

$171.81 $249 31% off% OFF

These Blue by Betsey Johnson boots feature a 3.5-inch heel and full zipper closure. If you prefer cowboy boots to pointed toe boots, try the Steve Madden Tyrus Boots ($81.57). Click here for more silver boot options.

Lavender Haze

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona). The city of Glendale, Arizona was ceremonially renamed to Swift City for March 17-18 in honor of The Eras Tour. 

John Shearer/G for TAS Rights Management

Speaking of coats, Swift also rocked a custom lavender number by Oscar De La Renta and purple Louboutin boots.

Shop the Look:

Shaggy coats are also trendy right now, which means they’re easy to find online, although lavender might be a little tricky. We found a few cool coats like the purple shaggy coat pictured below.

Amazon

Womens Fall Open Front Cardigan Faux Fur Coat Vintage Parka Shaggy Jacket Warm Coat Tops Purple

$45.99

This faux fur shaggy coat is available in sizes S-XXL and you can buy it in over a dozen different colors including purple, red, blue, khaki, black and wine. Another option is this oversized teddy fur from ASOS ($107). Find more purple coats here.

Pretty in Pink

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift performs onstage for the opening night of “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023 in Swift City, ERAzona (Glendale, Arizona).

John Shearer/GI for TAS Rights Management

Roberto Cavalli created a capsule collection for The Eras Tour, which includes a gold fringe dress and asymmetrical sequin bodysuit.

For her opening night performance of “1989,” Swift dazzled in a Cavalli two-piece “diamond-shaped skirt and a matching top drenched in Swarovski crystals in tones of fuchsia.”

“The design, the finishing, the hand application of each crystal and fringe has been hand crafted to match the extraordinary talent that is Taylor Swift,” the fashion brand shared on Instagram on Monday (March 20).

Shop the Look:

Take a page from Swift’s fashion book in this one shoulder sequin crop top and matching skirt from Nasty Gal.

Nasty Gal

One Shoulder Sequin Crop Top

$37.60 $94 60% off% OFF

The top and skirt are sold separately, so you can mix and match or swap out the wrap skirt for this pink sequin mini ($42) or the top for this tassel sequin crop top ($60). You can also mix and match with this fringe tassel skirt, which is on sale for $15.77 at Amazon and a metal mesh top ($24.99) or this Hurley sequined mini skirt ($90) with a satin top from Revolve ($96).

Swift wore a similar outfit in green for night 2 of the tour. Find alternatives to her custom look here.

What to Wear to a Taylor Swift Concert

Looking for something to wear to The Eras Tour? Any of the outfits on our list will work fine, but if you’re craving variety, outside of the merch available on Swift’s official website, we rounded up some must-haves that fans were spotted wearing during the first two nights of the tour.

Swift City T-Shirt — The city of Glendale temporarily changed its name for the tour, but “Swift City” is technically wherever The Eras Tour lands next! Swifties can find Swift City T-shirts on Etsy for around $20-$30.

Heart-Shaped Sunglasses — Don’t forget your shades! If you’re not sure which style to rock, heart-shaped shades are an easy choice. You can find a bunch of different styles and colors at Amazon.

Comfortable Shoes — Comfortable shoes are important for any concert, especially if you plan to see your favorite artists in a large venue like Swift’s stadium tour. The best shoe options largely depend on your style preferences, but a few shoes that tend to work well for concerts include platform boots and heels in addition to comfortable sneakers such as Converse, Vans, Adidas and cowboy boots. Fans have also been wearing knee-high boots and ankle boots to the tour.

Skirts, Skirts and More Skirts — If you search social media for what to wear to a Taylor Swift concert, you’ll find that Swifties love skirts! Short skirts, long skirts, flared skirts, mini skirts, maxi skirts, denim skirts, satin skirts, pleated skirts, bodycon skirts — you name it. And of course, shorts and jeans are safe choice.

Costumes — Dressing up for concerts can also mean wearing a costume. One devoted Swfitie wore a cape showcasing Swift’s Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements. If you’re thinking of wearing a costume, you should choose something clever but also comfortable.

Venue-Approved bags — Concert venues usually list the kinds of bags that are allowed inside. If you’re not sure what to bring, choose something safe like a clear purse, mini backpack or crossbody bags such as the Adidas Amplifier Crossbody Bag ($32), Lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag ($38), Athleta’s Excursion Waist Bag ($88) or the North Face Berkeley Field Bag ($45).

Ben Affleck Says Michael Jordan Requested Viola Davis Played His Mom In ‘Air’ Film

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2023 SXSW Conference And Festival - Day 9

Ben Affleck worked hard to earn his way into becoming a major Hollywood filmmaker, actor, and producer. Even with the type of pull Affleck surely has, a request from Michael Jordan was heeded ahead of him getting the blessing to put out the film, Air.

Ben Affleck shared behind-the-scenes details of Air during the film’s debut at SXSW in Austin, Texas this past weekend. Per Variety, Affleck shared at the event that Jordan had a number of suggestions that Affleck heeded but the most notable one was asking that Viola Davis play Deloris Jordan, Air Jordan’s mother.

From Variety:

“I got the script and then had the chance again to talk to Michael. Michael Jordan, for those of you who don’t know, is one of the most intimidating, impressive men you’ll ever see in your life,” Affleck said. “He told me about [his] father. And then he talked about his mother. It was the first time I saw this look cross his face. It was a look of reverence, of awe, of love, and gratitude, and innocence. He said, ‘None of this would have ever happened without my mother.’ I said, ‘Who would you like to play your mom?’ He said, ‘Well, it has to be Viola Davis.”

The outlet adds that Ben Affleck brought out the award-winning Davis for a brief moment ahead of the airing of the film in full.

Air comes to the theaters on April 5, 2023.

Photo: Getty

Amazon Cuts 9,000 More Jobs, Bringing 2023 Total to 27,000

Amazon plans to eliminate 9,000 more jobs in the next few weeks, CEO Andy Jassy said in a memo to staff on Monday.

The job cuts would mark the second largest round of layoffs in the company’s history, adding to the 18,000 employees the tech giant said it would lay off in January. The company’s workforce doubled during the pandemic, however, in the midst of a hiring surge across almost the entire tech sector.

Tech companies have announced tens of thousands of job cuts this year.

In the memo, Jassy said the second phase of the company’s annual planning process completed this month led to the additional job cuts. He said Amazon will still hire in some strategic areas.

“Some may ask why we didn’t announce these role reductions with the ones we announced a couple months ago. The short answer is that not all of the teams were done with their analyses in the late fall; and rather than rush through these assessments without the appropriate diligence, we chose to share these decisions as we’ve made them so people had the information as soon as possible,” Jassy said.

The job cuts announced Monday will hit profitable areas for the company including its cloud computing unit AWS and its burgeoning advertising business. Twitch, the gaming platform Amazon owns, will also see some layoffs as well as Amazon’s PXT organizations, which handle human resources and other functions.

Prior layoffs had also hit PXT, the company’s stores division, which encompasses its e-commerce business as well as company’s brick-and-mortar stores such as Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go, and other departments such as the one that runs the virtual assistant Alexa.

Earlier this month, the company said it would pause construction on its headquarters building in northern Virginia, though the first phase of that project will open this June with 8,000 employees.

Like other tech companies, including Facebook parent Meta and Google parent Alphabet, Amazon ramped up hiring during the pandemic to meet the demand from homebound Americans that were increasingly buying stuff online to keep themselves safe from the virus.

Amazon’s workforce, in warehouses and offices, doubled to more than 1.6 million people in about two years. But demand slowed as the worst of the pandemic eased. The company began pausing or cancelling its warehouse expansion plans last year.

Amid growing anxiety over the potential for a recession, Amazon in the past few months shut down a subsidiary that’s been selling fabrics for nearly 30 years and shuttered its hybrid virtual, in-home care service Amazon Care among other cost-cutting moves.

Jassy said Monday given the uncertain economy and the “uncertainty that exists in the near future,” the company has chosen to be more streamlined.

He said the teams that will be impacted by the latest round of layoffs are not done making final decisions on which roles will be eliminated. The company plans to finalize those decisions by mid to late April and notify those who will be laid off.