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05 Jan 2023

Elton John Thanks Billboard Readers for Picking His Britney Spears Duet ‘Hold Me Closer’ as Their Favorite Song of 2022

Elton John took to social media to celebrate “Hold Me Closer,” his duet with Britney Spears, being named Billboard readers’ favorite song of 2022.

“An enormous thank you to @billboard, its readers and all the fans of ‘Hold Me Closer’ who voted it their favourite song of 2022!!” he wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post. “And thank you @britneyspears for your talent and collaboration in making this happen and the incredible @thisiswatt [producer Watt] who shares this success! What an incredible way to kick off the year.”

In the official results of the poll, Sir Elton’s disco-flecked collab with Spears dominated by earning nearly 45% of the vote, followed by Wizkid’s “Bad to Me” at 25% and both Anitta’s “Envolver” and BLACKPINK’s “Shut Down” with 8% each.

“Hold Me Closer” earned the superstar his second top 10 hit of 2022 when it debuted at No. 6 on the Hot 100 back in September, and also became the highest-charting single of his career since “Candle in the Wind 1997” after Princess Diana’s death. Earlier last year, John’s “Cold Heart” duet with Dua Lipa also broke through to the top 10.

Sir Elton finished out the calendar year by raking in a whopping $60 million gross on the eight final dates of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour and releasing his hotly anticipated concert film Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium on Disney+. For his very last U.S. concert, the icon was joined onstage by Lipa, as well as Brandi Carlile and Kiki Dee. His final U.K. bow is slated to blast off this June on the last night of Glastonbury 2023.

See Elton’s reaction to coming out on top in Billboard’s songs of 2022 poll below.

05 Jan 2023

Lenny Kravitz Welcomes 2023 With Cheeky Beach Photo

Lenny Kravitz is baring it all for 2023 — literally.

The rocker took to Instagram on Thursday (Jan. 5) to share a photo in which he’s seen standing in an ocean completely naked, facing away from the camera with half his body cut out of frame. “New birth,” he captioned the steamy snap.

The declaration of renewal comes amid an exciting year for Kravitz, who is set to appear in the Prime Video movie Shotgun Wedding out on January 27. The film, starring Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel as a couple named Darcy and Tom, finds the duo gearing up to celebrate their big wedding day. At first, things seem to be going smoothly despite quirky mother-in-law Jennifer Coolidge’s strange “something borrowed” gift and Darcy’s ex (Kravitz) unexpectedly showing up at the event via helicopter.

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Along with Lopez, Coolidge, Kravitz and Duhamel, the Jason Moore-directed film also stars Sônia Braga, Cheech Marin, Selena Tan, D’Arcy Carden, Callie Hernandez, Desmin Borges, Steve Coulter and Alberto Isaac.

Kravitz also unveiled his The Formative Years book made in collaboration with photographer David Hindley, who was given full access during the star’s legendary tours from 1989 through 1995.

05 Jan 2023

Eagles With Vince Gill Announce New Concerts for Hotel California 2023 Tour

Iconic rock group Eagles — Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, along with Vince Gill — are extending their Hotel California 2023 Tour, with the addition of six new shows.

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The tour features the band playing their signature 1976 Hotel California album — which includes classics like the title track as well as “Life in the Fast Lane” and “New Kid in Town” — in its entirety, plus a selection of other Eagles greatest hits.

The new shows find the band making stops in Knoxville, Tenn.; Jacksonville and Tampa, Fla.; Columbia, S.C.; Greensboro, N.C.; and Newark, N.J. A limited number of VIP packages will go on sale Jan. 12, while tickets go on sale Jan. 13.

The tour launches Feb. 19 in Portland, Ore., and runs through April 7 in Newark. The group also has a concert prior to the tour launch, with a show Feb. 17 in Lincoln, Calif.

Country Music Hall of Fame member Gill began playing with the Eagles in 2017, joining the group alongside Deacon Frey, son of late Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey, who died in 2016. Gill’s first performances with the band were a pair of bicoastal festival dates, Classic West and Classic East, in 2017. Deacon Frey left the touring outfit last year.

Hotel California has been certified 26 times multiplatinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, and garnered the band two of their six Grammy Awards, for record of the year (“Hotel California”) and best arrangement for voices (“New Kid in Town”). The band, which formed in 1971, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2016.

The group has also seen success in and has had clear influence on the country music genre, with “Lyin’ Eyes” (sung and co-written by Frey) becoming a top 10 hit on Billboard‘s Hot Country Singles chart in 1975. They also earned four Country Music Association awards nominations for vocal group of the year (1976, 1977, 2008 and 2009), while the 1993 tribute album Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles (featuring Gill performing on “I Can’t Tell You Why”) won album of the year at the CMA Awards in 1994. The group also won a Grammy in 2008 for best country performance by a duo or group with vocals, for “How Long.”

05 Jan 2023

Keenan Cahill, Early YouTube Lip Sync Sensation, Dies at 27

Keenan Cahill, a popular YouTuber known for his viral lip sync videos, died last week (Dec. 29) due to complications from open-heart surgery. He was just 27 years old.

According to his manager David Graham, per TMZ, the content creator underwent the surgery in a Chicago hospital on Dec. 15 and was put on life support after leaving the operating room.

Cahill was born with a rare condition called Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome, which progressively causes tissues and organs in the body to enlarge, become inflamed, scar and eventually atrophy. The disease can also cause skeletal abnormalities.

In a GoFundMe launched to help cover his medical and funeral expenses, Cahill’s aunt wrote, “Because of his rare disease, he has had countless surgeries over his short life including a bone marrow transplant. Thank you to everyone that made Keenan’s short life memorable. He will be missed by all who knew him.”

The YouTube personality first went viral in the summer of 2010 by uploading a lip sync to Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream.” Over the years, he also teamed up with the likes of Britney Spears, 50 Cent, Justin Bieber, DJ Pauly D, David Guetta, Jason Derulo and more. Cahill even had history on the Billboard charts, with “Hands Up,” his 2013 single with Electrovamp, landing at No. 14 on the Dance Club Songs chart.

Following the news of his death, tributes to Cahill flooded in on social media. Pauly D wrote, “Rip Keenan…Thank You for always making the world smile,” alongside a photo of the pair behind a DJ booth. Andy Grammer shared his own video with the YouTuber and tweeted, “So sad to hear about the passing of @KeenanCahill – He was a bright light and his joy was undeniably infectious.”

Read more tributes to Cahill’s memory below.

05 Jan 2023

Manuel Turizo’s ‘La Bachata’ Returns to No. 1 on Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Chart

Manuel Turizo makes his ascent back to No. 1 with “La Bachata.” The tune logs its 15th week atop the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated Dec. 31) and sends Argentinian artist La Mosca Tse-Tse’s “Muchachos, Ahora Nos Volvimos a Ilusionar” below the top 10 (at No. 19) after its one-week command.

With 15 weeks at the summit, Turizo’s “La Bachata” ranks third overall since the chart launched in 2018. It trails only Karol G and Nicki Minaj’s “La Tusa,” which led for 25 weeks in 2020, and the 16-week reign of “Entre Nosotros” by the all-star team of Tiago PZK, LIT Killah, Nicki Nicole and Maria Becerra in 2021.

Cris MJ, Duki and Nicki Nicole’s “Marisola,” featuring Standly and Stars Music Chile, holds at No. 2 in its second week. Rosalía’s “Despechá” rebounds to No. 3, while Bizarrap and Quevedo’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52” climbs 5-4. Plus, Ke Personajes earn their first top five thanks to “Ya No Vuelvas,” their collab with Luck Ra and La K’Onga, which ascends 10-5.

This week, NewJeans takes home the Greatest Gainer honors as “Ditto” soars 88-43. It’s the highest ranking for the K-pop ensemble.

The Hot Shot Debut goes to Gusty Dj and Ecko’s “Session En El Barrio #7” which arrives at No. 58.

Further, Ñengo Flow clocks his third entry on the chart as a soloist thanks to “Gato de Noche,” his second team-up with Bad Bunny, which debuts at No. 63.

Lastly, DJ Alex secures his first visit thanks to “La Traidora,” his first partnership with La Joaqui, at No. 81.  

05 Jan 2023

Lil Wayne, Future And More Named As Potential Witnesses In YSL RICO Trial

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Meadows Day 2 Performances

Source: @PhotosByBeanz / @PhotosByBeanz

Hip-Hop’s most infamous RICO case is getting more interesting by the day. Some of Rap’s biggest names could be called as witnesses in the YSL trial.

As per WSBT 2, Young Thug might be tapping into his Rap rolodex so folks can vouch for his character. Reporter Michael Seiden obtained the potential witness list for his defense. Included are Dwayne Carter, a.k.a. “Lil Wayne”; Dequantes Lamar, a.k.a. “Rich Homie Quan”; Bryan Williams, a.k.a. “Birdman”. His co-defendant Miles Farley listed Clifford Harris, Jr. a.k.a, “T.I.”; Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn a.k.a “Future”; and Michael Lamar White II a.k.a “Trippie Red.

The state has listed YFN Lucci, born Rashawn Bennett, as a potential witness as well. But the rapper’s legal team denies that he will take the stand in the trial. “Rayshawn Bennett (Lucci), has never been interviewed or subpoenaed by law-enforcement, the Fulton County District Attorney‘s office or any of the party’s regarding the YSL case” said Drew Findling and Marissa Goldberg of The Findling Law Firm.

“Any party can announce for example that Abraham Lincoln is on their witness list, but those words alone are meaningless. So, to be 100% clear, Rayshawn Bennett (Lucci) will not be a witness in the YSL case. His focus, as it should be, is on his pending Fulton County case.”

YFN Lucci has long-standing problems with Young Thug and the YSL crew. Back in 2019 Thug posted that he is the new 2 Pac to which YFN responded “Pac would’ve never wore a dress.” From there things went left and some menacing threats were hurled both ways. Young Thug went on Instagram Live and said he was going to slap both Lucci and his comrade Sauce Walka. 

The YSL trial starts next week.

Photo: @PhotosByBeanz

05 Jan 2023

‘Wakanda Forever’ Gets Official Disney+ Release Date

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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Source: Marvel / Disney

The critically acclaimed sequel film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, will soon arrive on Disney’s streaming service. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will make its debut on Disney Plus Feb. 1. The move was announced by Disney through their social media platforms, which brings the blockbuster film to homes three months after its release in November 2022. 

The sequel to Marvel Studios’ 2020 hit finds Queen Ramonda (Bassett), Princess Shuri (Wright), Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and M’Baku (Winston Duke) all dealing with the aftermath of the death of the Black Panther, King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman). As they mourn, they are faced with a new threat to the kingdom of Wakanda – and the rest of the planet – in Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejia) and the kingdom of Talokan.

Despite mishaps that included Wright missing time due to injury and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, audiences responded emphatically to the film which includes a tribute to Boseman, who tragically passed away from colon cancer in August 2020.

Domestic box office reports showed the film earned $181 million on its opening, placing it just second behind Doctor Strange and The Multiverse of Madness which was released earlier in the year. It would go on to be the sixth highest-grossing film released in 2022, with box office earnings listed at $821 million dollars.

The loss of Boseman was a shock to the cast as well as director Ryan Coogler, who admittedly had reservations about making Wakanda Forever or even directing at all as he was close to Boseman. “I didn’t know if I could make another movie period, [let alone] another Black Panther movie, because it hurt a lot. I was like, ‘Man, how could I open myself up to feeling like this again?’” Coogler said in an interview with GQ.

Wright also spoke of the emotional challenges in making the film and being present for the press runs afterward. “I’m bracing. I’ve seen some members of Chad’s team. When we lock eyes, we know how this feels. We have to take a step away,” she said in an interview. She continued: “I see my aunt locking my eyes with me, she’s very proud. I have to take a step away … It’s emotional. We’re trying to hold it together.”

05 Jan 2023

Director Peter Berg Offers Update on Rihanna Documentary: ‘We’re Just Waiting on Her’

Attention, Navy: Rihanna‘s Amazon documentary could be coming out any day now — but of course, the last person who gets to hit the “approve for release” button is the Bad Gal herself.

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Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published Thursday (Jan. 5), Peter Berg — director of Friday Night Lights, Lone Survivor and more — gave an update on the long-awaited Rihanna documentary filk that has been more than six years in the making.

According to Berg, the only thing left to do is “waiting for her to approve it. It’s done and sold, and Amazon’s ready.” He continued, “She’s a perfectionist, so we keep adding. It’s been six and a half years of filming, so, yeah, it’s ready to come out. We’re just waiting on her to say, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ I don’t know. Maybe it’ll be a 10-year project.”

While it’s possible that the “Work” singer will want to extend the project, Berg is not worried about Rihanna giving the green light. When asked if there were any concerns about the singer not approving the documentary, Berg replied, “Not really.”

The Friday Night Lights director also revealed that he was surprised Rihanna wanted him to direct her documentary film. “When Rihanna asked me to make a doc, I thought she was joking. My work tends to be a bit more masculine, at least on the surface. But this has allowed me to dip in and out of her life while I’m doing other things,” he said. “I’ve loved it — watching her in the studio, seeing her turn Fenty into this billion-dollar entity and, now, being a mom. It’s such an enriching experience, I don’t really care how long it takes.”

News of the documentary first arose in 2016, and by 2019, it was publicized that the documentary sold to Amazon for $25 million. The untitled doc, which will be narrowed down from over 1,200 hours of footage as of 2019, will serve as an unfiltered look into Rihanna’s life and a glimpse into the evolution of one of the world’s most well-known pop artists. Berg and Rihanna previously worked together on Universal’s Battleship.

05 Jan 2023

‘Stranger Things’ Star Noah Schnapp Comes Out on TikTok: ‘Guess I’m More Similar to Will Than I Thought’

Coming out can be a strange experience for queer folks — but as Noah Schnapp can now attest, Stranger Things have happened.

In a TikTok posted Thursday (Jan. 5), the Stranger Things actor revealed that he identifies as gay. Lip-syncing along with another creator’s sound saying “You know what it never was? That serious,” Schnapp wrote a message over the video saying, “When I finally told my friends and family that I was gay after being scared in the closet for 18 years, and all they said was ‘we know.’”

In a caption for his post, the actor kept the mood light, writing “I guess I’m more similar to Will than I thought.” The comment references a scene from season 4 of Stranger Things, in which it appeared that Schnapp’s character, Will Byers, was admitting his love for his best friend, Mike Wheeler. Following fan speculation from the scene, Schnapp told Variety that there was no question about Will’s sexuality: “It’s 100% clear that he is gay and he does love Mike.”

The actor made headlines in 2022 when he revealed an online exchange he had with Doja Cat, wherein the “Woman” singer asked him to set her up with co-star Joseph Quinn. Doja would later go on to call Schnapp posting their conversation “borderline snake sh–,” before Schnapp later revealed that he had spoken with and apologized to the rapper. “Everything is all good I apologized and I still follow her and love her music,” he wrote on TikTok.

Check out Schnapp’s coming-out video below: