Blog
Page: 40
Remember Hilary Duff‘s 2007 performance for the Today show’s summer concert series? SNL‘s Barry the Midwife (Bowen Yang) and Dr. Richards (Mikey Madison) do. In “Barry the Midwife” on the latest episode (March 29) of Saturday Night Live, the midwife-and-doctor duo at first have an awkward run-in when their patient is giving birth and the […]
While Morgan Wallen was the official musical guest on SNL this weekend, Joe Jonas co-starred in a musical sketch poking fun at New Yorkers waiting in stupidly long lines just to try a trendy new treat they’ve heard about on TikTok.
Picture this: It’s spring in New York City. It’s the weekend. It’s a beautiful day. You don’t have work. Your friends don’t have work.
As Mikey Madison, Ego Nwodim, Chloe Fineman, Bowen Yang and Sarah Sherman — the stars of one of SNL‘s latest spoofs to make use of a catchy pop tune — point out, you could go to brunch, see a movie, ride a bike, have a fling.
Trending on Billboard
Or you could wait in a big, dumb line.
That’s right. You could spend your day waiting in a line that goes around the block — for a limited-supply bagel, slice of pizza or creamy taco that showed up on your “For You” feed. While you’re waiting, you could sing about it like they do in Saturday night’s (March 29) “Big Dumb Line” sketch.
“Must be worth it — it’s a really long line,” Fineman emphasizes in an ad-lib directed straight to the viewer.
Perhaps there will be cronuts (the croissant-donut hybrid), or a concoction one can only hope was dreamt up an SNL writer: palad (pizza and salad combined), frasca (fries as pasta), fandy (fish that’s candy) or choda (cheese that’s soda).
“Big Dumb Line,” a sketch that was pre-taped ahead of the live show, is all good fun until Bowen Yang cracks under the pressure of the line, to his own horror and that of his pals. “I’m leaving. I’m leaving!” he screams.
That’s where Joe Jonas pops in with a motivational ballad, urging the NYC line dropout to trust the process. “Believe in the line/ You deserve this viral Greek yogurt/ Or to try Lisa Rinna’s wine,” the Jonas Bro sings with feeling in a surprise cameo.
Watch the “Big Dumb Line” sketch from Saturday Night Live below.
Congratulations are in order for Dave Navarro and Vanessa DuBasso, who tied the knot in Scotland on Saturday (March 29).
The 57-year-old Jane’s Addiction guitarist and 31-year-old actress and fashion designer exchanged vows at Dunskey Estate in Stranraer, Scotland, People reports. The couple’s gothic-inspired ceremony took place within a castle nestled at the secluded coastal estate, surrounded by lush greenery and views of the sea.
“It exudes a moody, ethereal charm,” DuBasso told the publication. “Surrounded by a towering forest, a serene lake and the ruins of a castle along the shoreline, it felt like stepping into a fairytale.”
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Navarro added, “We wanted our wedding to feel like a dream. It was important to us to find a place that felt unlike anywhere we had ever been, a place that embraced nature and transported us to another world. We wanted our loved ones to share in this intimate experience.”
Trending on Billboard
The pair exchanged handwritten vows in a forest ceremony officiated by Dunskey Estate owner Ali Orr Ewing. Among the guests was comedian Pete Davidson. It’s unclear if any members of Jane’s Addiction were in attendance.
The Grammy-nominated guitarist, who also played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers from in the 1990s, shared glimpses of the magical weekend on his Instagram Stories the following day. Among the behind-the-scenes moments were photos of the couple skeet shooting in the countryside, a heartwarming video of them exchanging smiles during a candlelit dinner, and a stunning clip of a fireworks display.
Navarro and DuBasso met eight years ago after the veteran musician saw a movie trailer featuring the actress. Navarro reached out to the film’s director, a friend of his, asking if DuBasso would be interested in going on a date with him, according to People.
This marks Navarro’s fourth marriage. He was previously married to Tania Goddard in the early ’90s, followed by a brief marriage to Rhian Gittins in the mid-’90s, and then to Carmen Electra in the early 2000s.
Richard Chamberlain, who died on Saturday (March 29) night at age 90, will be remembered as a TV icon, but he was a hot recording artist for a time. His debut album, Richard Chamberlain Sings, released on MGM Records, made the top five on the Billboard 200 in 1963.
In addition, he had three top 30 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: “Theme From Dr. Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight” (No. 10 in 1962), a cover version of the Elvis Presley smash “Love Me Tender” (No. 21 in 1962) and a cover version of the Everly Brothers smash “All I Have to Do Is Dream” (No. 14 in 1963).
He was also the first artist to record “They Long to Be Close to You,” a Burt Bacharach/Hal David song that went on to become a pop standard when it was recorded by the Carpenters. The duo’s version was Billboard’s Song of the Summer for 1970 and received a Grammy nod for record of the year. Chamberlain’s version, conducted by Bacharach, went relatively unnoticed. It was featured on the B side of his Hot 100 single “Blue Guitar” (No. 42 in 1963).
Trending on Billboard
Chamberlain died in Waimanalo, Hawaii, of complications from a stroke, according to his publicist, Harlan Boll.
Chamberlain received a Grammy nomination in 1972, but not for his music. He was nominated for best spoken word album for an RCA Recordings recording of a production in which he played Hamlet.
While Chamberlain’s recording career was short-lived, his status as a TV star spanned decades. He starred in Dr. Kildare from 1961-66. The medical drama ranked in the top 10 in the Nielsen ratings in its first season and remained in the top 20 for its second and third seasons.
In 1975, he received his first Primetime Emmy nomination for starring in The Count of Monte Cristo. He was nominated for outstanding lead actor in a special program (drama or comedy).
In the early 1980s, Chamberlain gained a reputation as the king of the miniseries for his starring roles in Shogun, The Thorn Birds and Wallenberg: A Hero’s Story. He received Primetime Emmy nods for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or a special for all three productions.
Chamberlain also acted in film and on Broadway. His first attempt at Broadway — in a legendarily troubled 1966 production of a musical adaptation of the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s with Mary Tyler Moore — ended when producer David Merrick pulled the plug on the musical after only four preview performances in New York. (Happily, both stars survived the high-profile flop.)
Chamberlain went on to star on Broadway in revivals of The Night of the Iguana (1976-77), Blithe Spirit (1987), My Fair Lady (1993-94) and The Sound of Music (1999).
Born George Richard Chamberlain in Los Angeles on March 31, 1934, Chamberlain was named after his grandfather but was always called Dick or Richard. Chamberlain was gay, which was known in the industry but kept from the public in the years he was a romantic leading man. He came out in 2003, at age 68, in his memoir Shattered Love: A Memoir.
Chamberlain’s fears of rejection by his fans proved unfounded. “Everyone has been so supportive, so positive,” he told The Los Angeles Times in an interview to promote the book. “In New York, people walked up to me in the street, and in theaters. Strangers gave me the thumbs up, wished me well, said, ‘Good for you.’ I’m just awestruck by the change in the way I feel about life now.”
Playboi Carti’s MUSIC spends a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated April 5), after debuting atop the list a week earlier with the year’s biggest week for a rap title.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
In its second week (ending March 27), the effort earned 131,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. (down 56%), according to Luminate. It opened with 298,000 first-week units. It’s Carti’s second No. 1, and first to spend more than week atop the list. He previously logged one week in the lead with his previous release, Whole Lotta Red, in January 2021.
Also in the top 10 of the new Billboard 200, Selena Gomez and benny blanco’s first collaborative set, I Said I Love You First, debuts at No. 2. It marks the seventh top 10 for Gomez and first for blanco.
Trending on Billboard
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new April 5, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on April 1. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Of the 131,000 equivalent album units earned by MUSIC in the week ending March 27, SEA units comprise 124,000 (down 56%; equaling 171.02 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it’s No. 1 for a second week on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 7,000 (down 51%; it falls 3-9 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum (down 60%).
MUSIC’s second week profited from the sales and streaming activity generated by the release of a deluxe edition of the project that added four additional cuts to the set’s original 30-song runtime. Dubbed MUSIC – Sorry 4 Da Wait, it was released on Tuesday (March 25) on Playboi Carti’s official webstore and widely via streamers and digital retail. The four bonus songs on the deluxe (“Different Day,” “2024,” “Backr00ms” and “FOMDJ”) were initially released as cuts exclusively available on three different artist webstore-exclusive download variants of the album in its first week. As the four songs became available to stream via the MUSIC album on March 25, the album earned SEA for those four tracks on the final three days of the tracking week.
Selena Gomez and benny blanco’s collaborative project I Said I Love You First debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, scoring the superstar multi-hyphenate Gomez her seventh top 10-charting effort and hitmaking producer/writer blanco his first. The project earned 120,000 equivalent album units in its first week — the largest week by units for both artists. (The Billboard 200 began ranking by equivalent album units in December 2014.)
Of the album’s 120,000 first-week units, album sales comprise 71,000 (it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 48,000 (equaling 64.04 million on-demand official streams of the streaming edition of the album’s songs; it debuts at No. 6 on Top Streaming Albums) and TEA units comprise 1,000.
I Said I Love You First is the first album pairing from the real-life couple, who announced their engagement in December. While this is the first full-length set from the duo, they’ve teamed up for Billboard Hot 100-charting hit songs before this project. Blanco was a producer and writer on Gomez’s “Same Old Love” (No. 5 peak in 2016), “Kill Em With Kindness” (No. 39, 2016) and “Single Soon” (No. 19, 2023). Gomez and Blanco shared artist billing, with Tainy and J Balvin, on “I Can’t Get Enough” (No. 66, 2019), which blanco also co-produced and co-wrote.
The new album was preceded by the Hot 100-charting tune “Call Me When You Break Up,” billed to Gomez, blanco and Gracie Abrams. It debuted and peaked at No. 58 in March, and climbs into the top 20 on the Pop Airplay chart (dated April 5), rising 21-19. It’s the 25th top 20-charting cut for Gomez on Pop Airplay.
The opening-week sales of I Said I Love You First were bolstered by its availability across seven vinyl variants (different color editions, some with alternate covers; including a signed version), three CD versions (a standard CD, a signed edition, and a zine/CD version with expanded packaging), a deluxe box set containing branded merch and a CD. (The album’s vinyl sales totaled 21,000 for the week — the best sales week on vinyl for either Gomez or blanco.)
Further, the album was available in 10 different digital variations. First, there was a widely available standard album at streamers and digital retail. Then, through the set’s opening week, nine additional download variants were issued, all initially exclusively available through Gomez’s webstore, and each sold for $5. All of the variants included the standard album’s 14 songs, plus bonus material. Five of the variants each had one bonus track (“Stained,” “Talk,” “That’s What I’ll Care [Seven Heavens Version],” “Scared of Loving You [Live From Vevo]” and “How Does It Feel To Be Forgotten [Live From Vevo],” respectively) and one contained two bonus cuts (an acoustic version and extended version of the album single “Call Me When You Break Up”). There was also an Explained: Narrated by Selena Gomez edition (with 14 bonus tracks with Gomez providing commentary on each of the set’s 14 songs), a Slowed & Reverbed edition (with 14 bonus slowed and reverbed versions of the album’s songs) and an Instrumentals edition (with 14 bonus instrumental versions of the tracklist).
All nine of the variants became available in the iTunes Store on Wednesday (March 26). The variants were only sold in the iTunes Store through March 27, the final day they were also sold in Gomez’s store.
The rest of the top 10 on the latest Billboard 200 comprises former No. 1s. Nos. 3-5 are all non-movers, led by Kendrick Lamar’s GNX at No. 3 (65,000 equivalent album units; down 8%) and followed by PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U at No. 4 (61,000; down 7%), and SZA’s SOS at No. 5 (60,000; down 4%).
Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet is steady at No. 6 (54,000 equivalent album units; down 4%); Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM falls 2-7 (52,000; down 29%); Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos is stationary at No. 8 (49,000; down 2%); Tate McRae’s So Close To What falls 7-9 (47,000; down 10%); and Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time holds at No. 10 (45,000; up 9%).
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.

Morgan Wallen has left the building.
The 31-year-old country star appeared as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on March 29, alongside host Mikey Madison, who won best actress for her role in Anora at the 2025 Oscars.
After performing a pair of songs from his forthcoming album, I’m the Problem, Wallen briefly joined the SNL cast at the end of the show, as is customary on the long-running sketch comedy series. He then whispered something into Madison’s ear, gave her a hug and abruptly walked off the stage at Studio 8H.
Soon after the incident, Wallen shared a photo on his Instagram Stories from his private plane, with the caption “Get me to God’s country” written over an image of the runway.
Billboard has reached out to Wallen’s representative for comment.
Trending on Billboard
During his March 29 appearance on SNL, Wallen performed the title track from his upcoming album and later delivered the post-heartbreak anthem “Just in Case.” I’m the Problem is set for release on May 16.
The singer-songwriter previously appeared on SNL in December 2020, performing “7 Summers” and “Still Goin Down” from Dangerous: The Double Album, which spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Wallen was originally scheduled to appear two months prior but was replaced at the last minute for breaking SNL‘s strict COVID-19 safety protocols at the time. During his debut appearance, Wallen also appeared in a sketch poking fun at the controversy surrounding him when he was photographed partying and not wearing a mask in Alabama.
This week’s SNL episode follows Lady Gaga’s appearance on March 8, where she performed double duty as both host and musical guest. Past season 50 musical guests have included Tate McRae, GloRilla, Hozier, Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish, among others.
In the upcoming weeks, Lizzo, Elton John, and Brandi Carlile are set to perform on episodes hosted by Jon Hamm and Jack Black.
Cassius Life Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: adidas / Minecraft
adidas and the popular video game franchise Minecraft are coming together for a groundbreaking collaboration that will keep fans of both brands looking F L Y in both the physical and virtual worlds.
The iconic German sportswear company announced its multi-year partnership with entertainment and gaming brand Minecraft. Minecraft is famous for its character’s block aesthetics and is one of the best-selling video games, with over 300 million copies sold.
Related Stories
According to adidas, the collaboration will see new apparel and footwear products, plus stretch into the digital space with in-game activations.
adidas will launch a limited capsule collection on April 1 to celebrate the forthcoming film, A Minecraft Movie, signaling the start of their multi-year partnership.
Per adidas:
adidas and Minecraft announce a multi-year collaboration to develop apparel and footwear products as well as digital experiences, making the partnership a perfect crossover between gaming, sport, and culture.
The partnership launches with a capsule collection inspired by the upcoming A Minecraft Movie, transforming the film’s core narrative into bold, wearable designs. This collection is more than just apparel and footwear – it’s an invitation to step into the world of “A Minecraft Movie” and carry its energy beyond the screen.
What To Expect From The adidas x A Minecraft Movie Capsule Collection
The collection that will feature apparel and footwear and will be available in kids, junior, and adult sizing will consist of these design elements:
GRAPHICS: Iconic characters from A Minecraft Movie are reimagined through mixed-media executions, including blocky prints and textured details.
ALL-OVER PRINTS: All-over patterns transport fans into the movie’s universe, drawing inspiration from its most memorable scenes, including the blue portal landscape that bridges the real world and the Overworld.
STORYTELLING GARMENTS: Designs inspired by the film’s most striking and memorable costumes, such as one protagonist’s bold 80s-inspired leather jacket, reimagined with elements from the adidas ’80s archive.
Source: adidas / Minecraft
The adidas Originals x Minecraft collection will be available globally on April 1 and in select stores and online at adidas.com.
For more photos of the collection, hit the gallery below.
1. adidas x Minecraft Multi-Year Collaboration
Source:Minecraft
adidas and Minecraft Announce Multi-Year Collaboration, Blending Physical and Digital Worlds adidas,minecraft
2. adidas x Minecraft Multi-Year Collaboration
Source:Minecraft
adidas and Minecraft Announce Multi-Year Collaboration, Blending Physical and Digital Worlds adidas,minecraft
3. adidas x Minecraft Multi-Year Collaboration
Source:Minecraft
adidas and Minecraft Announce Multi-Year Collaboration, Blending Physical and Digital Worlds adidas,minecraft
4. adidas x Minecraft Multi-Year Collaboration
Source:Minecraft
adidas and Minecraft Announce Multi-Year Collaboration, Blending Physical and Digital Worlds adidas,minecraft
5. adidas x Minecraft Multi-Year Collaboration
Source:Minecraft
adidas and Minecraft Announce Multi-Year Collaboration, Blending Physical and Digital Worlds adidas,minecraft
6. adidas x Minecraft Multi-Year Collaboration
Source:Minecraft
adidas and Minecraft Announce Multi-Year Collaboration, Blending Physical and Digital Worlds adidas,minecraft
7. adidas x Minecraft Multi-Year Collaboration
Source:Minecraft
adidas and Minecraft Announce Multi-Year Collaboration, Blending Physical and Digital Worlds adidas,minecraft
8. adidas x Minecraft Multi-Year Collaboration
Source:Minecraft
adidas and Minecraft Announce Multi-Year Collaboration, Blending Physical and Digital Worlds adidas,minecraft
9. adidas x Minecraft Multi-Year Collaboration
Source:Minecraft
adidas and Minecraft Announce Multi-Year Collaboration, Blending Physical and Digital Worlds adidas,minecraft
10. adidas x Minecraft Multi-Year Collaboration
Source:Minecraft
adidas and Minecraft Announce Multi-Year Collaboration, Blending Physical and Digital Worlds adidas,minecraft
11. adidas x Minecraft Multi-Year Collaboration
Source:Minecraft
adidas and Minecraft Announce Multi-Year Collaboration, Blending Physical and Digital Worlds adidas,minecraft
12. adidas x Minecraft Multi-Year Collaboration
Source:Minecraft
adidas and Minecraft Announce Multi-Year Collaboration, Blending Physical and Digital Worlds adidas,minecraft
Morgan Wallen returned to Saturday Night Live, performing two songs from his upcoming album.
The 31-year-old country star made his second appearance as the musical guest on March 29, joining host Mikey Madison, who recently won an Oscar for best actress for her role in Anora.
Dressed in a denim jacket, blue jeans and a baseball cap, Wallen opened his performance with the title track of his fourth studio album, I’m the Problem. Backed by a full band, the singer-songwriter delivered the song — which currently sits in the top 10 of Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart — against a set design adorned with scrapbook-like photos and articles about the artist.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Wallen returned later in the episode to perform his post-heartbreak anthem “Just in Case,” set against a more somber, dimly lit backdrop featuring a vintage television with the words “Morgan Wallen Broadcast Corp” displayed on the screen.
He previously appeared on SNL in December 2020, performing “7 Summers” and “Still Goin Down” from Dangerous: The Double Album.
Trending on Billboard
I’m the Problem is set for release on May 16. The new project follows Wallen’s successful albums, 2021’s Dangerous: The Double Album — which spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — and 2023’s One Thing at a Time, which accumulated 19 weeks at the top spot. In anticipation of I’m the Problem, he has previewed several tracks, including the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Love Somebody,” as well as “Lies Lies Lies” and “Smile.”
This week’s SNL episode follows Lady Gaga’s appearance on March 8, where she performed double duty as both host and musical guest. Past season 50 musical guests have included Tate McRae, GloRilla, Hozier, Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish, among others. In the upcoming weeks, Lizzo, Elton John, and Brandi Carlile are set to perform on episodes hosted by Jon Hamm and Jack Black.
Watch Morgan Wallen’s SNL performances below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.

HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty / Amber Ruffin
We can add the White House Correspondents’ Association to the growing list of cowards who are afraid of Donald Trump and his bat-sh*t-crazy administration.
Spotted on The Daily Beast, comedian Amber Ruffin lost her gig as host of the upcoming White House Correspondents Dinner in April. It’s all because she said during a podcast that she plans to keep it real about Trump and the MAGA regime. Of course, Orange Mussolini’s administration was BIG MAD about her comments.
Related Stories
On Thursday, Ruffin said on an episode of The Daily Beast podcast that she would not be doing the “both sides” thing regarding her jokes as instructed by the WHCA.
In response to Ruffin stating the obvious Felon 47’s second stint as president, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich called Ruffin a “2nd rate comedian” on X, formerly Twitter on Friday.
“What kind of responsible, sensible journalist would attend something like this?” he wrote. “More importantly, what kind of company would sponsor such a hate-filled and violence-inspiring event?”
Keep in mind this works for a regime that is rounding up people and deporting them, sending them to a notorious El Salvadoran prison without giving them their due process.
Per The Daily Beast:
She told hosts comedian Samantha Bee and Beast Chief Content Officer Joanna Coles that the Trump administration are “kind of a bunch of murderers,” adding that playing to both sides “makes them feel like human beings, but they shouldn’t get to feel that way, ’cause they’re not.”
A Saturday letter from Eugene Daniels, the president of the WHCA, to its members announced that he had been “re-envisioning” the April 26 dinner “for the past couple of weeks.” The WHCA is independent from the White House.
“As a first step, I wanted to share that the WHCA board has unanimously decided we are no longer featuring a comedic performance this year,” wrote Daniels, who is also a political correspondent for MSNBC. “At this consequential moment for journalism, I want to ensure the focus is not on the politics of division but entirely on awarding our colleagues for their outstanding work and providing scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists.”
Daniels & The WHCA Initially Had High Praise For Ruffin
Daniels’ statement comes after he had high praise for Ruffin who previously hosted a late-night talk show on Peacock and is also a writer on Seth Myers’ show.
“When I began to think about what entertainer would be a perfect fit for the dinner this year, Amber was immediately at the top of my list,” Daniels said in an initial statement announcing after she got the gig. “She has the ability to walk the line between blistering commentary and humor all while provoking her audience to think about the important issues of the day. I’m thrilled and honored she said yes.”
Social Media Is Not Feeling The Decision To Fire Ruffin
As expected, the reaction to Ruffin’s firing for keeping it real is sparking outrage. What’s even more hilarious is Donald Trump and his lying Karen of a press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, won’t even be there, so seeing Daniels and the WHCA buckle under the MAGA pressure to appease someone who doesn’t even care for the event that he has in the past said was “so boring and so negative.”
“These people are fucking cowards,” journalist Michael Harriot wrote on X.
Another post read, “Where are all the “freedom of speech” “nothing is off limits” comedians for Amber Ruffin? Any time people don’t line a joke they can’t wait to tell us how it’s a violation of their rights. Anything for Amber yet?”
All valid points.
We truly hope some journalists and other comedians will stand in solidarity with Amber Ruffin because what is happening in this country is not normal.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.

Ángela Aguilar truly shined Saturday (March 29) night at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 gala in Inglewood, California, when she accepted the Breakthrough Award with an emotional speech that was met with a roaring standing ovation at the YouTube Theater.
After performing a sublime version of the Mexican classic “Cielito Lindo” accompanied by the Harmony Project — a community chorus composed of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including immigrant children — she spoke candidly about a year that “almost broke” her — with constant headlines and online scrutiny over her marriage to Mexican singer Christian Nodal, who was in attendance to support her.
“I have had to cry the weights of judgement and speculation of a story that I have note even told,” Aguilar said. “And yet, here I am. I’m still singing, I’m still standing. Because music is who I am.”
Trending on Billboard
To a roaring ovation from her peers at the venue, she advised young girls to “sing your truth and when they tell you to be quiet […] sing even louder.” Fighting back tears, she dedicated her award to immigrant women who cross the border to the United States “with nothing but hope in their hearts, only to find themselves living in uncertainty and fear […] You deserve safety, dignity, the right to dream.”
The youngest of the Aguilar dynasty — her father is música mexicana icon Pepe Aguilar, her grandparents legendary Mexican entertainers Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre — Ángela Aguilar made her stage debut as a toddler when she joined her famous dad at one of his concerts. Five years later, at age 8, she released her first album, a joint set with her older brother Leonardo Aguilar. The two later joined Pepe on back-to-back arena tours when he launched Jaripeo Sin Fronteras in 2018, honoring the jaripeo-style show — singing while riding horses — that their grandparents pioneered. Along the way, Ángela landed three No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart and four top 10 hits on Latin Airplay, including her first No. 1 on that chart, “Por el Contrario,” with Leonardo and Becky G, last year.
Ángela Aguilar at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores
Hosted by Laverne Cox, Billboard‘s Women in Music honored influential women in music spanning artists and industry leaders, with performances, awards and tributes. Doechii was recognized as Woman of the Year, while honorees also included aespa, Erykah Badu, Gracie Abrams, Meghan Trainor, and Tyla, among others.
Read Ángela Aguilar’s full speech and watch her performance below:
This Breakthrough Award means a lot to me, because this year almost broke me. And honestly, I have had to stand on stage and sing through the tears and I have had to cry the weights of judgement and speculation of a story that I have note even told, and of a story that has never hit my voice. And yet, here I am. I’m still singing, I’m still standing.
Because music is who I am. It’s the thread that connects me to every woman that came before me, like my grandmother Flor Silvestre, and it’s taught me that these women here today are not my competition because we are each other’s legacy. And she taught me that you can fight in silence and the music speaks way louder than what other people say.
To every young girl that’s watching this and is wondering if she should make herself smaller to fit in to someone’s ideas about who they are, don’t. In this world they’ll try to write your story for you; don’t let them. Sing your truth and when they tell you to be quite, if it’s what you want, if it’s truly what you want, sing even louder.
Lastly, I wanna take this moment to raise my voice for the women whose voices are not always given a stage, for the women who leave behind everything they know crossing borders with nothing but hope in their hearts, only to find themselves living in uncertainty and fear. For the immigrant women in the country who work tirelessly building and nurturing, sacrificing, yet still remain unseen, unheard and unprotected, this one is for you. I see you. I honor you. You deserve safety, dignity, the right to dream. And if my voice and my music and my presence on this stage can remind you are not invisible, then I will sing for you every single time.
So tonight I accept this award for every women who has ever had to break through. For my grandmother. For my mother, who’s honored tonight. And to every women who has paved the way for every young girl to be able to dream. We are not breaking down. We are breaking through. Gracias, ¡y que viva México!