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By now you’ve surely heard that Rihanna debuted her baby bump at Monday night’s 2025 Met Gala. The singer and partner A$AP Rocky are expecting their third child together and while the most burning question on the Navy’s mind is whether No. 3 will further delay RihRih’s endlessly anticipated ninth album, Ciara said when she […]
Rag’n’Bone Man is entering a new era, but not without reflecting on the ride so far.
The British singer-songwriter, born Rory Charles Graham, recently wrapped a five-date Australian tour, his first here since the Human campaign nearly a decade ago. Fans at those shows were treated to a preview of his new Danger Mouse-produced track “Time to Love.”
“It’s a real banger. I would say it’s slightly underground. It’s not necessarily a big pop song but it really has heads nodding in the audience,” he told Rolling Stone AU/NZ. “Australia is the first place we’ve played it live.”
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“Time to Love” follows Rag’n’Bone Man’s third studio album What Do You Believe In?, released in October 2024. The album debuted at No. 3 on the U.K. Albums Chart and reached No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
“It really helped me through trauma,” he said. “It’s not easy to lose people, family. At first, performing those songs live, I thought, ‘There’s no way. I’d just be a mess.’ But I got over that as well. It was definitely a remedy.”
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For Rag’n’Bone Man, the journey began with 2016’s breakthrough single “Human,” which became a global hit. The track spent seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 74 in May 2017. Its music video has since amassed over two billion YouTube views and continues to draw over 380,000 views daily.
“Human” also became the theme for several TV shows, including Jack Ryan, God Friended Me, and even featured in the video game Mass Effect: Andromeda.
“That couple of years was f—ing wild,” he recalled. “My friend who had moved to Melbourne called me and said, ‘You’re on the f—ing radio every single day over here, mate.’ Something was really happening. Europe, U.S., everywhere. It became this monster of a song.”
Now 40, Rag’n’Bone Man said he wouldn’t change a thing about his rise to fame. “No way. I think I did alright,” he told the publication. “I don’t regret anything. Maybe drink a little less, but that’s about it. It hurts a little bit more when you’re 40.”
The Blues Brothers are back — this time, in graphic novel form.
Dan Aykroyd’s family and the estate of the late Judy Belushi-Pisano have announced The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake, the first official Blues Brothers graphic novel. The project marks the first step in a broader plan to expand the Blues Brothers universe through new TV shows, films, live events and music.
The book is being written by Stella Aykroyd, Luke Pisano and James Werner, with illustrations by Brazilian artist Felipe Sobreiro. It is described as a “love letter and a sequel to the original Blues Brothers film.” Z2, the graphic novel publisher known for musical collaborations, will publish the title.
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Dan Aykroyd, who created the Blues Brothers alongside the late John Belushi, has editorial oversight and will provide a foreword.
“Elwood and Jake are precious to me. In fact, one of them is actually my dad,” said Stella Aykroyd, as told to Deadline. “I’ve helped him sharpie ‘ELWOOD’ onto his knuckles before Blues Brothers shows with ‘Brother Zee,’ I’ve walked behind him as he’s made his way through a sea of fans dressed as Elwood and Jake all over the world and I’ve been his co-pilot on the road, where he’s explained to me the proper way to T-bone a car.”
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The novel will also honor Judy Belushi-Pisano, who passed away in July 2024. She was instrumental in preserving and expanding the Blues Brothers legacy for more than 40 years. Luke Pisano and the creative team said the project draws on real-life experiences and stories from Judy, John and Dan.
Josh Bernstein, president of Z2, called the Blues Brothers “comedy, pop culture and musical royalty,” adding that fans can expect “the epic return of Jake and Elwood Blues.”
The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake will be available for pre-order through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and independent bookstores, comic shops and record stores.
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Anadolu / Newark Liberty International Airport
If you’re thinking about flying out of Newark Liberty International Airport, you should definitely reconsider and fly out of LaGuardia or JFK.
Air traffic controllers in Philadelphia had to guide planes to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey after communications crashed.
CNN reports that controllers couldn’t see planes on radar scopes and couldn’t communicate with pilots for at least 90 seconds, a source close to the matter told the news outlet. According to the website, faulty copper wiring is blamed for the outage.
The outage forced many air traffic controllers to take leave for trauma as a direct result of the incident, and on top of that shortage of air traffic controllers only made matters worse.
Current Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claims it was only 30 seconds and blamed New York Senator Chuck Schumer for what happened at Newark Liberty.
Yeah, that makes sense.
Per CNN:
The April 28 outage impacted information coming from radars located at a Federal Aviation Administration facility in Westbury, New York, where the air traffic controllers used to manage flights heading to Newark. Control over the airspace was transferred to Philadelphia in July. The radars are now operated using a remote line the source described as “a long extension cord.”
The outage was the result of a failure of that copper wiring that transmits information to Newark approach control, a separate source tells CNN. “There was some infrastructure breakdown related to how the information is relayed right now.”
Similar outages happened twice before, the first source notes.
Those earlier incidents were reported to the FAA safety reporting system and “adjustments were made,” which kept the systems stable until the most recent loss, they say.
Newark Liberty Is Not Safe
Travelers have endured a weeklong meltdown at the airport, resulting in hundreds of delays and cancellations.
According to one air traffic controller speaking with MSNBC correspondent Tom Costello, “it is not safe” to fly out of Newark Liberty International.
“He said, ‘It is not safe. It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public,” Costello said, referring to his conversation with the air traffic controller, which he described as “Really an incredible statement, unsolicited. He just said that to me, and separately: ‘Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs.’”
As of right now, United Airlines is offering customers free ticket changes to “passengers with travel plans to or from Newark between May 6 to 17, 2025.”
But if you’re in the New York/New Jersey area, your best bet is to fly out of JFK or LaGuardia.
Two decades since it took over the global charts, Shakira and Wyclef Jean have reunited up for a special anniversary performance of “Hips Don’t Lie” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Appearing on the Tuesday (May 6) episode with guests […]
Almost two years on from their last tour of the country, Big Thief will be hitting the road for a newly-announced run of North American dates.
Dubbed the Somersault Slide 360 Tour, the 20-date run of shows will launch in Sacramento, CA on Sept. 17 and traverse the U.S. and Mexico over the next two months before wrapping up in Houston, TX on Nov. 7. These dates also include a previously-announced performance at New York’s Forest Hills Stadium in October.
The band have, however, made an effort to assuage the fears of fans who may worry about missing them on the upcoming trek. “Somersault Slide 360 Tour will continue into 2026, and these shows that have just been announced are the first of more to come,” they explained. “Keep those antennas at a clear diagonal.”
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The tour will be Big Thief’s first run of American shows since 2023 when they were supporting their fifth album, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You, released the year prior. The record was their biggest commercial success to date, peaking at No. 31 on the Billboard 200 and receiving a Grammy nomination for best alternative album, and best alternative music performance for second single, “Certainty.”
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Big Thief released a pair of singles in 2023, and in July 2024, the group announced the departure of bassist Max Oleartchik, citing “interpersonal reasons” for his exit. In February, Big Thief also unveiled a new L.A. wildfires benefit EP, with Passional Relations collecting some of their “favorite unreleased songs” to aid relief for those impacted by the fires in Los Angeles.
In the time between studio releases, vocalist and guitarist Adrianne Lenker would release her Bright Future album in 2024, with recordings from the accompanying tour appearing on the recently-released Live at Revolution Hall album. On Friday (May 2), drummer James Krivchenia released the album Performing Belief.
Big Thief – 2025 Somersault Slide 360 Tour Dates
Sept. 17 – Channel 24, Sacramento, CASept. 19 – Edgefield, Troutdale, ORSept. 21 – Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical, Boise, IDSept. 22 – Twilight Concert Series, Salt Lake City, UTSept. 25 – The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CASept. 27 – Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CASept. 28 – Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, San Diego, CAOct. 1 – Teatro Metropolitan, Mexico City, MXOct. 20 – State Theatre, Portland, MEOct. 21 – MGM Music Hall, Boston, MAOct. 22 – The Met, Philadelphia, PAOct. 24 – The Anthem, Washington, DCOct. 25 – Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Hills, NYOct. 29 – Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh, NCOct. 30 – The Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GAOct. 31 – Saenger Theatre, New Orleans, LANov. 3 – Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa, OKNov. 4 – The Bomb Factory, Dallas, TXNov. 5 – Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, Austin, TXNov. 7 – White Oak Music Hall Lawn, Houston, TX
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Getty Images /Charlamagne Tha God / Jonathan Majors
Charlamagne Tha God continues to make significant moves outside of radio. The Breakfast Club host is teaming up with John Wick producer Basil Iwanyk to launch a new production company.
Variety exclusively reports that Charlamagne Tha God and Iwanyk are teaming up to launch Southland Stories, a production company that amplifies southern voices.
The first project on Southland Stories‘ slate is a revenge thriller called True Threat starring Jonathan Majors. It is the actor’s first role since his 2023 conviction.
Per Variety:
“True Threat” is scheduled to begin production this summer. It’s one of several films in the pipeline as Southland Stories starts to ramp up its output. Directed and written by Gerard McMurray and produced by Alexis Garcia of Cat5, “True Threat” follows a special forces operative out for vengeance after his teenage son is killed by gang members. The movie is among Majors’ first roles since he was convicted in 2023 of third degree assault and harassment.
The radio host also spoke about the film, adding, “Films like ‘True Threat’ are exactly why we created Southland Stories. It’s vital to show that Black creatives can thrive across all genres. Gerard McMurray and Jonathan Majors are extremely talented individuals.”
Southland Stories will deliver films that focus on “real-life tales” and scripted narratives like True Threat. In a press release, Charlamagne, Iwanyk, and producer Karen Kinney said the production company was founded to “spotlight bold, authentic stories often overlooked in mainstream cinema.”
We shall see if picking a Jonathan Majors film to kick things off with will work out for Southland Stories.
Nathan Jerde, the drummer of Chicago indie-rock outfit The Ponys, has padded away, it has been confirmed.
News of Jerde’s passing was confirmed by the band on social media on Monday (May 5). “It’s with the heaviest of hearts that we let you know our friend, our band mate, and our brother left this world today,” The Ponys wrote.
“Nathan was an amazing drummer and possessed savant like art skills. Nathan loved goofing around, and had the sweetest of hearts. We traveled the world together. We ate amazing meals together and we met lifelong friends together. We fought like brothers sometimes, but we had so much f–king fun together. Nathan, we will miss you so much!”
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Matador Records also expressed their “deepest condolences to all friends, family and bandmates of The Ponys’ Nathan Jerde,” with their sentiments echoed in a social post from In the Red Records, who issued The Ponys’ debut album.
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“We’re beyond sad to hear the news of the passing of Nathan Jerde of The Ponys,” In the Red’s post read. “He was an awesome guy and a fantastic drummer. To say he will be missed is an understatement.”
The Ponys were formed in Chicago in 2001 by vocalist and guitarist Jered Gunmere, who had previously performed with The Defilers and The Guilty Pleasures. Joined by girlfriend (and later, wife) Melissa Elias on bassist, the lineup was rounded out by Jerde, who was previously the drummer for The Mushuganas, and Ian Adams, who also comprised one half of Chicago duo Happy Supply, on guitar and keys.
The band released their debut album Laced with Romance in 2004 via In the Red, before teaming up with veteran producer and Electrical Audio founder Steve Albini, to record their follow-up, 2005’s Celebration Castle. The group would sign to Matador for their third album, with 2007’s Turn the Lights Out reaching No. 39 on the Heatseekers Albums chart that same year.
The band would split in 2007, with members focusing on other projects. Jerde founded the group Mother of Tears and also joined Tyler Jon Tyler as bassist, before The Ponys regrouped for a series of shows throughout 2009 and 2010.
Jerde would continue working in the music industry, focusing on the artwork for bands such as Outer Minds, Mannequin Men, and Choke Chains in the ensuing years. The Ponys would reunite again in 2016 for a series of shows, though had not played live since the following year.
Lady Gaga reportedly played to 2.5 million fans during her concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday night. It’s a hard-to-fathom crowd size, considering we’ve never seen anything like it for a concert in the United States. When it comes to free U.S. shows, some estimates put Garth Brooks’ 1997 concert […]
Drew Afualo gives Megan Moroney her flowers, and she shares that she won Miss Sorority Girl during college, her admiration for Kacey Musgraves and more at Billboard Women in Music 2025.
Drew Afualo:
All right, here we are with the iconic, the legendary, the unbelievably beautiful Megan Moroney. How do you feel being here at Billboard Women in Music?
I’m so excited. I mean, we’re just celebrating the girls tonight. So I love it.
Love, and you’re persevering — you don’t feel that great?
Yeah, I got a shot in my butt, my left butt cheek.
She shared that with me.
So now I shared with everyone.
And she’s still here serving. And what are you doing?
Because, Mama ain’t raise no…
Exactly. You fill in the blank, exactly. Well, I’m so excited to have you here. I’m gonna do a little fun thing for you. So I’m gonna give you some flowers. These are for you.
Thanks!
So I want to give you your flowers-
Are they real?
They are real.
Cool!
Isn’t that so funny. OK, so who do you give your flowers to for getting you where you are now?
My mom.
That’s so common tonight. I love that. Moms, shout ’em out.
No, my mom, I feel like, at a very young age, gave me the confidence to be exactly who I am, and she gave me an attitude to match.
Love. I got one for my mom too, period. I love that. OK, so who do you give your flowers to for inspiring your music?
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