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It’s been almost a year since the slap heard around the world, when Will Smith stormed the stage at the Oscars on March 27, 2022, to smack Chris Rock across the face on live television.
The tense moment occurred after Rock made an onstage joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, during the Academy Awards ceremony. “Jada, I love you. G.I Jane 2, can’t wait to see it,” the comedian said about her shaved head — which, unbeknownst to Rock, is caused by the actress’ struggles with alopecia.
Pinkett Smith rolled her eyes in response, while Smith laughed. Shortly after, the King Richard actor ran up on stage to slap Rock, who attempted to continue his banter before Smith began shouting from his seat, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—ing mouth.”
In the year since then, Smith has issued a number of apologies, others who were present at the situation have spoken up about what went down and Chris Rock has make jokes about the incident throughout his comedy specials.
With the 2023 Oscars on the way, see below for a timeline of everything that has gone down between Smith and Rock since the slap.
March 27, 2022: Will Smith’s Acceptance Speech
Shortly after the incident, Smith won the best actor award for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ dad Richard Williams in King Richard.
“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” Smith said during his acceptance speech, seeming to allude to the viral moment. He then mentioned some of his King Richard costars. “In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. Making this film, I got to protect Aunganue Ellis, who is one of the most strongest, most delicate people I’ve ever met. I got to protect Saniyya [Sidney] and Demi [Singleton], the two actresses who play Venus and Serena. I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people.”
“Now I know to do what we do, you gotta be able to take abuse. You gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business you have to be able to have people disrespecting you. And you gotta smile and pretend that’s OK,” he continued, becoming increasingly emotional, tears welling up in his eyes. “Denzel [Washington] said to me a few minutes ago, he said, ‘At your highest moment, that’s when the devil comes for you.’”
Smith then delivered his mea culpa, though without mentioning Rock. “I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to my fellow nominees,” he said, continuing to tear up. “This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me. It’s about being able to shine a light on all of the people … Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father just like they said … just like they said about Richard Williams. Love will make you do crazy things.”
March 28, 2022: Chris Rock Declines to Press Charges
“LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program,” the department said in a statement, NBC reported. “The incident involved one individual slapping another. The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.”
NBC News reported that spokespeople for Rock did not return requests for comment, and that senior sources at the LAPD said officers typically don’t take action in this kind of suspected misdemeanor battery investigation unless the victim wants to press charges or help fill out an incident report.
March 28, 2022: The Academy Releases Statement, Opens Formal Review
“The Academy does not condone violence of any form,” the organization tweeted. “Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.”
The Academy does not condone violence of any form.Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 28, 2022https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Later, in a statement to Billboard, the organization shared, “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show. We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.”
March 28, 2022: Will Smith Issues an Apology
Smith shared a statement via Instagram, apologizing for his actions. “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” Smith wrote in a lengthy message. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
He continued, “I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress.”
See his post here.
March 29, 2022: Jada Pinkett Smith Calls For ‘Season For Healing’
Jada Pinkett Smith posted her own Instagram message amid the drama, declaring that “this is a season for healing.”
“And I’m here for it,” Pinkett Smith added in the post, which made no direct reference to the incident. See her post here.
March 29, 2022: Will Smith’s Mom Weighs In
Smith’s mother, Caroline Bright, shared her thoughts on the slap in an interview with Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate 6abc, calling the experience a “first” for her. “[Will] is a very even, people person. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen him go off. First time in his lifetime … I’ve never seen him do that,” she said.
March 30, 2022: Chris Rock Breaks His Silence
The comedian spoke out publicly about the incident for the first time during his stand-up show in Boston. “How was your weekend?” he asked the crowd, who began laughing, as reported by Variety. “I don’t have a bunch of sh– about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend. I’m still kind of processing what happened. So at some point, I’ll talk about that sh–. And it will be serious and funny.”
The audience then broke into a chant, shouting “F— Will Smith,” which can be heard in the audio Variety posted on Instagram here.
April 1, 2022: Will Smith Resigns From The Academy
In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Smith said he was heartbroken and would accept all consequences for his conduct.
“My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home,” Smith said in the statement. “I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film.”
Smith’s resignation means he can no longer vote for the Oscars — but he can still be nominated for future Academy Awards, attend future ceremonies and keep the statue he won.
“We have received and accepted Mr. Will Smith’s immediate resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,” the Academy said in a statement. “We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 18.”
April 3, 2022: ‘SNL’ Reenacts the Incident
In a later sketch in the episode, Jarrod Carmichael and Chris Redd poked fun at the slap. “Seat filler” Carmichael went up to Redd’s Smith, telling him he was such a fan of his and asked him for a selfie. In the background, voiceover can be heard of Rock’s G.I. Jane joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who has a shaved head and has been open about her struggle with alopecia.
“I don’t wanna sound corny, but you’re like my hero, man,” Carmichael told Redd’s Smith. “This is the coolest man in my life. I’m talking to Will Smith. Chris Rock just got up onstage.”
Redd’s Smith told Carmichael he’d be right back and went onstage to slap Rock, returning to his seat shortly after as if nothing was wrong.
“I like your tux, by the way,” Redd told Carmichael. “Look good, feel good,” he continued before turning his attention to the stage and shouting, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—ing mouth,” like Smith yelled at Rock at the Oscars on Sunday.
Watch it here.
April 4, 2022: Chris Rock’s Brother Kenny Weighs In
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Kenny shared that he thinks Smith’s apology was nothing more than a PR move. “No, I don’t accept it because I don’t think it was genuine,” he said. “I think his publicist and the people that work under him probably advised him to do that.” (Another of Rock’s other brothers, Tony, also said he does not accept Smith’s apology and said the entire fiasco was “foul.”)
He continued, “I might have looked at it differently had he initially apologized when he got on the stage and cried and accepted the award, but he didn’t, so, right there that tells me that it is something else.”
As for Smith remaining in the ceremony after slapping Rock, and later accepting the best actor award for his role in King Richard? Kenny (as well as other celebrities in attendance) believes that was a misstep on the Academy’s part.
“He should have been escorted out of there,” he said. “I hold them accountable for that. He could have went up there and did anything you wanted to my brother. It could have been much worse than what he did.” Kenny added that Smith “belittled my brother. He had no respect for him. … In my opinion, he embarrassed himself by doing that and his legacy by doing that.”
April 8, 2022: Will Smith Banned From Attending Any Academy Events for 10 Years
Smith will not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs for the next 10 years in the wake of his conduct. That means Smith will not be allowed to present the award to 2023’s best actress winner, a time-honored tradition at the Oscars.
Academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson released an “open letter to our Academy family” about their decision, which you can read in full here.
April 23, 2022: Chris Rock’s Mom Speaks Out
Rose Rock, an author and motivational speaker, told WIS that the comedian is doing well but “still processing” the incident that led Smith to resign from the Academy. “I told someone, when Will slapped Chris, he slapped all of us, but he really slapped me,” she said. “When you hurt my child, you hurt me.”
When asked what she would say to Smith, Rose shared, “I have no idea what I would say other than, ‘What in the world were you thinking?’ Because you did a slap, but so many things could have happened. Chris could have stepped back and fallen. You really could have gotten taken out in handcuffs. You didn’t think. You reacted to your wife giving you the side-eye, and you went up, and you made her day because she was bowled over laughing when it happened.”
She added that she didn’t think the apology Smith posted to his Instagram account on the day after the ceremony felt genuine. “I feel really bad that he never apologized,” Rock said. “His people wrote up a piece and said, ‘I apologize to Chris Rock,’ but something like that is personal. You reach out.”
June 1, 2022: Jada Pinkett Smith Breaks Silence
On an episode of her Red Table Talk series, Pinkett Smith said, “My deepest hope is that these two intelligent, capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out and reconcile.”
She added, “the state of the world today, we need ’em both. And we all actually need one another more than ever. Until then, Will and I are continuing to do what we have done for the last 28 years, and that’s keep figuring out this thing called life together.”
Watch the full episode here.
July 28, 2022: Chris Rock Addresses Will Smith Slap During Stand-Up Show
On his Rock Hart Only Headliners Allowed tour stop with Kevin Hart at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, Rock reportedly made one of the most specific references to date addressing his feelings surrounding the slap.
“Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face,” Rock, 57, said during his set, according to US Weekly, citing an unnamed eyewitness to the set. Rock also reportedly later referred to Smith — who has kept a low-to-no profile since the incident — as “Suge Smith,” seemingly a reference to the disgraced, currently imprisoned former Death Row Records CEO and strongman Marion “Suge” Knight.
“I’m not a victim, motherf–ker,” he added, saying he “shook that s–t off and returned to work.” Now, don’t get him wrong, Rock said, “yeah, that s–t hurt, motherf–ker. But I shook that s–t off and went to work the next day… I don’t go to the hospital for a papercut.”
July 29, 2022: Will Smith Issues Video Apology
Smith returned from his social media break with a video titled “it’s been a minute” to his YouTube page, answering questions regarding the Oscars incident and issue another apology to Rock, as well as Rock’s family.
While answering the question of why he did not take the opportunity to apologize for the slap during his acceptance speech after winning best actor, Smith said he was not in a clear state of mind. “I was fogged out by that point. It is all fuzzy. I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that, he’s not ready to talk. When he is, he will reach out. I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I am here whenever you are ready to talk,” he said.
Smith continued, “I want to apologize to Chris’s mother. I saw an interview [she] did, and that was one of the things I just didn’t realize. I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment. I want to apologize to Chris’ mother, I want to apologize to Chris’s family, specifically Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. This is probably irreparable. I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuance and complexity of what happened in that moment. I’m not going to try to unpack all of that right now, but I can say to all of you, there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. No part of me that thinks that is the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insult.”
Watch the video here.
July 29, 2022: Will Smith Reflects on ‘Horrific Night’ of Oscars Slap
During an appearance on The Daily Show With Trevor Noah this week, Smith called the situation a “horrific night.”
While he added that there were “nuances and complexities” to the moment, he “lost it” during the ceremony. “And I guess what I would say, you just never know what somebody is going through,” he continued. “I was going through something that night. Not that that justifies my behavior at all.”
Smith noted that there “was a rage that had been bottled for a really long time,” and that the most painful part of it all was that “I took my hard and made it hard for other people. I understood the idea where they say that hurt people hurt people.” Noah then pointed out how in Smith’s memoir, the actor shared that he grew up being afraid of conflict.
“It was a lot of things,” Smith said in response. “It was the little boy that watched his father beat up his mother, you know. All of that just bubbled up in that moment. That’s not who I want to be.”
Watch the interview here.
February 14, 2023: Academy President Reflects on Response to the Slap
Academy President Janet Yang reiterated during the 2023 Oscars Nominees Luncheon that the organization’s response to the 2022 ceremony was “inadequate” and that “we must act swiftly, compassionately and decisively” on similar issues in the future.
“As I’m sure you all remember we experienced an unprecedented event at the Oscars,” Yang said. “What happened on stage was wholly unacceptable and the response from the organization was inadequate. We learned from this that the Academy must be fully transparent and accountable in our actions and particularly in times of crisis.”
“We must act swiftly, compassionately and decisively for ourselves and for our industry. You should and can expect no less from us going forward,” she added. “We are committed to maintaining the highest of standards while creating the changes we wish to see in our industry.”
March 5, 2023: Chris Rock Slams Will Smith in Netflix Comedy Special
During Netflix’s first live special Chris Rock: Selective Outrage!, the comedian finally addressed the smackdown at length — and didn’t hold back, Smith’s marital issues (in which Pinkett Smith acknowledged a relationship with singer August Alsina).
“Will Smith practices selective outrage,” Rock told the audience. “Outrage because everybody knows what the f— happened. Everybody that really knows, knows that I have nothing to do with that s—. I didn’t have any entanglements.”
He continued, “His wife was f—ing her son’s friend. OK, now, I normally would not talk about this s—, but for some reason, these n—-s put that s— on the internet. I have no idea why two talented people would do something that lowdown. What the f—? And we’ve all been cheated on. Everybody in here has been cheated on. None of us have ever been interviewed by the person that cheated on us on television.”
“She hurt him way more than he hurt me. Everybody in the world called him a b—-. I tried to call the motherf—er, I tried to call that man and give him my condolences, he didn’t pick up for me.” He continued by listing all the people who called Smith a “b—-” after that interview on Red Table Talk, including Charlamagne Tha God and The View. “Everybody called him a b—-, and who did he hit? Me — a n—a he knows he could beat. That is some b—- ass shit.”
Toward the end of the special, Rock admitted, “I loved Will Smith. My whole life, I loved Will Smith. I saw him open up for Run-D.M.C. … He makes great movies. I have rooted for Will Smith my whole life,” Rock said. “And now I watch Emancipation just to see him get whooped.”
Rock used the last minute of Selective Outrage to answer why he didn’t do anything back. “‘Cause I got parents,” Rock said. “‘Cause I was raised. And you know what my parents taught me? Don’t fight in front of white people.”
Gospel music luminaries David and Tamela Mann, as well as Dr. Bobby Jones will be honored during the upcoming 22nd annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards on March 30.
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The event, to be held at Flourish Atlanta, will be hosted by BMI president/CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI vice president, Creative Catherine Brewton.
“BMI is thrilled to be back in Atlanta celebrating the best in Gospel music,” said Brewton via a statement. “We’re extremely proud to honor powerhouse couple Tamela and David Mann for their incredible contributions to the Gospel community, the enduring legacy of Dr. Bobby Jones and the songwriters and publishers behind the top Gospel songs of the previous year. Through song and praise, they deliver inspirational messages of hope, faith and goodwill to music lovers around the world. We feel truly blessed to bring these trailblazers together in fellowship and celebrate their creative works.”
In the 1990s, Tamela and David toured the world as part of the gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family, before launching solo careers and joint ventures, creating Tillymann Entertainment in 2005 as a base for their various entertainment projects. In 2018, they released Us Against the World, their first collaborative album as a duo. A companion book to the album earned the couple a NAACP Image Award for outstanding literary work, while the album launched the hit “Ups & Downs.” The Manns also launched the Overcomer Family Tour, with their son David Jr. and their daughters La’Tia and Tiffany.
Beyond music, the Manns have appeared in several Tyler Perry plays, films and movies, and starred in their own sitcom, Mann & Wife, and the docuseries It’s a Mann’s World. As a solo artist, Tamela has issued six studio albums and earned a Grammy, BET Award, Billboard Music Award and multiple NAACP, GMA Dove and Stellar Gospel Music awards.
Singer, television host and radio broadcaster Jones will be honored for his more than four decades in entertainment. For more than 35 years, he served as the host of Bobby Jones Gospel on BET, and is credited with giving artists including Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary their first national television exposure. In 1984, Jones earned a Grammy for best soul gospel performance by a duo or group for “I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today” with Barbara Mandrell. He has also received recognition from the GMA Dove Awards, and the Stellar Awards, and was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame earlier this year.
Throughout the ceremony, BMI will also recognize the songwriters, producers and music publishers of the past year’s 25 most performed gospel songs in the United States. The BMI gospel song, songwriter and publisher of the year will also be named during the event.
Halle Bailey, who stars as Ariel in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, will present on the 2023 Oscars on Sunday, March 12.
The Little Mermaid, which was directed by Rob Marshall and produced by Marshall, John DeLuca, Marc Platt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, is due May 26. Melissa McCarthy, who appears in the film as the treacherous sea witch Ursula, was already announced as an Oscars presenter.
Jessica Chastain, who won an Oscar for best actress last year for her lead role in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, will also present. Ariana DeBose and Troy Kotsur, last year’s Oscar winners in supporting roles, were already announced as presenters. Last year’s best actor winner, Will Smith, was barred from attending any Academy events for 10 years after slapping Chris Rock on last year’s show.
Andrew Garfield, a two-time best actor nominee who presented the life achievement award to Sally Field on the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Feb. 26, will also present, along with fellow former Oscar nominees Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Pinault, Nicole Kidman, Florence Pugh and Sigourney Weaver.
Elizabeth Banks, John Cho, Hugh Grant and Danai Gurira are also set to present.
They join previously announced presenters Riz Ahmed, Emily Blunt, Glenn Close, Jennifer Connelly, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors, Janelle Monáe, Deepika Padukone, Questlove, Zoe Saldaña and Donnie Yen.
The latest announcement was made on Tuesday (March 7) by executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner and executive producer Molly McNearney. The producers will continue to announce talent joining the show in the run-up to the ceremony.
The producers have announced performances from four of the five nominees for best original song. The only one they haven’t yet announced is Lady Gaga performing “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick.
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 95th Oscars will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 12, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The show will be held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
Billboard’s 2023 Women In Music Awards was hit with fans, capturing an all-time record of 60 million views — and counting.
Announced today (March 7) by Billboard parent PMC, the latest WIM Awards and its corresponding clips and outtakes videos generated its lofty result across Billboard.com, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Instagram Stories, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Harmony, Penske Media’s in house streaming platform.
Based on clips of performances and award outtakes, the ceremony generated 8 million more views than the 2022 edition.
Held March 1 at Los Angeles’s YouTube Theater, Billboard’s annual event celebrates the most influential female powerhouses who are shaping the music landscape, from rising stars to frontline artists, creators, producers and executives.
Among the greats, 2023 Woman of the Year SZA. “You are the real deal. You are such a genuine human being, a genuine artist, a poet, a songwriter, an emoter who’s a once-in-a-lifetime, once-in-a-generation talent,” Lizzo said of the SOS star, adding, “We don’t deserve you!”
Also on the night, Becky G was honored with the Impact Award presented by American Express, Doechii received the Rising Star Award presented by Honda, Ivy Queen earned the Icon Award, Kim Petras nabbed the Chartbreaker Award, Latto landed the Powerhouse Award, Lainey Wilson won the Rulebreaker Award, Lana Del Rey took home the Visionary Award, TWICE was named Breakthrough Award winner, and Rosalía rocked the house with first ever Women in Music Producer of the Year award presented by Bose.
Clips remain online for streaming here on Billboard.com and at Billboard’s YouTube account.
For more visit billboardwomeninmusic.com.
Stevie Van Zandt, Sam Moore, Darlene Love and Steve Earle are the inaugural recipients of the American Music Honors, to be presented by the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music. The event will be held April 15 on the campus of its home, Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J.
Van Zandt, Moore and Love have all been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Van Zandt was inducted as member of Springsteen’s E Street Band in 2014, Moore as a member of the classic R&B duo Sam & Dave in 1992, and Love as a solo artist in 2011.
Moore, Love and Earle are Grammy winners. Moore won best R&B group performance, vocal or instrumental for the Sam & Dave classic “Soul Man” (1967); Love won best music video, long form for her role in 20 Feet From Stardom (2014); and Earle is a three-time Grammy winner for best contemporary folk album.
“American Music Honors aims to celebrate those artists who have demonstrated artistic excellence, creative integrity, and a longstanding commitment to the value of music in our national consciousness,” Robert Santelli, founding executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music said in a statement. “All of our inaugural honorees are worthy of acknowledgment and appreciation.”
American Music Honors will take place in Monmouth University’s Pollak Theatre. Jon Stewart will open the evening as a welcoming host, while the Disciples of Soul will serve as the event’s house band. Award presenters include Springsteen, his wife and bandmate Patti Scialfa, E Street Band member Garry Tallent, and Southside Johnny Lyon of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. Tickets for the event will go on sale to the public on Monday, March 13. Ticket information is available on the Archives’ website.
“This event showcases the ‘American Music’ part of our name and mission,” added Dr. Patrick Leahy, Monmouth University president and board chair of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music. “By honoring American music greats, such as those named today, and by creating dynamic education and public programs, along with major museum exhibitions, we make valuable contributions to the understanding and importance of American music in our lives.”
The Bruce Springsteen Archives serves as the official repository for the music of Bruce Springsteen, plus photographs, periodicals, oral histories, rare recordings, films, and artifacts related to Springsteen and the E Street Band. The Center for American Music produces museum exhibitions, symposia and seminars, teacher workshops, concerts, internships, and various public programs to promote and celebrate the many forms of American music and their impact on our culture and national identity.
Taylor Swift is set to receive the 2023 iHeartRadio Innovator Award at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards, which will air live from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday, March 27. Previous recipients of the Innovator Award are Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, U2, Bruno Mars, Chance the Rapper and Alicia Keys.
In addition to her musical accomplishments, iHeart notes in a statement that Swift is “an advocate for women’s rights and the LGBTQ+ community, using her music and platform to inspire young people to use their voting power.”
iHeart also notes that Swift’s smash “Anti-Hero,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks from November into January, “is currently the most played song across iHeartRadio.”
P!nk will receive the 2023 iHeartRadio Icon Award, honoring “her impact on pop culture, longevity and continued relevance as a touring and radio force with a loyal fan base worldwide.” Previous recipients are Bon Jovi, Elton John and Jennifer Lopez.
Swift and P!nk, of course, have both received enough awards to fill a warehouse. Both are multiple Grammy winners (12 for Swift, three for P!nk). Both have received Billboard’s Woman of the Year honor (Swift has received it twice). Both have received top honorary awards at the Brit Awards.
P!nk will also perform on the show, as will Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Muni Long, Cody Johnson and Coldplay (the latter performing live from Brazil).
These bookings are considered a boon for relative newcomers Long and Johnson as they strive to build on their 2022 breakthroughs. Both landed their first top 20 hits on the Hot 100 last year, with “Hrs and Hrs” and “’Til You Can’t,” respectively.
Clarkson’s performance on the iHearts is somewhat surprising, because her focus in the past few years has been on her hugely successful daytime talk show.
Benatar and Giraldo are 2022 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which John Sykes also oversees. (Sykes, the president of entertainment enterprises for iHeartMedia, is also the chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.)
Now in its 10th year, the iHeartRadio Music Awards will celebrate the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2022,
Fan voting will determine this year’s best lyrics, best music video, best fan army, the social star award, favorite tour photographer, TikTok bop of the year, favorite documentary, favorite tour style, favorite residency and favorite use of a sample.
Social voting will close on March 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT for all categories. Fans can vote on Twitter using the appropriate category and nominee hashtags or by visiting iHeartRadio.com/awards.
Additional categories include label of the year and individual winners for album of the year in various genres, including pop, country, alternative, rock, dance, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and regional Mexican formats.
Executive producers for the iHeartRadio Music Awards are Joel Gallen, for Tenth Planet; and Sykes, Tom Poleman and Bart Peters, for iHeartMedia.
Ahead of the event, fans can tune in to the live red carpet pre-show. For breaking news and exclusive iHeartRadio Music Awards content, visit iHeartRadio.com/awards.
The event will air live from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Monday, March 27 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET live / PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The event also will be heard on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app.
Katy Perry couldn’t help but relate after Bebe Rexha got slimed at the 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards on Saturday.
Rexha — who performed her top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit “I’m Good (Blue)” sans collaborator David Guetta during the family-friendly awards show — shared the moment she got slimed on social media, writing, “Kids choice awards before and after..” The “When I’m Gone” singer jumped into the comments section of the Instagram post, quipping, “They were kind to you sis.”
Of course, Perry seems to be referencing her own epic appearance at the Kids’ Choice Awards during her Teenage Dream era back in 2010, in which she was quite literally knocked to the ground by her surprise sliming. Several fans also reminisced about the moment after seeing Perry’s comment on social media, with one tweeting, “They tried to take her out fr… all she did was wear a blue wig & make pop hits.”
Another pronounced, “Katy Perry is never going back to the kids choice awards after that,” and a third joked, “no forreal cuz this is an attempted mur-der,” with a crying emoji
Rexha, meanwhile, released her latest single “Heart Wants What It Wants” in mid-February as a precursor to her forthcoming, yet-untitled third album. The upcoming record will be a follow-up to 2021’s Better Mistakes, which contained the singles “Baby I’m Jealous,” featuring Doja Cat; “Sacrifice”; “Sabotage”; and the Lil Uzi Vert collab “Die for a Man.”
Check out Perry’s comment on Rexha’s Kids’ Choice Awards post, as well as some of the best fan reactions, below.
Katy perry is never going back the kids choice awards after that 😭— LEO (@infeelsss) March 6, 2023
they tried to take her out fr… all she did was wear a blue wig & make pop hits 😭— Chris is PLAYing🍄 (@ChrisAntonacci1) March 6, 2023
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Countdown to the Oscars! The 2023 Academy Awards will return to ABC on Sunday (March 12).
Rihanna and Lenny Kravitz are set to perform at the event hosted by Jimmy Kimmel live from Hollywood’s Dolby Theater.
Nominees include Michelle Yeoh, Austin Butler, Angela Bassett, Colin Farrell, Cate Blanchett, Ana de Armas, Brendan Fraser, Michelle Williams and Steven Spielberg.
Elvis, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Whale, Top Gun: Maverick, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, The Fabelmans, Tára are among this year’s Oscar-nominated films.
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Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” is nominated for best original song alongside “Applause” by Dianne Warren, “Hold My Hands” by Lady Gaga and BloodPop, “Naatu Naatu” by M.M. Keeravaani and Chandrabose, and “This Is a Life” by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski.
Michael B. Jordan, Ariana DeBose, Janelle Monáe, Questlove, Dwayne Johnson, Jonathan Majors, Zoe Saldaña, Melissa McCarthy and Deepika Padukone are among the presenters.
Model Ashley Graham, actor Vanessa Hudgens and multi-hyphenate Lilly Singh will host Countdown to the Oscars on Sunday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. EDT/3:30 p.m. PDT on ABC. Media personality Rocsi Diaz and content creator Reece Feldman will be the correspondents for the Academy’s member viewing party in NYC.
Ahead of the pre-show, ABC News will air On The Red Carpet Live: Countdown to Oscars 95, Sunday, March 12, at 1-4 p.m. ET/10 a.m.-1 p.m PT. The pre-show coverage will also stream on ABC News Live starting at 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT.
ABC News Live Prime anchor and World News Tonight weekend anchor, Linsey Davis, and Good Morning America weekend co-anchor and World News Tonight weekend anchor, Whit Johnson, will host the red-carpet special. Joining Davis and Johnson will be ABC News correspondent Chris Connelly, ESPN’s Andscape senior entertainment reporter and ABC News contributor, Kelley Carter, and Hollywood insiders, including Variety’s Elizabeth Wagmeister and Clayton Davis, and celebrity stylist Joe Zee.
Read on for ways for watch and stream.
How to Watch the 2023 Oscars Online for Free
The 95th annual Oscars will air at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC. If you don’t already have cable, there are lots of ways to watch and stream the Oscars from your TV or laptop such as Hulu and other streamers and ABC.com (an antenna might also do the trick).
How to Watch the 2023 Oscars on Hulu
If you already have Hulu, the Oscars will be available to stream on Monday (March 13). For those who haven’t joined yet, plans start at just $6.99 a month for Hulu’s ad-supported package and $12.99 a month to watch without commercials.
Hulu (with ads)
$6.99/month
Hulu + Live TV is $69.99 to stream over 75 live channels including ABC and NBC, in addition to access to the entire Hulu streaming library, Disney+ and ESPN+.
More Ways to Watch & Stream the 2023 Oscars from Anywhere
Viewers can stream the 2023 Oscars live or on-demand on DirectTV Stream. Plans start at $69.99/month and customers can save up to $120 with the purchase of a DirectTV streaming device. Other streaming options include Verizon Fios, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Vidgo and Express VPN for those who want to stream the show internationally.
Another budget-friendly option is Fubo TV, which offers hundreds of cable, network and sports channels starting at $69.99 for the Pro package (after a free trial) for over 111 channels including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, FX, TLC, ESPN, FS1, AMC, MSNBC and Nickelodeon; plus more than 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR and unlimited streaming on up to 10 devices.
Watch the official trailer for the 2023 Oscars below.
The 95th annual Oscars are just days away, and if Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” wins the award for best original song, it will join 27 other tracks that have won an Academy Award and also reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Some of the other songs that have reached this milestone are Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper‘s A Star Is Born duet “Shallow,” Idina Menzel’s “Let It Go” from Frozen, Adele‘s “Skyfall” from the James Bond movie of the same name and many more. Five artists have each made the top 10 with two Oscar-winning songs – Barbra Streisand, Irene Cara, Jennifer Warnes, Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson.
See our full list of Oscar-winning songs have hit the Hot 100 top 10 here, and let us know your favorite by voting below.
Avril Lavigne, Lauren Spencer-Smith and Jessie Reyez are among the presenters set for the 2023 Juno Awards, which will air Monday, March 13. Reyez will also perform on the show, as will Nickelback, Tate McRae, Tenille Townes and more.
Lavigne, a nine-time Juno winner, is nominated for five more awards this year. Spencer-Smith is a three-time nominee.
This year’s show, hosted for the second year in a row by actor Simu Liu, will broadcast live from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta.
The 2023 Junos will follow the Grammys’ lead and include a spotlight on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. Kardinal Offishall, who had a top five hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2008 with “Dangerous” (featuring Akon), will co-host the celebration with Haviah Mighty, who last year became the first woman to win the Juno Award for rap album/EP of the year.
Performers in the hip-hop segment include four-time Juno winner Choclair, two-time Juno winner Maestro Fresh Wes, 2021 Juno winner TOBi, Toronto rap duo Dream Warriors and hip hop pioneer Michie Mee, with veteran entertainer DJ Mel Boogie spinning. The track was produced by recording artist Rich Kidd.
“The history of hip hop around the world is incredibly rich, with so many distinct voices contributing to the narrative,” Offishall said in a statement. “It’s an honour to be able to help tell this story through a distinctly Canadian lens and celebrate this important cultural milestone at The 2023 Juno Awards.”
Offishall, a four-time Juno winner and Global A&R at Def Jam Records, wrote and produced the segment with writer and actress Jemeni, with involvement from ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Business Collective and the Juno Rap Music Advisory Committee.
Actor Ryan Reynolds will make a virtual appearance to honor Nickelback for their contributions to Canadian music. The band is being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Connor McDavid, NHL All-Star and Edmonton Oilers’ captain, will be on hand to honor the band in-person. Nickelback will perform a medley of their hits.
The show will air on Monday, March 13 at 6 PM MT/8 PM ET on CBC TV, CBC Radio One and CBC Music. The show will also stream live on CBC Gem, CBC Listen, globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos, and on CBC Music’s Facebook, Twitter and Youtube pages.
Tickets for the 2023 Juno Awards start at $49 and are available for purchase at www.ticketmaster.ca/junos, by phone and in-person at the Rogers Place box office.
For more information, visit CBCMusic.ca/junos.
Here are all the performers and presenters for the 2023 Juno Awards:
Performers
Alexisonfire
AP Dhillon
Banx & Ranx with Preston Pablo and Rêve
Jessie Reyez
Nickelback
Northern Cree with Aysanabee
Tate McRae
Tenille Townes
50th anniversary of hip-hop segment: Choclair, DJ Mel Boogie, Dream Warriors, Haviah Mighty, Kardinal Offishall, Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee, TOBi.
Presenters
Avril Lavigne
Lauren Spencer-Smith
Andrew Phung
Jessie Reyez
KallMeKris
Pablo Rodriguez
Pierre Kwenders
Tyler Shaw
Nickelback lifetime achievement award segment: Ryan Reynolds, Connor McDavid