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Charli XCX, Tinashe and Megan Thee Stallion are all over TikTok with their latest hits. Here are all the updates you need to know. Tetris Kelly:From Megan’s new Hot 100 hit, Charli bringing the apples and “Nasty” getting a remix, we’re talking about three of the most viral songs you should know. Tinashe’s “Nasty” has […]
In an episode filled with stunning acts, it was police officer Mervin Mayo from Richmond, VA., who truly stole the spotlight on America’s Got Talent.
His heartfelt rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” left the judges and audience alike in awe, earning him four enthusiastic yeses and a standing ovation.
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Mayo, who has dedicated his life to helping at-risk youth, shared a deeply personal story before his performance. He recounted his challenging upbringing in the housing projects of Richmond and how a police officer named Curtis Simmons saved him from a life of crime.
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“I’ve seen more murders as a child than I have as a police officer,” Mayo revealed. The experience inspired him to become a police officer and mentor to at-risk youth, working tirelessly for 17 years to provide the same guidance he once received.
With the encouragement of his wife Michelle, the director of school counseling for Richmond Public Schools, Mayo decided to take a leap of faith and audition for America’s Got Talent. His performance of “Thinking Out Loud” was more than just a song—it was a tribute to his wife and the journey they’ve shared.
As Mayo sang, he frequently glanced toward the wings where Michelle was watching proudly, adding a layer of genuine emotion to his performance.
His smooth, soulful voice captured the essence of Sheeran’s romantic ballad, and his heartfelt delivery resonated with everyone in the room.
The judges were visibly moved by Mayo’s story and performance. “You really do have a good voice and everything you did was sincere,” praised Simon Cowell. Sofia Vergara echoed these sentiments, saying, “You guys are a beautiful couple and your voice is spectacular. Super romantic, how beautiful that you love her and you’re singing to her.”
Howie Mandel commended the couple’s dedication to their community, saying, “You are the people that allow us to be safe and people who are in our school system. You are both serving the community and that’s a wonderful thing.”
Heidi Klum summed up the judges’ feelings, “You sounded great up there. You felt right at home. I felt the love. It was beautiful.”
Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” achieved major success on the Billboard charts. Released in 2014 as part of his album x (Multiply), the song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained in the top 10 for 23 weeks.
It also became the first song to spend a full year in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 40. As well as this, “Thinking Out Loud” topped the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart and earned Sheeran two Grammy Awards in 2016 for song of the year and best pop solo performance. In his homeland, “Thinking Out Loud” logged two weeks atop the Official U.K. Singles Chart.
To see how Mayo progresses in the competition, tune in to America’s Got Talent on Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC, or catch it streaming the next day on Peacock.
Watch his full performance on America’s Got Talent below.
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Three weeks after Karol G’s “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs, the song rolls 3-1 on the Tropical Airplay chart (dated July 20), for the Colombian’s first No. 1 there. It’s the second track by a female soloist, unaccompanied by another act, to rule the tally in the 2020s.
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“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” on Bichota/Interscope/ICLG and released June 21, advances to No. 1 on Tropical Airplay –as the Greatest Gainer of the week– with 7.6 million audience impressions during the July 5-11 tracking week, according to Luminate: that’s a 27% gain from the week prior.
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While “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” gives Karol G her first champ on Tropical Airplay, the singer-songwriter previously achieved a No. 8 high through “Casi Nada” in 2016, before the chart became genre-based.
The track, produced in partnership with Coke Studio, makes Karol G the second solo woman, unaccompanied by any other act, to lead Tropical Airplay this decade, after Rosalía hit No. 1 with “Despechá” in 2022. Prior, La India ruled with “Dímelo” for one week in 2016.
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Notably, only six women have seated atop Tropical Airplay in the ‘20s with or without collaborators: Natti Natasha, La India, Rosalía, Maria Becerra, Shakira and now, Karol G. Out of those, Rosalía has successfully managed three champs, while Becerra, two. Here is their collection of No. 1s:
Title, Artist, Peak Date, Weeks at No. 1“La Mejor Versión de Mí,” Natti Natasha & Romeo Santos, Oct. 26, 2019, 15 (seven of its weeks at No. 1 were in 2020)“Victimas Las Dos,” Victor Manuelle & La India, May 29, 2021, one“La Fama,” Rosalía Featuring The Weeknd, May 14, 2022, two“Te Espero”, Prince Royce & Maria Becerra, May 28, 2022, four“Despechá”, Rosalía, Oct. 1, 2022, four“Monotonía,” Shakira & Ozuna, Dec. 3, 2022, nine“El Pañuelo,” Romeo Santos & Rosalía, Feb. 4, 2023, four“Así Es La Vida,” Enrique Iglesias & Maria Becerra, Dec. 9, 2023, eight“Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” Karol G, July 20
Over on Hot Latin Songs, “Si Antes” remains at its No. 2 debut and peak for a third week. Meanwhile, advances 5-2 on the overall Latin Airplay list.
Billboard’s Fan Army Face Off is back this year and there’s loads of fandoms that are battling it out to take the No.1 spot. Head to billboard.com to cast your vote now! Tetris Kelly: Drake versus Kendrick, Ice Spice versus ATEEZ, NewJeans versus Sabrina Carpenter. Billboard’s Fan Army Face Off is back and the 32 […]
Noah Kahan sold out Madison Square Garden for two nights in a row with his We’ll All Be Here Forever Tour, and we give you an exclusive behind the scenes look! Tetris Kelly: It’s “Stick Season” every season as Noah Kahan took over Madison Square Garden for his first two sold out nights. We take […]
Ahead of Adele’s Munich residency, she dropped the bombshell that she wants to take a “big break” from music. Keep watching for the details! Tetris Kelly:Adele says she’s taking a break from music, but what’s next for the chart-topper? Ahead of her 10-day residency in Munich, Germany, Adele sat down with German outlet, ZDF, to […]
Griff released her debut album as a trilogy, and the final installment, ‘Vertigo,’ is out. She stops by Billboard and shares how she got inspired to release her debut album in three parts, her experience on opening for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, and how she will be opening for Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n Sweet […]
Gretta Ray, the award-winning indie-pop singer and songwriter, is recovering from a serious health complaint which required a visit to the ER and a lengthy stay in hospital.
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The Australian artist touched down in London earlier in the summer, a rite of passage for so many of her compatriots and a personal mission for Ray to further her career.
After going quiet on social media, Ray reached out to alert her followers on recent events. “Hi darlings,” she writes, “I wanted to share with you that shortly after moving overseas to London last month, I was admitted to the ER and have remained in hospital for 5 weeks now.”
She continues, “it’s been a scary time, but after a lot of uncertainty, I have a plan moving forward and will soon be on the other side of all of this.” The post is accompanied with a picture taken from her hospital bed, an intravenous drip looming above.
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The road ahead is a long one. “I have a long recovery period ahead of me and for now I’m going to keep the details of my illness private,” Ray adds, “but I felt compelled to make this post to remind all of you that if you are ever feeling unsettlingly sick, in unexpected sudden pain, or you just know that something is wrong, make sure you listen to that gut feeling and get seen to as soon as you can.”
Ray’s family are now in London “taking care of me,” she writes in a followup post. “I am in good hands here in a really good hospital.”
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Hailing from Melbourne, Ray’s career blossomed while she was still at school. In 2016, a teenage Ray won Triple J Unearthed and she scooped the 2016 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, which came with a A$50,000 winner’s check.
Her debut album, Begin to Look Around, dropped in 2021 and was nominated an ARIA Music Award (breakthrough artist release) and a J Award, for Australian album of the year.
In 2023 came the sophomore album Positive Spin, which was shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize, the J Award and her single “Heartbreak Baby” was nominated for song of the year at the 2024 APRA Music Awards.
Tenacious D is feeling the wrath of Australia’s right-wing after Kyle Gass made an off-color joke at the expense of Donald Trump.
The comedy-rock duo of Gass and Hollywood star Jack Black are visiting Australia for the Spicy Meatball Tour, produced by Frontier Touring.
On Sunday (July 14), in footage widely shared on social media, the “Tribute” singers were on stage at the ICC Sydney, when Black and a “robot” presented Gass with a birthday cake.
In fan-filmed clips, Black can be heard saying, “Make a wish,” to which Gass responded, “Don’t miss Trump next time” as laughter filled the room.
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Gass’ ill-advised comments were made just hours after an assassination attempt on Trump at his Butler, Pa. rally, where the GOP presidential nominee was struck in the ear and an audience member was killed.
The laughter has since died-down.
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Several Australian shock-jocks and right-wing politicians didn’t see the funny side of Gass’ comments, and, on Tuesday afternoon, reps for the concert promoter announced that the sold-out concert that night at Newcastle Entertainment Centre would be postponed.
Earlier, Senator Ralph Babet, a member of the right-wing United Australia Party, took to social media on Monday to demand that Tenacious D be deported for the quip. In a statement, Babet called on Australia’s immigration minister Andrew Giles to “revoke their visas.”
Babet wrote, “Anything less than a deportation is an endorsement of the shooting and the attempted assassination of Donald J. Trump.”
Controversial broadcaster blasted the pair during his Kyle and Jackie O show, and issued a life-long ban. “That’s some serious twisted s—,” he remarked. “I never want to speak to them again.”
Tenacious D’s forthcoming Australian tour dates include Brisbane Entertainment Centre (July 18), a sold-out show at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena (July 20) and a performance at Adelaide Entertainment Centre (July 22), with NZ dates to follow at Wellington’s TSB Arena (July 24) and Auckland’s Spark Arena (July 26).
“Frontier Touring regret to advise that Tenacious D’s concert tonight at Newcastle Entertainment Centre has been postponed,” reads a statement. “Ticket holders are asked to hold onto their tickets until further information is available.” A spokesperson tells Billboard there is no further comment.
In a stellar moment for music and space exploration, NASA has transmitted Missy Elliott’s iconic 1997 hit “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” to Venus, marking the first time a hip-hop song has been beamed into deep space.
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The historic transmission took place on Friday, July 12, from NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Using the agency’s Deep Space Network, the song traveled an astronomical 158 million miles from Earth to Venus at the speed of light, taking approximately 14 minutes to reach its destination.
Elliott, clearly over the moon with this otherworldly honor, shared her excitement on social media: “YOOO this is crazy! We just went #OutOfThisWorld with NASA and sent the FIRST hip hop song into space through the Deep Space Network. My song ‘The Rain’ has officially been transmitted all the way to Venus, the planet that symbolizes strength, beauty, and empowerment. The sky is not the limit, it’s just the beginning 👽👽”
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YOOO this is crazy! We just went #OutOfThisWorld with @NASA and sent the FIRST hip hop song into space through the Deep Space Network. My song “The Rain” has officially been transmitted all the way to Venus, the planet that symbolizes strength, beauty and empowerment. The sky is… pic.twitter.com/g6HofNQSt1— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) July 15, 2024
This cosmic milestone follows the Beatles’ “Across the Universe,” which became the first song NASA beamed into deep space in 2008.
Brittany Brown, Digital and Technology Division Director at NASA’s Office of Communications, who pitched the idea to Elliott’s team, noted the synergy between space exploration and the artist’s work: “Both space exploration and Missy Elliott’s art have been about pushing boundaries. Missy has a track record of infusing space-centric storytelling and futuristic visuals in her music videos, so the opportunity to collaborate on something out of this world is truly fitting.”
Produced by Timbaland, Missy Elliott’s “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” from her debut album Supa Dupa Fly marked her emergence as a major player in hip-hop and R&B.
It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 129,000 copies sold in the first week released, becoming the highest debut for a female rapper at the time, and topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The track’s innovative production by Timbaland and its unique music video directed by Hype Williams left a lasting impact on the music industry, establishing Elliott as a creative force and setting the stage for her successful career.
