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It doesn’t have to be a “Blue Christmas” this year: NBC is set to celebrate Elvis Presley with the upcoming live music special Christmas at Graceland, executive produced by Elvis’ granddaughter Riley Keough, Billboard can exclusively announce.
The special will air Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and will be simulcast on Peacock.
“My family and I are elated to open the doors to Graceland in this first-of-its-kind special,” said Christmas at Graceland EP Keough; the Daisy Jones & The Six actress is the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley, who died in January at age 54. “With intimate musical performances drawing inspiration from my grandfather Elvis’s cherished Christmases in Memphis, viewers will be invited to experience firsthand the magic that is Christmas at Graceland.”
According to a press release, Christmas at Graceland — which will air immediately after NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center on Nov. 29 (8 p.m. ET/PT) — will “feature music’s biggest stars celebrating the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, his music and his favorite time of year, in an unprecedented holiday special live from his iconic home, Graceland.”
Performers will be announced closer to the air date.
“To celebrate the holidays at Graceland, and be a part of the King’s legacy, is both an honor and absolute dream come true,” said Jen Neal, executive vice president, live events and specials, NBCUniversal Media Group. “We thank Riley and her family for allowing all of us to visit her grandfather’s iconic home and share an intimate musical experience that Elvis would’ve truly loved.”
Presley has a legendary catalog of Christmas music, with two hits on the 2011-launched Holiday 100 songs chart: “Blue Christmas,” which peaked at No. 11 in 2013, and “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane),” which hit No. 22 in 2015. His album It’s Christmas Time (a 1985 reissue of Presley’s 1957 release Elvis’ Christmas Album) reached No. 2 on Top Holiday Albums in 2015 — his highest-charting project on the tally; it also peaked at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart in 2018.
Christmas at Graceland will be produced by Done + Dusted, Authentic Studios and Felix Culpa, a production company co-founded by Keough and Gina Gammell. Executive producers from Done + Dusted are Raj Kapoor, Katy Mullan and Ian Stewart. Colin Smeeton, Matthew Gross and Marc Rosen will serve as executive producers on behalf of Authentic Studios. Felix Culpa’s Keough and Gammell will also executive produce alongside Graceland’s Joel Weinshanker. Done + Dusted’s Patrick Menton will co-executive produce.
It may only be March, but Jimmy Fallon is already in the holiday spirit.
The late night host sat down with E! News this week, where he revealed that he has a festive-themed album on the way this year. “I’ve been working on one for a couple of years. It’s silly, there’s comedy songs, there’s traditional songs on there, there’s a couple of duets. It should be a good mix,” he explained.
Watch the video here.
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Fallon is no stranger to getting in the Christmas spirit, and has often performed holiday songs on The Tonight Show with his famous friends. Back in 2021, he released a pandemic-era holiday song “It Was A… (Masked Christmas)” alongside pop powerhouses Ariana Grande and Megan Thee Stallion.
“I didn’t want to do a Mariah Carey, ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ type of song, which is what everybody tries to do,” Fallon told Billboard‘s Pop Shop Podcast of the track. “I’m like, ‘Guys, she’s done it. She’s done it well. She nailed it. You can move away. No one’s going to top that song. She’s the queen. Let her have it. Think of a new idea.’”
Last year, Fallon teamed up with Dolly Parton for “Almost Too Early for Christmas,” a duet that ponders when is truly the right time to get into the holiday spirit.
Move over Cindy Lou, there’s a new Who in town! Selena Gomez proved she’s not quite ready to put the Christmas decorations away on Tuesday (Jan. 10) with a lip sync from How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
On TikTok, the star and a couple of pals channeled a young Taylor Momsen by lip syncing to “Where Are You Christmas” from the 2000 live-action holiday classic, complete with their noses taped up to look like the Whos in the film. “Where are you Christmas?/ Do you remember?” the trio mouth along to the then-seven-year-old’s warbled vocals.
Gomez’s fans couldn’t get enough of the funny video, with one commenting, “She’s so real for this.” Another chimed in, “Healing our inner child today i see” while a third wrote, “Selena in her active era. We Love to see it.”
The singer’s Christmasy clip comes just as “Calm Down,” her recent collaboration with Rema ascends to the top spot on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart (dated Jan. 14). The triumph marks her first No. 1 on the worldwide tally while Rema becomes the very first African artist to reach the chart’s peak.
Last month, Gomez nabbed her very first Golden Globe nomination for her role as Mabel Mora in the hit Hulu comedy series Only Murders in the Building opposite Steve Martin and Martin Short. Sharing a throwback video of an old interview to celebrate, the Wizards of Waverly Place alum showed that she had, indeed, manifested the nomination, claiming she was “more of a Golden Globe or Oscar girl” than having her heart set on winning a Grammy.
Watch Selena and her friends do their best Cindy Lou Who impersonations below.
Travis Scott returned to his native Houston on Saturday (Dec. 24) to hold the third annual Winter Wonderland and Toy Drive through his Cactus Jack Foundation.
For the Christmas Eve event, the rapper, his team and several members of his family gave out toys to one thousand families and children in need in the neighborhood of Sunnyside. Additionally, the Cactus Jack Foundation gifted Roku TVs and pairs of Scott’s Air Jordan 1 Low OG SP ‘Black Phantom’ sneakers.
In a statement, the superstar said he was “grateful” to be able to hold the event in his hometown. “The holiday season was my favorite as a child and I know some families are having a tough time in our community this year,” he continued. “We wanted to do our part to ensure we still spread the Christmas joy to area children. Sometimes even Santa needs a helping hand to deliver.”
The “Sicko Mode” rapper’s ‘Black Phantom’ shoes are just one element of his latest collaboration with Nike, which also includes a six-piece apparel collection featuring hoodies, cargo pants and shorts in both black and green.
As the year draws to a close, Scott was also tapped by Future to direct the music video for his pal’s single “712PM” and headlined the tribute to the late Virgil Abloh at Art Basel Miami. However, any hope for THE SCOTTS, his long-planned full-length follow-up with Kid Cudi to their 2020 No. 1 hit of the same name was officially dashed when Cudi declared the project dead in the water earlier this month.
Get a look at Scott and his family at the Winter Wonderland and Toy Drive below.
Jordan Webster, grandmother Miss Sealie, Jordan Webster and parents Wanda and Jacques.
Crayton Gerst
No place like home for the holidays. On Wednesday (Dec. 28), Anne Twist, mom to one Harry Styles, took to social media to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at how their family celebrated Christmas.
“Christmas 2022,” she captioned the series of four photos along with a smiley face, Christmas tree and red heart emoji. The slideshow shows off Twist’s holiday decorations and cozy fireplace, Christmas Day feast including veggies, casseroles and Yorkshire puddings, and the family’s sparkling Christmas tree.
However, the third photo of the bunch got fans most excited, with Twist posting a selfie with her pop star son, his sister Gemma Styles and Gemma’s longtime boyfriend Michal Mlynowski grinning ear to ear with their arms around one another. In the snap, Styles wears a blue hoodie beneath a yellow and black puffer jacket and an added balaclava for warmth, all with his hair pulled back off his forehead with a clip.
The laid back holiday caps off quite a major year for Styles, who scored his second career No. 1 (and broke several records) with the smash hit “As It Was” off his third solo album Harry’s House. Throughout the year, the British heartthrob also headlined Coachella, won album of the year at the 2022 MTV VMAs, starred in not one but two major motion pictures and made history with his Love on Tour show — including a record-breaking 15-night residency at Madison Square Garden.
Styles also picked up six nominations at the upcoming 2023 Grammy Awards, including trophies for album of the year, record of the year, song of the year, best pop vocal album, best pop solo performance and best music video.
Check out Styles’ cozy family Christmas below.
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Waited until the last minute to finish your holiday shopping? With just two days before Christmas, last-minute shoppers plan to hit the streets in droves but procrastination isn’t the only thing driving this seasonal shopping ritual, ” target=”_blank” >inflation has a lot do with why many people waited until the last minute.
If you’re a last-minute shopper, we rounded up a list of more than a dozen retailers that offer in-store and curbside pickup, plus their store hours on Christmas Eve. However, some stores close early on Christmas Eve, so you might need to reach out directly for more information.
What’s open on Christmas Day? CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Kroger and most grocery stores will be open along with movie theaters and certain restaurants.
See below for a roster of retailers that offer in-store and curbside pickup.
13 Retailers That Offer BOPIN (Buy Online Pickup in Stores):
Best Buy – From earbuds to appliances, Best Buy has huge selection of gift-worthy items that you can order online and pick up in stores. To do so, place and order and click “store pickup” at checkout, select the store of your choice and you’ll be contacted when the order is ready. Best Buy’s last-minute holiday sale ends on Christmas Eve (the store will be open from 8 a.m.- 7 p.m.).
Bloomingdale’s – Spend while you save at Bloomingdale’s. Shoppers will get $25 off for every $100 spent during the Great Gift Mas Sale (ends Dec. 24). The store offers same-day delivery (on orders placed an by noon) and in-store and curbside pickup within about two hours of placing your order. Bloomingdale’s will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Christmas Eve at select locations.
Target – Place your order online and pick up in store, curbside pickup (via the Target app), or have your items delivered through the Shipt app. Target’s Christmas Eve hours are from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Walmart – Get last-minute gifts and holiday savings at Walmart (Christmas Eve store hours: 6 a.m-6 p.m.). To BOPIS, place your order online, choose a time slot and an associate will grab your items and beg them up. Walmart will send a “ready for pickup” email when the order is ready.
Kohl’s – Order last-minute gifts by 1 p.m. and pick them up by 6 p.m. at Kohl’s. Save an extra 20% off (in-store and online) with code: ENJOY20. Kohl’s will be open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Macy’s – Save up to 60% off select items during Macy’s Last-Minute Gift Sale and in-store pickup within two hours of placing your order. Christmas Eve store hours: 8 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Nordstrom – From stocking stuffers to gift options, Nordstrom has enough variety for anyone on your list. To order online and pick up in store, click the product details and select “free pickup,” followed by same-day or next-day pickup. Once your order is ready, you’ll receive an email with further directions to pick it up. Nordstrom’s Christmas Eve store hours: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Finish Line – Place an order at Finish Line.com or on the app, click the “shop by store” feature, chose your location and checkout like normal. After the order is placed, you’ll receive an email confirming the purchase and another letting you know when to pick it up. Be sure to bring your confirmation email and an ID to pick up your purchase. Finish Lines usually closes at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. depending on the location. Customer Care hours are 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Nike – Shop Nike.com or use the Nike app to place your holiday order and save up to 50% off select items for a limited time. Tap “delivery” and “pickup” to see if your item is available for pickup at a local store. If so, your order will be ready within two hours (you’ll receive an email code when it’s time to pick up). Visit the pickup desk to retrieve your item in store or choose the option for curbside pickup. Nike’s Christmas Eve hours are from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at select locations.
Dick’s Sporting Goods – DSG offers one-hour curbside, or in-store pickup (you can also add another person to your pickup order at checkout). Right now, shoppers can save 50%-60% off thousands of items, including Nike, Adidas and more. DSG stores close at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Urban Outfitters – To order online and pick up in stores, simply click the “pickup” option at checkout, choose the most convenient location and the store will let you know when the order will be available. And if you purchase a $50 gift card, Urban Outfitters will give you $10 off your next purchase of $50+.
Clothing retailers such as Gap, Old Navy, H&M, JCPenny, Carter’s, Free People, Sephora, Ulta Beauty and Express also offer in-store and curbside pickup.
Costco – Costco has a huge warehouse of perfectly giftable products that you can order online and pickup in store. Click here for more details. Costco will be open from 8 a.m-5 p.m. on Christmas Even (6 p.m. in select locations).
The Home Depot – Save up to 45% off select tools, plus free two-day delivery at Home Depot. Most in-store pickup orders are ready within a few hours (click here for more details). Home Depot closes at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
If you’re feeling weird about spending all that hard-earned cash on a big stack of holiday gifts that the people on your list may or may not want (or need), Coldplay have a unique, heart-warming way to throw your arms around the world this Christmas time.
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On Tuesday (Dec. 20) the group encouraged their fans to drop by this year’s edition of their “Choose Love” pop-up shop in London — or to visit the store online — “to buy essential supplies like warm coats, hot food and heating fuel for refugees and displaced people all over the world this winter.”
A brief video accompanying the tweet showed a long line of people waiting outside the shop and a shot of the unconventional shelves inside stocked with toys for children, soccer balls, house plants, children’s backpacks, jerry cans and orange life vests, along with footage of coats and school supplies in the hands of kids in need.
“Everything you buy will go directly to the people who need them the most,” the video promised. “This year shop with love.”
Earlier this month, singer Chris Martin gave fans an update while sharing his current favorite songs. “I hope you’re all doing well. Here are some things I love at the moment,” Martin wrote in a note while listing his current top tracks, including include RM‘s “Yun” featuring Erykah Badu, Badu’s live rendition of “Tyrone,” Bayka‘s “She Like It,” The 1975‘s “Looking for Somebody (to Love),” Inhaler‘s “Totally,” Kyoka‘s “Hurt People” and Stormzy‘s “Hide & Seek.”
Martin concluded his message by writing, “We are in the studio. We send you all much love.” The band recently wrapped a massive world tour in support of 2021’s Music of the Spheres.
Check out the tweet below.
Lil Wayne is in the mood to spread Christmas cheer.
On Sunday, the “A Milli” rapper teamed up with Young Money Entertainment president Mack Maine and invited 150 children from their New Orleans hometown for some fun at Dave & Buster’s for “A Very Weezy Christmas,” which included a special visit from Santa and gifts from Wilson Sporting Goods for the lucky children in attendance.
The rapper shared a series of photos to Instagram from the wholesome outing, which features several of the kids happily posing alongside Santa and showing off their gifts. “This Christmas @mackmaine4president & I wanted to give some future hall of famers the gift of game w/ the help of @Wilson,” Wayne wrote. “Making sure they received the necessary resources so they could enjoy all the benefits of being a top tier athlete was very important to us! #HappyHolidays #WeezyChristmas.”
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“Whether it’s learning about sportsmanship, teamwork, or just using the field as a way to escape everyday stresses, we wanted to make sure these kids get to experience impactful moments,” Wayne added in a press release.
Holidays aside, Lil Wayne achieved a major achievement just before the end of the year: His 2008 hit “Lollipop,” which appeared on Tha Carter III and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks, just achieved diamond status. The hip-hop hitmaker shared a video of him opening up his special plaque to commemorate the milestone and told his fand and followers via instagram that he “appreciate[s] every single one of you.”
See photos from Lil Wayne’s Christmas surprise here.
Mariah Carey proved once again that she’s the reigning Queen of Christmas when she bumped a superfan who will be attending her Friday night (Dec. 16) “Merry Christmas to All” gig at Madison Square Garden to the front row.
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It all started when a Twitter user named Jordan Faso took to Twitter to reveal that they are planning to attend Carey’s show despite an injury. “Having a sprained foot is not going to stop me from seeing @MariahCarey on friday! i will crawl in MSG,” they tweeted along with a string of laughing emojis.
Carey, upon seeing the post, sweetly replied, “I wouldn’t want you to crawl!! Maybe instead you can sit in the front row for tomorrow’s show???”
Of course, Faso was thrilled over the news. “GUYS IM SHAKING LOL,” the fan wrote.
GUYS IM SHAKING LOL— 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤 #𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐡𝐒𝐙𝐍 (@JordanFaso) December 16, 2022
The interaction came just two days after Carey upgraded another member of her Lambily fanbase, who traveled from Uruguay to New York just to the the show, to front row. “Today I’m traveling from my country, which is 8.598km (5.342,55miles) away from NY, just to see my idol @MariahCarey,” the fan named Mai wrote on Monday (Dec. 12). “I remember when I started saving for this day 5 years ago, wishing and hoping for this day. Words can’t describe my happiness rn, love u forever Mimi!”
“I am so happy you’re going to be here!!!,” Carey responded along with a snowflake and Christmas tree emoji. “How would you like to sit in the front row for tonight’s concert??”
Look, there are a LOT of holiday songs out there. And we have our chart-based list of the 100 Greatest of All Time Holiday 100 Songs, as well as our staff picks for 100 Best Christmas Songs of All Time. And even that’s just scratching the seasonal surface. For every “All I Want for Christmas Is You” or “White Christmas,” there are a hundred half-assed holiday songs you hear once and happily let jingle off into oblivion. Songs that would have better served the public by exemplifying what is described in “Silent Night.”
But this list isn’t about the seasonal songs that soar or the ones that bore. This roundup is about the freaky festive fare that hits you like a fruitcake: It might leave you with a queasy feeling in your stomach, but its distinct flavor is going to linger for a while. And sometimes it’s the oddball tunes that light up the cloudy night like Rudolph’s nose.
Which is why we’re pressing pause on tasteful recordings from artists such as Bing Crosby and Vince Guaraldi for a moment and spotlighting these 10 Weird Christmas Songs. That means everything from a metal version of a religious classic (by a British knight!) to an instrumental Xmas reggae by a Beatle (who is also a British knight!).
Here are 10 bizarro holiday tracks that will either enrapture your wondering eyes or send you fleeing up the nearest chimney for escape. And if you dig these but want to go even deeper into the wild wintery world of Xmas oddities, check out this Christmas mixtape where long-lost gems and stone-cold classics sit comfortably side by side at the fireplace.