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Bob the Drag Queen Jokes That Working With Madonna Is ‘Exactly What You Expect’

RuPaul’s Drag Race and We’re Here alum Bob the Drag Queen spent the better part of last year with pop icon Madonna. Now, the drag star is ready to tell fans what the singer is like behind the scenes.

In a clip shared on Saturday (Sept. 7) from one of her recent standup shows, Bob gets a question from an audience member that many have asked throughout the years: What is it actually like to work with Madonna? “Fun, thank you,” the queen initially joked.

“[Working with] Madonna is exactly what you expect. Now, that is a compliment … there’s a moment where you’re like, ‘This is the motherf–king Queen of Pop,’” Bob explained. “Like, ‘Madonna is just standing in front of me.’ And then there’s moments where you’re like, ‘This is a 65-year-old boomer.’ And those moments are back to back.”

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The Drag Race winner then shared one of Madonna’s habits that she got to see firsthand while on the Celebration Tour, explaining what having a conversation with Madonna about the show is like. “When Madonna is talking to you about a song, she will sing the song to you. And I don’t mean a normal amount that everyone sings,” Bob said. She then recounted a time that Madonna sang the entire opening of “Like a Prayer” to her while plotting out a moment of the live show. “She made the drum noises … she gives you a mini concert every single time you have a meeting about one of the songs!”

Shortly after Bob was announced as Madonna’s co-star for the Celebration Tour last year, the queen spoke to Billboard about how validating it felt to be chosen by the singer. “She respects me in a way that doesn’t feel like a novelty,” she said. “Obviously, what matters most is how I feel about myself, but still, a stamp of approval from Madonna is just like … ‘What?!’”

Watch the full clip from Bob the Drag Queen’s comedy show below:

Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn Brings Out the Best & Worst in Joker in New ‘Folie à Deux’ Teaser: Watch

In a brand new teaser for Joker: Folie à Deux, Lady Gaga‘s Harley Quinn tells Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck, “You can do anything you want” — which probably isn’t the best thing to say to someone with an unpredictable neurological disorder who’s currently institutionalized for committing several murders.

But alas, the pop superstar’s character only wants the best — or worst — for the sequel’s titular character, who meets Quinn while awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker and embarks on a fever-dreamlike musical romance with the “Born This Way” singer in the Todd Phillips-directed project. “Well I’ll tell you what’s changed,” Phoenix says in the new teaser posted Monday (Sept. 9). “I’m not alone anymore.”

The one-minute preview also features new clips of Gaga and the Napoleon actor kissing in a burning room, sharing cigarette smoke through jail cell bars and waltzing under streetlights. At one point, Quinn reminds her beau who he is over a clip of her riding an elevator with her signature smudged clown makeup: “You’re Joker,” she says, while the video cuts to a scene of Phoenix winding up to bash in the head of a judge presiding over a courtroom.

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The new trailer comes less than a month ahead of Folie à Deux hitting theaters Oct. 4. Ahead of its release, the 13-time Grammy winner and Phoenix promoted the movie at the Venice International Film Festival in the first week of September, where Gaga opened up about the “special and extremely nuanced” way they approached music while shooting.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say that this is actually a musical,” she said during a panel at the festival. “The way that music is used is to give the characters a way to express what they need to say, because the scene and dialogue wasn’t enough. The pianist that was on set with us was sort of like an actor off camera in the scene with us. For me it was a lot about unlearning technique and forgetting how to breathe, and allowing the song to completely come out of the character.”

Watch the new teaser for Joker: Folie à Deux above.

Taylor Swift Served ‘Miss Americana’ Style at the U.S. Open in a $250 Dress: Shop the Exact Look

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Taylor Swift brought her iconic style (including her signature red lip) to the 2024 U.S. Open men’s finals on Sunday (Sept. 8) while she takes a break from her record-breaking Eras tour. This marks her second attendance after singing “America the Beautiful” 22 years prior — except this time, she attended solely as a spectator and with her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

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The 34-year-old appeared in one of her most “Miss Americana”-coded outfits yet: a red-and-white checkered dress from Reformation that’s less than $250, and is still in stock (for now). To complete her match-day look, she paired the flirty dress with oval sunglasses from Crap Eyewear ($99), Gucci platform sandals ($1,100) and a Gucci mini purse ($3,980), according to Taylor Swift fashion blogger Sarah Chapelle.

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Taylor Swift a

Taylor Swift attends the Men’s Singles Final match between Taylor Fritz of the United States and Jannik Sinner of Italy on Day Fourteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Swifties can still buy the exact Reformation dress seen on the “Fortnight” singer, but not for long, as sizes are almost sold out. While the “Cruel Summer” artist chose to wear the minidress as a tank style, the versatile straps also can be worn as an off-the-shoulder look for a more cottagecore-inspired feel. There are also two additional colors to choose from — black and white — if your size is sold out.

Keep reading to buy the Reformation dress online.

Reformation

Sora Linen Dress

Bring a romantic vibe to your outfit when your show off Reformation’s Sora Linen Dress, which features 100% linen material and a fitted bodice that pools out into a flow skirt. Topping off the design is a sweetheart neckline and lengthened bodice that’s reminiscent of popular ’90s dresses.

The minidress tends to run large, and the clothing brand recommends sizing down for the best fit. You’ll also notice smocking on the back of the dress for some added stretch that’ll you feel comfy for longer wear.

For product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best maxi dresses, slip dresses and denim dresses.

Selena Gomez Reveals She ‘Can’t Carry’ Her Own Children Due to Medical Issues: ‘I Had to Grieve for a While’

Selena Gomez is looking forward to becoming a mom someday. But in a new interview, the singer-actress revealed that she won’t be able to experience pregnancy and giving birth due to medical complications. 

While speaking to Vanity Fair in a cover story published Monday (Sept. 9), Gomez was candid about wanting to start a family with boyfriend Benny Blanco in the future. However, she says it won’t “necessarily [be] the way I envisioned it.” 

“I haven’t ever said this,” she told the publication. “But I unfortunately can’t carry my own children. I have a lot of medical issues that would put my life and the baby’s in jeopardy. That was something I had to grieve for a while.” 

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“I thought it would happen the way it happens for everyone,” continued Gomez, who has been open about her struggles with Lupus since revealing her diagnosis to Billboard in 2015. “I’m in a much better place with that. I find it a blessing that there are wonderful people willing to do surrogacy or adoption, which are both huge possibilities for me.” 

“I’m excited for what that journey will look like, but it’ll look a little different,” she added. “At the end of the day, I don’t care. It’ll be mine. It’ll be my baby.” 

The interview comes about four months after Blanco — who’s been dating the Rare Beauty founder since July 2023 — gushed to Howard Stern that having kids with his girlfriend is his “next goal” in life. “It’s always a topic of conversation to me every day,” the producer added at the time. 

“He can’t lie,” Gomez told Vanity Fair of her boyfriend’s revealing radio show appearance. “After the interview, I was dying laughing. Like, ‘Anything else you wanted to put out there?’” 

“I’ve never been loved this way,” she continued of Blanco. “He’s just been a light. A complete light in my life. He’s my best friend. I love telling him everything.” 

The cover story comes amid a busy time for Gomez, who recently crossed over into billionaire territory thanks to her makeup business, investments and music and acting projects, according to a Sept. 6 report from Bloomberg. She’s currently up for a best actress Emmy nomination for her performance in Only Murders in the Building, the fourth season of which premiered Aug. 27, and she’s earning critical acclaim for her part in Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez, which hits Netflix in November following its May premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.  

As she reiterated in the interview, though, her biggest priorities right now are her relationships. “Before I met my boyfriend, I was single for five years, with the exception of going on a few dates,” she told the publication. “And I was like, ‘OK, if this is the vibe, then what is the most important thing to me? Family.’”

See Gomez’s Vanity Fair cover below:

 

Watch Marsha Ambrosius’ One Night Only Concert at Blue Note Jazz Club Live Tonight

Marsha Ambrosius is setting up shop for one night only with Billboard at Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City tonight — but you don’t need to be near Manhattan to tune in.

Featuring songs from her new album Casablanco and beyond, the nine-time Grammy nominee’s performance at the famed jazz club will be livestreamed on Billboard‘s YouTube channel at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT on Monday night (Sept. 9). Tickets to catch the show in person are also available to purchase online.

The event comes amid New York Fashion Week, which kicked off Friday and lasts through Wednesday. It’s also part of a week of events celebrating Billboard‘s 2024 R&B Hip-Hop Power Players, for which Megan Thee Stallion, Teezo Touchdown, Offset and more were honored at a party in Times Square on Thursday night.

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In an interview with Billboard earlier this year, Ambrosius spoke about Casablanco, which she crafted with Dr. Dre. “This project was so specific,” she said in June. “And there are so many other gems on here that I don’t want to spoil it because you have to listen to again and again. Every single track is like an Easter egg with gems inside.”

The 11-track album marks Ambrosius’ first since 2018’s Nyla and features creative collaborations with Focus…, Erik “Blu2th” Griggs, Dem Jointz, Phonix and DJ Khalil. “I didn’t realize how much time has passed until it was staring me in the face,” she added in the interview. “My daughter Nyla is 7 years old now. In the time that’s passed, it’s just been about life and love with me now as a wife and mother.”

Watch the livestream of Marsha Ambrosius’ performance at Blue Note above, starting at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.

This $38 Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm Has Reviewers ‘Feeling More Awake’: Get Yours Now

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If you’re a skincare enthusiast and want to upgrade your morning routine, consider adding this bestselling Tula Cooling and Brightening Eye Balm. This TikTok favorite under eye balm is known for its cooling effect and brightening properties, helping reduce puffiness and refresh tired eyes. It’s a popular choice for adding an extra boost to your skincare routine.

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One TikTok user said, “It makes me feel a little bit more awake.” Another TikTok user described it as “the most refreshing.” So, if you’re looking to add a subtle glow while achieving a hydrating feel to your under eye area, consider incorporating this easy-to-apply eye balm to your morning routine.

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According to the brand, you can apply this eye balm under or over your makeup and reapply it anytime you feel like you need a little boost of glow. Its compact size makes it easy to take with you wherever you go. If that’s not enough, it also works as a highlighter. The brand recommends applying it on your cheekbones, cupid’s bow, and nose.

You can find this Tula Cooling and Brightening Eye Balm at Target, Walmart, Amazon, and Ulta Beauty.

Target

Tula Skincare Glow & Get It Cooling and Brightening Eye Balm

This eye balm may also enhance skin smoothness and contribute to firmer and tighter skin. The brand says it may also help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

One Target customer said, “Feels great, looks great. Friends notice it and ask about what product it is! Highly recommend. The cooling feel is lovely.”

For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the top 15 Under $15 budget-friendly beauty finds, this TikTok-Approved Clinique Mini Moisture, and these travel-friendly Olay Face cleansing melts.

Christina Aguilera Talks 25th Anniversary of Debut Album: ‘I Wanted to Make Music That Had Depth, Meaning & Range’

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From pop star to pop icon. Christina Aguilera just hit a career milestone, and she marked the moment with help from Instagram.

The Grammy-winning singer joined the social media site in rolling out a new music feature, which allows users to add songs to their profile.

Last month, Aguilera — along with *NSYNC, Alicia Keys and Destiny’s Child — hopped on Instagram’s #tbt trend by sharing some of their early 2000s hits. Instagram unveiled the new music profile feature on Aug. 22. Users can add music by clicking “edit profile” from the Profile tab and “add music to your profile.” Instagram allows users to post up to 30 seconds of a song.

When it comes to Y2K nostalgia, Aguilera tops the charts. Back in 1999, when word of a “computer bug” flooded the news cycle and stoked fears of a worldwide digital outage, a new era of pop music emerged. Aguilera may be known for her powerful vocals, but she’s also a fashion idol. Her mixture of cute crop tops, skintight bootcut pants and legendary leather chaps epitomized Y2K style.

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Christina Aguilera, her self-titled debut LP, arrived on Aug. 24, 1999, four months before the turn of the millennium. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and went on to sale 8.3 million copies worldwide. “Genie in a Bottle,” the album’s platinum-selling lead single, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks and earned a Grammy nomination for best female pop vocal performance. The single didn’t win the Grammy, but Aguilera won the best new artist honor that night. Accepting her award — in a shimmery butterfly dress and glittery eyeshadow — 19-year-old Aguilera delivered a tearful acceptance speech, marking a candid moment for a new pop star genuinely surprised to receive one of music’s top honors.

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More than two decades later, Aguilera’s career has evolved into different music genres and new areas of business. The mother of two, who co-founded of the sexual wellness brand Playground in 2022, has turned the page on a new chapter. In celebration of her debut album, Billboard caught up with Aguilera over email to reflect on the project’s silver jubilee, the end of her concert run in Las Vegas and more.

What do you love about Instagram’s new music feature?

Instagram’s new music feature could not have dropped at a better time! As I’m celebrating the 25th anniversary of my debut album, there’s no better way to connect with my fans and followers than by sharing a favorite song on my profile. It really gives everyone the chance to be expressive and soundtrack their lives alongside posts.

Besides your own hits, what’s one of your favorite songs from the early 2000s?

There are a lot of great songs from this [time period], and some of my favorites include Kelis’ Milkshake and Caught Out There.  I also really liked t.a.T.u’s All The Things She Said, and I remember listening to a lot of Outkast, Missy Elliott and Korn, as well as various things from The Neptunes.

Reflecting on the 25th anniversary of your debut, what makes you most proud about the album and what did it teach you about yourself?

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years! I’m most proud of how the album introduced me to the world and how well it was received. I was young, but knew I wanted to make music that had depth, meaning and range – so this album provided the perfect launch pad for a career I’m forever grateful for. 

Looking back at your debut to present day, how do you feel your sound has evolved over the years?

As I’ve always been drawn to different musical genres and styles, my sound has evolved in many ways as I’ve experimented with everything from pop to jazz, to soul and R&B, Latin music and more. However, at the core, it’s always been finding new ways to express myself, my experiences, stories and emotions sonically. Over the years I’ve grown more confident in taking artistic risks and being authentic, unapologetically. 

You recently ended your run in Sin City. What do you love most about your Las Vegas shows?

What I love most about Las Vegas right now is how intimate the shows are! The venue is a special, magical space that [allowed] me to connect with my fans in a personal, energetic way that I haven’t been able to experience before. Every night [was] a celebration of music and freedom with a unique, new, diverse crowd – and I was able to create new arrangements of the music to fit the room.

What’s one of your most memorable looks from your debut era? A music video, photo shoot or red-carpet moment.

One of my most memorable looks is probably from the “Genie in a Bottle” music video. The orange pants and beaded top really stand out to me. I had a lot of fun experimenting with different styles in the “Come On Over” video, especially the blue patterned pants and I started playing around with my hair color. It was only the beginning of having fun with my style and exploring new looks over the years, which I still love to do.

I’ve always loved the Christina Aguilera album cover. How did the photo art come about? How long did it take to shoot?

Thank you! For the cover we wanted to create something fresh and timeless; it was always about keeping it simple and we honestly didn’t put too much thought into the album cover in the way I did for future albums. The shoot was relatively quick, but its importance was to find the essence and perfect moment of who I was at that time. 

Katy Perry Proud to ‘Support My Baby Daddy’ Orlando Bloom at ‘The Cut’ Premiere

Katy Perry spent Thursday night supporting Orlando Bloom at the premiere of his new movie The Cut.

After posing with her fiancé on the red carpet at the opening night of the Toronto Film Festival, the pop star posted a couple of photos of their chic Celine looks on X. “Swapped out the rehearsal sweats last night to support my baby daddy’s new film premiere,” wrote Perry, who shares 4-year-old daughter Daisy with the actor.

“Couldn’t be more proud of the intense amount of physical and mental effort he gave for this role (you’ll see…),” she added with an emoji of hands covering eyes. “But tbh I’m mostly grateful we can both now go back to enjoying our in n out again.”

That night, Perry also filmed a hilarious behind-the-scenes TikTok with Bloom. “Baby, this bang isn’t real,” she says as she peels back her faux fringe, leaving the Pirates of the Caribbean star stunned. “But my love for you is.”

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The outing comes shortly after the couple made headlines for a loving-but-NSFW comment Perry made about her partner on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast. “If I come downstairs and the kitchen is clean, and you’ve done all the dishes and closed all the pantry doors, you better be ready to get your di– sucked,” the American Idol alum said. “That is my love language! I don’t need a red Ferrari … I can buy a red Ferrari. Just do the f—ing dishes! I will suck your di–! It’s that easy.”

Suffice to say, Bloom was all ears. “I’ve cleaned the whole house,” he quipped in the comments of one of Perry’s posts about the podcast appearance.

Watch Perry and Bloom’s TikTok below.

Selena Gomez Teases ‘Mi Camino’ From ‘Emilia Pérez’ Soundtrack

Selena Gomez is showing off her musical talent as well as her acting chops!

The multihyphenate took to Instagram to share a clip of the dance-ready track, “Mi Camino,” which is featured in the upcoming film, Emilia Pérez, in which Gomez stars as Jessi Del Monte. “A little sneak peek of the song “Mi Camino” that I performed in EMILIA PÉREZ,” she wrote in the caption. The clip features a blonde Gomez dancing on a man in a cowboy hat, belting into a microphone the chorus’ lyrics: “Si me caigo en la barranca/ Es mi barranca/ Si me doblo de dolor/ Es mi dolor/ Si me mando al séptimo cielo/ Es mi cielo/ Si me equivoco de camino/ Es mi camino.”

“If I fall into the ravine / It’s my ravine / If I double over in pain / It’s my pain / If I send myself to seventh heaven / It’s my heaven / If I take the wrong path / It’s my path,” the lyrics translate to.

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See Gomez teaser post here.

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This past spring, Gomez and castmates Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Adriana Paz collectively won the best actress award at Cannes Film Festival for their work in Emilia Pérez.

The Spanish-language musical — which follows a Mexican drug lord (Gascón) embracing her true identity as a woman, will premiere in select theaters in other countries in November, as well as hit Netflix in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. on Nov. 13. 

Taylor Swift’s Denim Game-Day Outfit Is Almost Out of Stock: Here’s How to Shop the Look on a Budget

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Taylor Swift’s game-day denim look is going viral. The pop star popped up at Arrowhead Stadium in a scorching denim outfit with red thigh-high boots to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs during the NFL’s season kickoff game on Thursday (Sept. 5).

Of course, Swift is no stranger to denim outfits, but the 34-year-old singer glammed it up for game day — complete with her signature red lip and billowy curls. She launched a new denim era in a Versace Medusa ’95 Denim Corset and Giuseppe Zanotti Frannie Boots, as spotted by Taylor Swift Style, and GRLFRND Whitney Mid Rise Mom Shorts from Revolve.

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Versace

Versace Medusa ’95 Denim Corset Top

Revolve

GRLFRND Whitney Mid Rise Mom Short

$102

$134

24% off

Farfetch

Giuseppe Zanotti Frannie Patent Leather Boot

$966

$1,650

41% off

The shorts and boots are almost out of stock, but the Medusa Corset is available in sizes ranging from 36 to 50 at several retailers, including Neiman Marcus, FWRD, Farfetch and Versace.com.

According to the Versace website, the top is a reimagining of the luxury designer’s signature Atelier Versace corset. The $1,325 top is cinched at the waist with V-shaped boning, a cropped silhouette made in medium denim wash and “accented by Medusa ’95 hardware” on the shoulder straps.

Swifties looking for a budget-friendly spin on the outfit can find plenty of denim alternatives for under $100. To make the search easier, we did some digging online and found a few denim corset tops and high-waisted denim shorts that will help you pull off the look — without spending your entire paycheck.

See more below.

Bardot

Bardot Denim Bustier in Vintage

Channel Swift’s look in Bardot’s denim bustier. The corseted top is available in sizes 2-12.

Revolve

Superdown Mika Denim Corset

Superdown’s Mika Denim corset is another play off Swift’s high-fashion top, but in a darker wash. The corset is stocked in sizes XXS, S, M and XL.

Steve Madden

Steve Madden Dawn Wine Boots

Steve Madden’s Dawn Wine Boots look nearly identical to Swift’s Guiseppe Zannotti boots, but at a fraction of the price. The vegan leather, pointed-toe boot features a 3.6-inch heel.

Levi’s

Levi’s 80s Denim Mom Shorts

$48.99

$69

29% off

Levi’s bestselling mom shorts are on sale at Urban Outfitters in indigo, black and rinsed denim (sizes 24-34 in select washes). The shorts are also available at a bunch of different retailers including Free People, Revolve and Amazon.

Mango

Mango High-Rise Denim Shorts

$29.99

$49.99

40% off

If you’re looking for a baggy fit, check out these high-rise denim shorts from Mango. The shorts are available in medium blue, light blue, black and white denim.

Denim shorts are versatile enough to wear from summer to fall, and even winter with the proper layering, and they’re easy to find online. For more Swift-inspired options, check out Everlane’s A-Line Denim Short ($48), High Waist Mom Shorts from Zara ($35.90) and Hollister’s Ultra High-Rise Medium Wash Denim Shorts ($20).