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Steve Lacy has reached a “full-circle moment” in his career. The 24-year-old singer-songwriter, musician and producer has teamed with Fender for his very own guitar.
“This guitar means so much to me. It’s a full-circle moment,” Lacy says in a statement to Billboard on Tuesday (May 10). “My first guitar was a Squier [Stratocaster]. It was the box set that came with an amp, case, quarter inch — the whole 9. Now I have my very own Fender Stratocaster guitar.”
Guitar ‘Nerd’ Jason Isbell Gushes Over His New Custom Fender Telecaster
05/09/2023
Named after his crowd-pleasing sounds, the Steve Lacy x Fender People Pleaser Stratocaster Guitar ($1,399.99) represents the Compton native’s evolution from indie artist to chart-topping, Grammy-winning music star.
“The People Pleaser Strat, in a nutshell, is my dream guitar as a kid when I first started playing and my dream guitar as the guitarist I am today. An ode to the old classic design that Fender is known for with all the new specs that make a guitar feel like home,” Lacy continued. “I hope everyone gets to experience the feeling of this guitar. I’m excited to see what people make with it.”
Steve Lacy x Fender
Mason Rose
Steve Lacy x Fender People Pleaser Strat
$1,399.99
The People Pleaser Strat is designed to craft a range of tones. It features a vintage-style synchronized tremolo with modern upgrades like Fender’s trademarked Player Plus Noiseless pickups and a powerful integrated fuzz circuit, which can create “classic dirty tones ranging from over drive to all out fuzz,” according to a press release from Fender.
The People Pleaser mirrors Lacy’s unique aesthetic with special features such as a green/blue checkered back plate, custom double dice inlay, and a neck plate engraved with Lacy’s original artwork.
“We aimed to design a guitar that not only represents Fender’s unwavering dedication to quality but also mirrors Steve’s distinctive character and individuality,” noted Justin Norvell, EVP of product for Fender. “Steve is a longtime collaborator and fan of the brand, and Fender is proud to introduce one of our most innovative designs to date, which includes a brand-new chaos burst finish, that matches his eclectic personality, and a powerful integrated custom-voiced fuzz circuit, that delivers aggressive distorted tones for howling chords and solos.
To celebrate the launch, Lacy and his signature guitar star in a photo and video campaign filmed by videographer Tino Shaedler and shot by Mason Rose.
See the launch video below.
Lily-Rose Depp is readying for the premiere of The Idol by spilling the tea on which pop singers influenced her role as Jocelyn on the forthcoming HBO series.
“Of course I’m a Britney [Spears] fan!” the Hollywood progeny told W magazine of the stars she was channeling during her audition for the series. “Who doesn’t love Britney? But I was also thinking about Beyoncé, Mariah [Carey], and every huge pop star of our time. I wanted Jocelyn to be the kind of woman who can dominate a room, someone who doesn’t ever shy away from their sparkle.”
Depp nabbed the role by singing an a cappella rendition of the 1950s standard “Fever,” as made famous by Peggy Lee and covered by Madonna in 1993 — which led to her filming for the series inside SoFi Stadium packed with 70,000 fans ahead of The Weeknd‘s Los Angeles concert last fall.
“I was a nervous wreck,” she said. “I was praying to all my guardian angels. I knew we only had two takes at SoFi. I felt like I was going to my wedding — I was so dolled up and in white!” However, she ultimately nailed the scene and later confessed, “It was quite addicting. I didn’t want to leave.”
The Weeknd, who originally pitched the concept of The Idol to HBO, will also star in the seedy musical drama along with Suzanna Son, Rachel Sennott, Troye Sivan, Dan Levy, Mike Dean, Moses Sumney, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Hank Azaria, BLACKPINK’s Jennie and more. The show will also feature the likes of Hari Nef, Tyson Ritter of The All-American Rejects and the late Anne Heche.
Following extensive reshoots of the entire first season, The Idol is set to premiere June 4 on Max (previously HBO Max). Read Depp’s joint interview with The Weeknd here.
Diljit Dosanjh, the Punjabi singer and performer whose colorful, dance-packed set at Coachella became a viral sensation on the internet, has now also found success on the big screen with his new film, Jodi, Released by Rhythm Boyz Entertainment in the United States this weekend, the musical grossed $734,000 on just 125 screens. While modest compared to blockbuster U.S. releases, that’s a big number for a Punjabi film Stateside.
Written and directed by Amberdeep Singh, Jodi is a musical love story starring Dosanjh and Nimrat Khaira as two artists who set out on a painstaking journey to redefine the Punjabi folk music scene in the 1980s. In April, the film broke the record for the most viewed Punjabi trailer in 24 hours, with approximately 12 million fans watching on YouTube.
“He’s unique in that his overall presence, his attire, and his music are very traditional,” says Dosanjh’s manager, Sonali Singh. “He’s not trying to change to make himself into something that’s he not in order to reach out to a larger audience.”
Festival promoter Goldenvoice shared a reel of his first performance during Weekend 1 of Coachella. The clip garnered more views on Instagram than any other artist’s set posted from the official festival account.
“We knew that his performance was going to be appreciated, but the reception he received went well beyond our expectations,” says Singh. “And we also love the fact how his community and larger Indian audiences, along with other celebrities and media houses all across globe were able to come together for this moment and support Singh.”
Dosanjh’s mesmerizing set had called for 25 band members and 40 dancers, both of which needed to be reduced in size to accommodate time pressure and staging issues. Singh says that in India, Dosanjh’s performance was compared to an Academy Award win and was watched and commented on by most television outlets.
“It was a very proud moment for fans in India,” she says “Many back at home will never get to attend Coachella and his performance was very special for them.”
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid will splash its way onto movie screens later this month, nearly four years after Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel in the live-action adaptation of the ’90s animated film. Fans have been waiting year for Bailey to make her silver-screen debut, and with the movie finally hitting theaters May 26 — and a new clip, which premiered during Sunday night’s MTV Movie & TV Awards — there’s a whole plethora of Little Mermaid merch that needs to be “part of your world.”
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From Barbies and Legos to clothing and costumes, officially licensed merch can be found at shopDisney as well as retailers like Amazon, Target and Walmart. Ebay has a decent selection of those harder-to-find items, like Disney Parks exclusives, and Etsy is great for finding lots of shirts in adult sizes, posters, mermaid costumes, wigs and more.
To make your search a little easier, we dove around the web to find the 16 best Little Mermaid merch items that you can buy for kids and adults.
Target
The Little Mermaid Sing-Along Boombox
$29.99
Starting in the toy department, this adorable boombox lets kids sing along to an extended version of “Part of Your World.” The boombox, designed for ages 3+, includes a wired microphone for hours of musical fun.
Target
The Little Mermaid Sing-Along Microphone
$12.99
For a scaled-down version of the musical boombox, pick up this sing-along microphone (for ages 3+).
Disney Store
The Little Mermaid Women’s Denim Jacket
$79.99
Get stylish with Ariel! This denim jacket boasts gorgeous screen art of Ariel and Flounder and a scenic ocean design complete with underwater plants, shells, bubbles, and the phrase “Ready to Stand” embroidered on the back. The jacket, which is part of shopDisney’s The Little Mermaid collection, is available in women’s sizes ranging from S-3X.
shopDisney
Ariel Spirit Jersey for Adults
$74.99
Part of your wardrobe! Get comfy in a stylish Ariel Spirit Jersey featuring an “undersea” dye effect with Ariel art and “Part of Your World” written in glittery text. The shirt is available in sizes XS-XXL.
Amazon
Loungefly Disney Little Mermaid Ariel Live Action Flap Wallet
$40.00
“Beautiful” and “absolutely darling,” according to customer reviews, Loungefly’s Ariel Flap Wallet shows our favorite mermaid sitting pretty “under the sea.” The wallet matches Loungefly’s Little Mermaid Double-Strap Shoulder Bag ($80).
Disney Store
Ariel Limited-Edition Doll 17″
$149.99
Not your average Ariel Barbie! The Little Mermaid Limited-Edition Barbie will be released on May 11 at shopDisney.com. The fully possible, 17-inch doll has flowing red hair, with a sequined tail, ruffled trims and iridescent organza fins. Disney is only releasing 5,200 of the collectible dolls, so you might want to pre-order yours before it sells out (limit two per guest).
Amazon
Funko Pop! Deluxe: Disney – The Little Mermaid, Ariel & Friends
$29.74
For Funko fans, this Little Mermaid Funko features a 3.9-inch Ariel Pop! vinyl flanked by Sebastian, Scuttle and Flounder. Funko also released a Pop! vinyl of Ariel in her signature blue dress, which is available at Walmart ($14.99), HSN and Funko.com.
Amazon
The Little Mermaid Non-Toxic Peel-Off Water-Based Safe Quick Dry Nail Polish| Gift Kit Set for Kids| Ages 3+
$11.99
Pick a shade! This gift set is packed with 15 glittery, shimmery and opaque non-toxic, peel-off nail polishes. The color lineup includes orange, purple, peach, blue, neon blue, glittery green, chunky pink glitter, pink shimmer, light blue shimmer, silver confetti, blue and silver confetti, yellow confetti, and teal confetti.
Target
The Little Mermaid 18 oz Water Bottle
$27.99
Quench your thirst with this 18 oz., stainless steel water bottle. The water bottle is equipped with a built-in straw and carrying loop.
Amazon
Franco Disney’s The Little Mermaid Ariel Live Action Movie Kids Bedding
$63.76 $69.99 9% OFF
Shopping for bedding? This Little Mermaid bedding set includes a reversible comforter with a fitted sheet, flat sheet, pillowcase, and pillow sham for kids’ beds.
Amazon
Northwest Disney’s Little Mermaid Silk Touch Throw Blanket, 50″ x 60″
$43.80
Also available in bedding, a decorative throw blanket perfectly designed for cozying up on the couch or in bed. The 50-inch x 60-inch blanket is available in six different designs of Ariel and her Mersisters.
Target
The Little Mermaid Storage Bin (15″ x 15″)
$22.99
Perfect for keeping things tidy in a kids’ bedroom or playroom, this 15-inch x 15-inch storage bin has rope handles with an seashell-themed interior.
Hanna Andersson
Disney’s Little Mermaid Short Juan Pajama Set for Kids
$44
From bedding to PJs! This kids’ pajama set includes shorts and a tee available in sizes 2-12.
Amazon
The Little Mermaid: Against the Tide
$14.24 $18.99 25% OFF
The Little Mermaid meets the New York Times bestsellers list! Against the Tide has been on the bestsellers list for three weeks and counting. Based on an original story, the novel follows Ariel and her sisters on a journey to rescue their sister, Mala, while uncovering family secrets.
Amazon
The Little Mermaid Live Action Novelization
$6.74 $8.99 25% OFF
If you’d rather dive into the story from the film, join Ariel as she explores the wonders of the human world in The Little Mermaid Live-Action Novelization. Want more books? The Little Mermaid: Make a Splash ($16.19) is picture book retelling of the live action adaptation, while The Little Mermaid: This is Ariel ($5.99) is great for younger readers.
Amazon
SwimWays The Little Mermaid Pool Float, Ages 5 & Up
$34.99
Kids can make a splash all summer long with this inflatable pool float featuring the Disney princess and her six sisters. Complete the collection with this inflatable boat ($26.99), glitter dive wands ($10.99), life vest ($26.99) and arm floaties ($22.99).
Sha-la-la-la-la-la, my oh my! Fans got to enjoy a first look at the iconic “Kiss the Girl” scene from the upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid during the MTV Movie & TV Awards on Sunday night (May 7).
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In the nearly one-minute clip, Ariel and Prince Eric, played by Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King float around in a row boat, surrounded by an enchanted forest scene, as Sebastian (Daveed Diggs), Flounder (Jacob Tremblay) and Scuttle (Awkwafina) try to convince the young Prince to kiss the mermaid princess. As a result, the spell put on Ariel by villain Ursula (Melissa McCarthy), in which she traded her voice for human legs, would be broken.
“Sha-la-la-la-la-la / Float along / And listen to the song / The song say kiss the girl,” the group sings, as the scene looks almost identical to the original 1989 animated movie.
“I’m a little bit nervous just because this has been so long in the making. I mean, I auditioned for this film when I was 18, and I turned 23 this year,” Bailey previously shared of the highly anticipated film release in an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1. “Now that it’s finally here, I’m like, whoa, I can’t believe it. And it’s a very, very big pinch-me moment. I’m so excited. And I just can’t wait for people to see what we did to this film.”
The Little Mermaid hits theaters on May 26. Watch the new preview below.
With anti-LGBTQ bills continuing to sweep across the U.S. at a high speed, some of the most prominent drag performers in the world got together on Sunday (May 7) to say that enough is enough.
The Drag Isn’t Dangerous livestream telethon, hosted by Justin Martindale, Alaska 5000, Peppermint and Adam Shankman and created by Producer Entertainment Group, raised more than $500,000 for LGBTQ charities. The event saw performers including RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7 winner Jinkx Monsoon, Jake Wesley Rogers, Bob the Drag Queen and more take to the stage in both live and pre-taped performances to help raise money for organizations benefiting the queer community.
Along with performances, the event also featured a number of testimonials from LGBTQ entertainers and noted allies such as Margaret Cho, Adam Lambert, Charlize Theron, Sarah Silverman and Melissa McCarthy, who spoke out against the rampant discrimination being faced by LGBTQ people everywhere. In one of the most blistering statements of the evening, RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage blasted state legislatures aiming to restrict drag performances.
“I wish I could say that I am glad to be here, but I am appalled I have to be at something called Drag Isn’t Dangerous,” she said during the event. “Imagine a world where dancers are told they can’t dance; imagine a world where artists are told they cannot take paint to canvas … because it is ‘bad for children.’ That is what is happening to drag right now.”
All proceeds from the event are being split among a pool of charities, including GLAAD, GLSEN, Headcount, Black Queer Town Hall, The ACLU Drag Defense Fund, Trans Justice Funding Project and the Victory Fund to support and defend drag performers against anti-drag legislation in states such as Tennessee and Florida.
In addition, the telethon featured the debut of the new groove-fueled charity single “Drag Isn’t Dangerous,” performed by Jayelle and Ocean Kelly. Now available on all streaming services, the new single is similarly donating all proceeds to the charities mentioned above.
For those who missed the live telethon, fear not — you can purchase a ticket to watch the full stream here. Additional donations can be made on Drag Isn’t Dangerous’ official GoFundMe page, and more information surrounding the charities and performers involved can be found at the group’s official website.
American Idol contestant Iam Tongi gave a major performance of Alanis Morissette‘s song “Guardians” on the Sunday (May 7) episode, and it propelled him into the competition’s top five.
Tongi’s performance of the 2012 track was kept rather stripped, and featured him playing the guitar with the help of background instrumentalists to further flesh out his intimate and emotional rendition of the song.
“So why, why would you talk to me at all/ Such words were dishonorable and in vain/ Their promise as solid as a fog/ And where was your watchman then/ I’ll be your keeper for life as your guardian/ I’ll be your warrior of care your first warden/ I’ll be your angel on call, I’ll be on demand/The greatest honor of all, as your guardian,” Tongi sang. He concluded his performance with a sweet “Love you, Mom.”
“Guardian” was originally released by Morissette in 2012 as the first single from her eighth studio album, Havoc and Bright Lights. The track peaked at No. 27 on Billboard‘s Adult Pop Airplay chart, while the album spent peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and spent a total of five weeks on the tally.
Tongi also delivered a stunning duet of Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” with Oliver Steele, who was later eliminated. Both tracks served as a subtle tribute to Sheeran and Morissette, who served as guest judges on the show while regular panel members Katy Perry and Lionel Richie were performing at King Charles III’s coronation concert.
Watch Tongi perform “Guardian” and “Photograph” in the videos below.
Katy Perry and Lionel Richie were absent from American Idol on Sunday (May 7) for very good reasons. The judges were busy performing at King Charles III’s coronation concert at Windsor Castle in London a day after England’s new monarch was seated in a ceremony rich with tradition and mega-charged pomp.
Some 20,000 people gathered at the Castle for the show that found Richie performing “All Night Long” and the Commodores’ “Easy” for the royals and their invited guests. The AP reported that Princess Charlotte and her mother, Kate, Princess of Wales sang along as Perry performed her hit “Roar” while decked out in a gold foil ball gown as drones formed into the shape of a lion to honor the new king’s coat of arms. Perry closed out the show with “Firework,” which she dedicated to the King, saying “Thank you for bringing out the firework in so many young people.”
There was even a fly-by from Tom Cruise, who appeared in a video message saying, “Pilot to pilot. Your Majesty, you can be my wingman any time.” The evening hosted by Downtown Abbey star Hugh Bonneville also featured performances from the Pussycat Dolls, British man band Take That, Paloma Faith, opera singer Andrea Bocelli and a global choir led by Steve Winwood singing a version of his hit “Higher Love.”
The new royals returned the favor on Sunday night’s live coast-to-coast broadcast of Idol during an episode featuring mentors Ed Sheeran and Alanis Morissette, appearing in a chat with Perry and Richie from Windsor Castle. “I just wanted to check how long you’ll be using this room for?” King Charles joked to Richie and Perry, as he walked into the shot with Queen Consort Camilla after the “Dancing on the Ceiling” star called the coronation “unbelievable.”
“We have to give the room up right away,” a nervous Richie said after the King’s bone-dry jape about whether the production would be using the room “all night long.”
“Thank you so much for your brilliant performance,” Charles said as Perry interrupted in a distinctly West Coast English accent to ask, “are we making too much noise?” There was then some scripted cross-talk about the coronation party they were all going to attend, with Perry curtsying as the royal couple made their exit.
Watch highlights from the concert and the Idol drop-in below.
Ed Sheeran capped an eventful week with a performance on American Idol – and the opportunity to show the remaining contestants how a pro gets about his work.
On Sunday night’s (May 7) Top 8 episode, the English singer and Idol mentor hit “Eyes Closed,” the lead single from − (subtract), the fifth and final album in his mathematics-themed collection.
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Sheeran is a big-stage animal, and, as he’s proved to millions in stadiums around the globe, he doesn’t need more than a mic, a guitar and a splash on digital effects behind him. And that’s all he had.
The Brit crammed more into his week than most of us do in, well, forever. The “Shape of You” singer won a copyright court case earlier in the week, released Subtract on Friday, and was on the ABC stage by week’s end. Watch his performance below.
Not to be outdone, fellow guest Idol judge and ‘90s icon Alanis Morissette performed “Thank U,” a rocking number from her fourth studio album Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, the followup to her juggernaut Jagged Little Pill. Watch below.
Though Sheeran and Morissette are household names, the eight remaining contestants all harbor dreams of being the next big star. They all got another chance to get there, three were sent home.
The famous five are Colin Stough, Iam Tongi, Megan Danielle, Wé Ani, and Zachariah Smith. Leaving season 21 is Haven Madison, Oliver Steele and Warren Peay.Next Sunday (May 14) is Disney Night. For the occasion, multiplatinum singer-songwriter Sofia Carson will serve as the Idol mentor for the Top 5, and Halle Bailey will perform “Part of Your World” from Disney’s upcoming film The Little Mermaid, in which she portrays Ariel.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
The 149th Kentucky Derby is coming up this weekend, and Carly Pearce is set to sing the national anthem.
“This will be the first time that I’ve actually gotten to go,” the country star told People. “Being from Kentucky, this is definitely a really cool thing to get to be a part of.”
The first leg of the Triple Crown renowned for the often wild fashions sported by attendees will be taking over Louisville’s Churchill Downs for the annual tradition. If you want to watch the Kentucky Derby live, you can do catch the Derby on TV or stream it on your computer, phone and other compatible devices.
Catch the main event on Saturday (May 6) 6:57 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Earlier races will start at 10:30 a.m. ET. For online viewers, NBC is available to stream on Sling, Hulu with Live TV and FuboTV. Most of the services offer a free trial that you can use to watch the Kentucky Derby free online (stream internationally on ExpressVPN).
Need a drink to pair with your watch party? Woodford Reserve is the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby and just released its 2023 commemorative Derby bottle.
Created by Kentucky artist Jamie Corum, the bottle commemorates the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s 1973 Derby win and depicts a painting of the horse on the front. The limited-edition Kentucky Derby bottle of Woodford Reserve Bourbon retails for $48.99 and is available to order online at ReserveBar.com.