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Late night will be a lot quieter in the midst of the Writers Guild of America strike that began Monday (May 1) after negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to produce a new deal.
So far, the first strike in 15 years means that all your favorite late night talk shows will be dark for the time being, with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Steven Colbert and Seth Meyers turning off the lights and The Daily Show also taking a break for the foreseeable future. Their solidarity with the strikers will keep musical acts from promoting their latest projects on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Show and Late Night, eliminating a vital source of television promotion.
The three biggest reality singing shows will carry on without any interruption. A source close to American Idol tells Billboard that there is not expected to be any impact on the current season, which is slated to wrap up on May 21 with a three-hour finale. Similarly, Fox’s Masked Singer — whose episodes are pre-taped well in advance — will keep revealing celebrity singers through its May 17 finale. At press time a source close to The Voice — which wraps with a two-night finale on May 22-23 — tells Billboard the NBC series also does not expect to change gears over the next three weeks.
But the work stoppage also means Pete Davidson’s anticipated comeback to Saturday Night Live this weekend (May 6) with musical guest Lil Uzi Vert has been put on ice. According to Variety, Sunday night’s (May 7) live 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards is pulling the ripcord on their “contingency” plan after months of planning for the long-expected strike.
The production reportedly stockpiled “several short films” before the strike began, though any other scripted elements “can’t be updated or revised” with the writers on the sidelines, meaning there might be less of the expected topical or in-the-moment commentary pumped into the Teleprompter for presenters and host Drew Barrymore during the broadcast.
The MTV event will be the first major awards show since the strike was called and the unnamed production source said nothing that was written before can be changed at this point. Barrymore told Variety that planning was key. “The things that we have planned to be in the body of the show, we made efforts to have those plans be in place,” the actress and daytime talk show host said. “Our respect and solidarity is not only intact, we are covering ourselves so that we can do the appropriate thing. Nobody here is tone deaf… I think we’ve been acting in accordance of being the most appropriate to everyone we support, and have a plan for that in place.”
Further down the line, Yellowjackets co-creator Ashley Lyle tweeted on Tuesday that the Showtime drama, whose episodes are typically packed with classic alt-rock from the 1990s, has stopped work on the in-process third season as its second season continues to roll out. Anticipating a work slowdown, many studios stockpiled episodes and movies to weather the storm in light of the last work stoppage in 2007, which lasted 100 days.
That means artists and rights holders who locked in synch deals for the placement of their songs in already wrapped shows and movies should not be impacted, while those who were working to secure such deals may face days, weeks, or possibly months of delays in finalizing future synchs.
“While company profits have remained high and spending on content has grown, writers are falling behind,” the WGA said in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “The companies have used the transition to streaming to cut writer pay and separate writing from production, worsening working conditions for series writers at all levels. On TV staffs, more writers are working at minimum regardless of experience, often for fewer weeks, or in mini-rooms, while showrunners are left without a writing staff to complete the season. And while series budgets have soared over the past decade, median writer-producer pay has fallen.”
The Reporter also noted syndicated daytime talk shows will, for the most part, not be affected, as The View, Live With Kelly and Mark and Tamron Hall — all of which frequently feature musical guests — do not staff WGA writers; The Talk, which does employ WGA writers, is airing banked shows for this week and next and will then shift to repeats.
The Kelly Clarkson Show, home to the beloved daily Kellyoke segment and frequent sit-downs with fellow musicians, employs guild writers but tapes episodes in advance and has “a bank of shows on which to draw.” Another popular daytime talker, The Drew Barrymore Show, has wrapped production on its season.
If you’re looking to feel “Beautiful” this Pride season, you don’t need a “Genie in a Bottle” to make it happen — all you have to do is “Come on Over” to NYC Pride’s Pride Island.
On Wednesday (May 3), NYC Pride announced that pop superstar Christina Aguilera will serve as the official headliner for this year’s Pride Island. Taking place on Sunday, June 25, Pride Island will also feature sets from Guy Scheiman, Karina Kay and Mor Avrahmi throughout the event.
“I couldn’t be more excited to headline NYC Pride’s iconic Pride Island,” Aguilera said in a statement of the upcoming show. “I’m always ready to celebrate the strength and resilience of all the individual members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies by dedicating this performance to our combined power when we act and work in solidarity.”
This year’s Pride Island is also coming to a new home. After Kim Petras’ headlining set on Governor’s Island last year, 2023’s Pride Island will take place at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, a modern manufacturing campus in Brooklyn that also hosts cultural events.
Aguilera has a storied track record of support for the LGBTQ community. Earlier this year, GLAAD recognized Xtina as its 2023 advocate for change, honoring the artist as someone who “through [her] work, has changed the game for LGBTQ people around the world.” In accepting the award, the five-time Grammy winner called on everyone listening “to raise our voices if we want to live in a world that is free of discrimination, hate and violence.”
Christina Aguilera will take to the Pride Island main stage on Sunday, June 25, at Brooklyn Army Terminal. Tickets to Pride Island are on sale now.
The Weeknd is connecting with his Ethiopian roots and honoring his family with his new Samra Origins coffee brand and product line in partnership with Blue Bottle Coffee, which was announced Wednesday (May 3).
Named after his mother Samra, Samra Origins pays homage to the Canadian-Ethiopian singer’s heritage and motherland’s standing as the birthplace of coffee. The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) and Samra developed the first Samra Origins blend with Blue Bottle’s head of innovation & quality, Benjamin Brewer. Brewer selected some of Ethiopia’s best coffees to craft three blend variations, which The Weeknd and Samra tasted before selecting the offering most similar to the coffee Samra brews at home. Blue Bottle then worked with The Weeknd to carefully fine tune the blend and create a distinct flavor profile, which not only captures classic notes of fresh fruit and bright florals but upholds centuries of traditions originated and perfected by Ethiopian coffee farmers.
“Ethiopian culture is an important part of my identity and I’m proud to work alongside the Blue Bottle Coffee team to shine a light on Ethiopian traditions, values, and of course, coffee,” said The Weeknd in a press release. “Growing up, I watched my mother perform Buna Tetu, a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. This sensory experience helped shape my understanding of community and taught me to always honor my roots.”
In an exclusive statement to Billboard, he added: “Samra Origins is a true passion project of mine that Blue Bottle matched and understood as we developed the products together. I hope the result ignites curiosity about Ethiopia’s people and motivates others to give back to communities in need.”
The Weeknd
Blue Bottle Coffee
The Weeknd
Blue Bottle Coffee
And to honor The Weeknd’s philanthropic efforts, Blue Bottle Coffee will donate to his XO Humanitarian Fund, which he launched in March 2022 alongside the United Nations World Food Programme. Since its launch last spring, the XO Humanitarian Fund has raised and pledged $5 million to provide food and support to millions of people experiencing hunger across the globe.
“We are grateful to have The Weeknd and Blue Bottle Coffee’s steadfast support as we work to feed families in hunger hotspots worldwide,” said Barron Segar, president and CEO of World Food Program USA, in a statement. “Private sector partners like Blue Bottle Coffee are critical in generating both public awareness and funding to save the 43 million people on the brink of starvation across 51 countries.”
Samra Origins will launch this month with a limited release of Exceedingly Rare Ethiopia Wolde Faye Koricha COE #7, which anyone can purchase for $65 (per 100g tin) exclusively online at samraorigins.com. Starting Wednesday, Blue Bottle guests can sign up for the online waitlist to be the first to know when Samra Origins officially drops next Tuesday, May 9.
“Ethiopian coffee is truly in a class of its own and the country holds a special place within our Blue Bottle community,” said Karl Strovink, CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee, in the release. “Since Blue Bottle Coffee’s inception in 2002, we’ve sourced coffee from Ethiopia. In 2023, Ethiopia is still consistently among our top origins by volume. I’m excited that we’re extending our commitment there with Samra Origins so we can continue to share the best of Ethiopian coffee and support our network of producers in the country.”
Amazon is currently offering an amazing streaming deal that won’t last long, so if you’ve been thinking of joining Amazon Music Unlimited, this limited promo might be too good to pass up.
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On Tuesday (May 2), Amazon launched a promo that lets new subscribers enjoy three months of free Amazon Unlimited Music by watching a featurette for The Little Mermaid on Prime Video.
The featurette is available on the Amazon Fire TV homepage, but also might be accessible through Amazon Fire Stick and Prime Video. After you watch the featurette, a three-month free trial subscription link will be emailed to your account. This limited offer runs from now until May 16.
The Amazon Music Unlimited subscription includes HD streaming and spatial audio at no extra cost, plus unlimited access to 100 million on-demand and commercial-free songs, thousands of stations and top playlists, along with millions of podcast episodes.
Traveling soon? Amazon Music Unlimited lets you stay connected even when you’re flying the friendly skies. Listen offline with unlimited skips or hands-free with an Alexa or Bluetooth device.
After the three-month free trial ends, Amazon Music Unlimited will be billed at $10.99/month ($9.99 a month for Prime members. Click here to launch your free trial). Your subscription will automatically renew after the first three months unless you cancel.
How else can you get a free trial to Amazon Music? If you join Amazon Music Unlimited without The Little Mermaid promo you can still snag a free trial for the first month.
Amazon Music Unlimited
$10.99/month after 30-day free trial
Amazon Music offers individual plans to stream anywhere, anytime but you can also get a family plan ($15.99 a month) which lets you stream on up to six devices simultaneously and block songs with explicit lyrics. There’s also a single device plan ($4.99 a month) to stream from a single Echo device or Fire TV. Lastly, the student plan cuts your Amazon Music monthly membership from $9.99 to $1 per month. However, Amazon’s three-month promo only applies to the Amazon Music Unlimited individual plan.
If you’re already an Amazon Prime member, Amazon Music is included in your membership, but you can only access two million songs (versus 100 million) along with thousands of playlists in addition to discounted pricing, free two-day shipping, the entire Prime Video streaming library and lots of other perks.
A24 revealed the first look at its upcoming slasher threequel MaXXXine on Monday, starring Mia Goth and Halsey.
“The life she deserves #MaXXXine,” the studio tweeted alongside a still of Goth’s Maxine walking beneath the bright harsh and garish lights of Hollywood in the 1980s alongside Halsey’s character, whose name has yet to be revealed. (The pop star does, however, sport a black pixie cut and floor-length fur coat as she side-eyes Maxine in the photo.)
Contrary to her Little House on the Prairie-esque look from Ti West’s two previous films in the X trilogy — 2022’s X and Pearl — Goth’s murderous Hollywood hopeful has traded her brunette braids and prairie dresses for a tousled blonde mane and iridescent green windbreaker.
Set for release sometime later this year, MaXXXine will conclude the trilogy imagined by West. X tells the story of Maxine, an aspiring adult film star who became embroiled in a violent murder on the 1979 set of her friends’ pornographic movie, which they’re filming on a desolate Texas ranch owned by an elderly couple named Pearl and Howard. The movie’s prequel, Pearl, featured Goth playing the younger version of the eponymous character from the first film in her 1918 origin story. (The series contains heavy homages to the likes of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.)
Along with Halsey, MaXXXine will also star Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito and Kevin Bacon.
See the first look below:
The New York Knicks have once again made their way back into the NBA Playoffs after missing the postseason in 2022, and the iconic team has a long history of celebrity fans cheering them on.
As a whole, the Knicks have been in the playoffs 39 times over their 74 seasons, but they haven’t won the NBA championship since 1973. Regardless, music stars from Diddy, 50 Cent and LL Cool J to Brandy, Fat Joe and Alicia Keys have cheered on the Empire State’s basketball team courtside over the years, no matter the record.
Perhaps one of the most famous Knicks fans is filmmaker Spike Lee, who throughout the years became known for having a sideline rivalry with basketball player Reggie Miller whenever the team would play against the Indiana Pacers throughout the 1990s. “I would come to his funeral dressed in all orange and blue sky as he would like,” Miller once said on The Dan Patrick Show, calling Lee the “face” of the Knicks. “I would be in Knicks’ colors at his wake. Just like he’d better be in blue and gold at mine.”
To this day, the lifelong superfan can be seen courtside at games dressed in head-to-toe Knicks attire. Most recently, he’s been enjoying the Knicks’ round 2 games this year against the Miami Heat.
To celebrate the Knicks in the playoffs, we’ve compiled a gallery of famous musicians who are also fans of the NY basketball team. See the photos below.
Sean “P. Diddy” Combs
Image Credit: James Devaney/WireImage
Sean “P. Diddy” Combs attends Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on February 4, 2009 in New York City.
Zendaya
Image Credit: James Devaney/GC Images
Zendaya attends New York Knicks vs Oklahoma City Thunder game at Madison Square Garden on November 28, 2016 in New York City.
Fat Joe
Image Credit: James Devaney/Getty Images
Fat Joe attends New York Knicks v Brooklyn Nets game at Barclays Center on October 25, 2019 in New York City.
Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz
Image Credit: James Devaney/WireImage
Alicia Keys, Egypt Dean and Swizz Beatz attend the Miami Heat vs New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 2, 2012 in New York City.
J. Cole
Image Credit: James Devaney/Getty Images
J. Cole attends the Brooklyn Nets v New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on November 24, 2019 in New York City.
DMC
Image Credit: James Devaney/GC Images
Norman Reedus and Run-DMC’s Darryl McDaniels attend the Brooklyn Nets vs New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2014 in New York City.
Q-Tip
Image Credit: Elsa/Getty Images
LL Cool J and Q-Tip attend an NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Phoenix Suns at Madison Square Garden on April 26, 2021 in New York City.
Rakim
Image Credit: James Devaney/Getty Images
Rakim and guest attend the New York Knicks Vs Boston Celtics game at Madison Square Garden on December 21, 2017 in New York City.
Ja Rule
Image Credit: James Devaney/Getty Images
Amy Schumer, Ja Rule and Hasan Minhaj attend Washington Wizards v New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on December 23, 2019 in New York City.
Chris Brown
Image Credit: James Devaney/WireImage
Chris Brown attends the Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on March 31, 2013 in New York City.
Josh Groban
Image Credit: James Devaney/WireImage
Josh Groban attends the New York Knicks vs Indiana Pacers NBA Playoff Game at Madison Square Garden on May 7, 2013 in New York City.
Chuck D
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Spike Lee poses with Chuck D of Public Enemy before the game between the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden on January 9, 2014 in New York City.
50 Cent
Image Credit: James Devaney/GC Images
Don Gummer, Meryl Streep, 50 Cent and guest attend the Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on January 26, 2014 in New York City.
Katharine McPhee
Image Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Katharine McPhee attends the NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors at Madison Square Garden on February 27, 2013 in New York City.
Beastie Boys
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Mike D and Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys attend the game between the New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2016 in New York City.
LL Cool J
Image Credit: Ray Amati/Getty Images
LL Cool J attends the NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 15, 2004 in New York City.
Brandy
Image Credit: James Devaney/WireImage
Brandy attends the Toronto Raptures vs New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 8, 2010 in New York City.
Nas
Image Credit: Noam Galai/WireImage
Nas performs during the 12th Annual Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival finale concert at Brooklyn Bridge Park on July 16, 2016 in New York City.
History has a way of repeating itself, which is exactly what Kim Petras is watching happen with the current anti-trans rhetoric spreading around the globe.
In an exclusive clip from her upcoming Out magazine cover story shared with People, Petras talks about coming out as trans at an early age and why her parents’ support was vital. “I literally was very suicidal as a kid, and I just wouldn’t still be here had my parents not believed me,” the singer said. Recalling her historic win at the 2023 Grammy Awards, she added that she knew she needed to thank “the person who’s responsible for me being alive,” her mother.
Watching the continued wave of transphobic sentiment sweeping across the globe — especially in the U.S., where more anti-LGBTQ legislation has been proposed in 2023 than any other year on record — has been “sad” to watch, Petras said. “I hate that another generation is going through this, and I hate that young kids are going through the same sh– I was going through, and that apparently just isn’t changing.”
Putting a finer point on the issue, Petras said it shouldn’t be anyone else’s business how a person identifies. “I just never understood why people were so obsessed with what people do to be happy,” she said. “Just focus on what you can do to be happy.”
The teaser of Petras’ new profile comes on the heels of “Alone,” the singer’s latest collaboration with rap superstar Nicki Minaj. Following the pair of performers earning a No. 55 debut on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, Kim and Nicki dropped their official music video for “Alone” on Tuesday (May 2).
Check out the preview of Petras’ Out cover story here, and watch her new music video for “Alone” below:
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TikTok’s favorite hair tool was busy behind the scenes at the 2023 Met Gala on Monday (May 1). The Dyson Airwrap helped create Lizzo’s sleek updo, which paid homage to Audrey Hepburn, her makeup artist Alexx Mayo and hairstylist, Shelby Swain, revealed to InStyle.
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The “Special” singer got dolled up in Charlotte Tilbury makeup to achieve her “soft, feminine timeless glam.” Lizzo’s red carpet look was a “futuristic” twist on Hepburn’s “timeless” style, and she’s wasn’t alone in channeling the acting legend. Olivia Rodrigo hit the carpet in a Hepburn-inspired hairstyle that was created using Dove hair styling products.
Meanwhile, Swain used the Airwrap to transform Lizzo’s mane into an updated version of Hepburn’s classic bun. “This is not a tool, it is a system,” Swain said of the Airwrap.
The $600 multi-styler is equipped with barrels to curl and wave in both directions; brushes to control and shape the hair; and a multi-functional Coanda smoothing dryer that dries, smooths and hides flyaways.
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, the Dyson Airwrap makes a great gift for the mom who could use a new hair tool. The Airwrap is available at Dyson.com as well as retailers such as Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Best Buy and Nordstrom, but it’s usually sells out around holidays like Mother’s Day, and some retailers like Dyson and Nordstrom are already low in stock.
Dyson
Sephora
Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler
$599.99 + free gift (valued at $120)
The Airwrap is available in a few different colors including nickel/copper and the special-edition Prussian blue. However, the limited-edition blue colorway comes with a free travel pouch valued at $120 (when you purchase at Dyson.com).
According to Forbes, Best Buy rewards members can score 20% off the copper Dyson Airwrap. You can also check Sephora for member-only deals on haircare products and tools such as the Airwrap.
From TikTok to YouTube, Dyson’s bestselling Airwrap reigns as one of the top multi-stylers on the market, but if it’s too pricey for your budget, check out this $39 Airwrap dupe.
Your final year of school is nothing if not an emotional rollercoaster. Excitement, nervousness and at least a hint of sadness are just a few of many emotions that senior students feel as they prepare for the next chapter of their lives.
Even those who are not part of the class of 2023 can remember all the “lasts”: your last first day, last homecoming game, last spring break, last exam, and finally, the highly-anticipated last day of school. It’s a lot to take in — on top of prom and college decisions for high schoolers and job-hunting for higher ed students. And before even getting a chance to catch your breath, it’s time to bust out the caps and gowns for pomp and circumstance, snatch that diploma you’ve worked so hard to get, say your farewells and, of course, celebrate.
To get the party started, Billboard has rounded up 22 tracks that make great additions to any graduation playlist. From songs written for the purpose of this very moment like Vitamin C’s 2000s era earworm “Graduation (Friends Forever),” to classics like Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration,” to melancholy yet optimistic numbers like Billie Eilish’s quarantine-era “my future,” to rocking tunes written for those who are wholeheartedly anti-school like Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out,” there’s something on this list that everyone is sure to enjoy. If you don’t have a graduate to celebrate but you wanna take a musical trip down memory lane, these tracks are sure to have you all up in your nostalgic feelings.
Check out these odes to growing up and making new memories below.
Vitamin C, “Graduation (Friends Forever)”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Standout lyric: “’Cause we’re moving on and we can’t slow down/ These memories are playing like a film without sound”
Vitamin C’s 2000s era hit is a graduation playlist essential — but be prepared to have the chorus (featuring a sample from Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”) stuck in your head for the next few days. Listen here.
Green Day, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”
Standout lyric: “So take the photographs and still frames in your mind/ Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time”
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong reminds us that everything happens for a reason in his guitar-driven track he originally wrote as a break-up song. But hey — it works great as a toast to great memories, growing up and moving on, too. Listen here.
Queen, “Don’t Stop Me Now”
Standout lyric: “I’m a shooting star leaping through the sky like a tiger/ Defying the laws of gravity”
Nothing is going to stop Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in the band’s high-energy hit. Layered with the group’s trademark harmonies and a steady percussive beat, it’s a track that’ll surely make you “wanna have a good time,” too. Listen here.
Lizzo, “About Damn Time”
Standout lyric: “Turn up the music, turn down the lights/ I got a feelin’ I’m gon’ be alright”
Whether you know the TikTok dance or not, Lizzo’s 2023 Grammy winner for record of the year (and Billboard Hot 100 topper) will have you on your feet and partying all graduation night long. Listen here.
OneRepublic, “Good Life”
Standout lyric: “Hopelessly, I’m taking a mental picture of you now/ ‘Cause hopelessly, the hope is we have/ So much to feel good about”
OneRepublic share a simple but important piece of advice for all recent grads: you do you! Haters come and go, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still live your best life. Listen here.
Macklemore feat. Kesha, “Good Old Days”
Standout lyric: “’Cause someday soon, your whole life’s gonna change/ You’ll miss the magic of the good old days”
Graduation is definitely one of life’s biggest events — and Macklemore and Kesha reflect on life’s most precious moments in their mellow yet inspiring pop song. Listen here.
Katy Perry, “Firework”
Standout lyric: “Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed/ So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road”
If you’re not feeling the love despite such a huge accomplishment, Katy Perry’s light-hearterd anthem has got your back. Listen here.
Kid Cudi, “Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)”
Standout lyric: “People told me slow my roll, I’m screaming out “F—k that”/ I’ma do just what I want, looking ahead, no turning back”
This pop-influenced hip-hop track off Kid Cudi’s debut album cautiously strives to set you up for continued success — but that doesn’t mean you won’t encounter hurdles along the way. Listen here.
fun. feat. Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”
Standout lyric: “So let’s set the world on fire/ We can burn brighter/ Than the sun”
It sounds like “fun.” is exactly what the pop-rock band is having in their anthemic hit about memories and growing up with a feature from Janelle Monae. Listen here.
Billie Eilish, “my future”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Standout lyric: “Know I’m supposed to be unhappy/ Without someone (someone)/ But aren’t I someone?”
A track that starts as a somber, introspective ode to Billie Eilish’s past turns into a funky, optimistic look at her future. Listen here.
Bill Withers, “Lovely Day”
Standout lyric: “When the day that lies ahead of me/ Seems impossible to face”
We’ve all had those days where we just can’t keep it 100. But Bill Withers’ groovy anthem is sure to get you out of whatever rut you may be in. Listen here.
Post Malone feat. Quavo, “Congratulations”
Standout lyric: “I was patient/ Now I can scream that we made it (We made it)”
Manifesting success is the theme of Post Malone and Quavo’s celebratory track. Which exactly the energy all new grads deserve. Listen here.
Nicki Minaj feat. Drake, “Moment 4 Life”
Standout lyric: “No, I’m not lucky, I’m blessed, yes/ Clap for the heavyweight champ, me/ But I couldn’t do it all alone, we”
Despite being the biggest names in rap, Nicki Minaj and Drake aren’t letting fame get to their heads. The duo shouts out everyone that helped them get to where they are in their celebratory collaboration. Listen here.
Taylor Swift, “Long Live”
Standout lyric: “You held your head like a hero/ On a history book page/ It was the end of a decade/ But the start of an age”
Taylor Swift reflects on the best of memories in her Speak Now closer. Though she’s likely singing about the success of Fearless (award wins and world tour), the lyrics will hit close to home for graduates, too. Listen here.
Kool & The Gang, “Celebration”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Standout lyric: “So bring your good times and your laughter too/ We gonna celebrate your party with you”
Because what good is any party playlist without this classic? Listen here.
Maroon 5, “Memories”
Standout lyric: “There’s a time that I remember, when I did not know no pain/ When I believed in forever, and everything would stay the same”
Maroon 5’s nostalgic number won’t just be on your graduation party playlist — it’ll be on your 10-year reunion mix, too. The question remains: What memories will you keep talking for years to come? Listen here.
Lorde, “Ribs”
Standout lyric: “This dream isn’t feeling sweet/ We’re reeling through the midnight streets/ And I’ve never felt more alone/ It feels so scary, getting old”
Though the lyrics aren’t necessary celebratory or even nostalgic, Lorde perfectly captures the fear that comes with growing up in this fan-favorite Pure Heroine track. Listen here.
Benny Blanco and Juice WRLD, “Graduation”
Standout lyric: “What I didn’t know was this grown-up world (This grown-up world)/ Was just school in a blown-up world (This blown-up world)”
Benny Blanco and Juice WRLD create an upbeat, yet slightly bitter take on Vitamin D’s early 2000’s track by the same name (which also appears on this list). Listen here.
Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow, “INDUSTRY BABY”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Standout lyric: “Turned my haters to consumers, I make vets feel like they juniors”
This one is for the champions (graduates)! Complete with a marching band, Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow take you back to high school in their enigmatic collaboration. Listen here.
Alice Cooper, “School’s Out”
Standout lyric: “Well, we got no class/ And we got no principles/ And we got no innocence”
Alice Cooper’s smash opener to their School’s Out album is a dedication to those who maybe didn’t have the best experience in school, and are just grateful to get outta there. Listen here.
Panic! At The Disco, “Hey Look Ma, I Made It”
Standout lyric: “In the garden of evil/ I’m gonna be the greatest/ In a golden cathedral/ I’ll be praying for the faithless”
Panic! At The Disco frontman Brandon Urie sings about the ups and downs of the fame train in his upbeat banger. Listen here.
SZA, “Prom”
Standout lyric: “Promise to get a little/ Better as I get older/ And you’re so patient/ And sick of waitin’”
SZA’s thoughtful yet far from mellow ode to growing up serves as a piece of advice for everyone entering adulthood: it’s okay if you don’t have it all together. Listen here.
Kanye West and T-Pain, “Good Life”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Standout lyric: “The good life, let’s go on a living spree/ S—t, they say the best things in life are free”
Throw your hands up in the sky! Kanye West subtly samples Michael Jackson in his vibey collaboration with T-Pain off his aptly titled Graduation album. Listen here.
American Idol will be down two judges on Sunday night (May 7) when Katy Perry and Lionel Richie jet to England to take part in the coronation of King Charles III. But they will have some serious ringers filling in during their absence: Ed Sheeran and Alanis Morissette.
During Monday night’s (May 1) show it was revealed that the pair will join Luke Bryan as guest judges on Sunday during the show’s “616” episode, where America will cast their votes for the top 5. Morissette will pull double-duty as guest judge and mentor to the top 10, who will perform her songs live, with the finalists also teaming up with each other on duets of Sheeran’s hits.
Both Sheeran and Morissette will perform on the episode, with Alanis sharing one of her classics and Sheeran playing his new single, the ballad “Boat.” And though Katy and Lionel will be getting the royal treatment, they will check in from Windsor Castle on Idol LIVE.
The top 10 battled it out on Monday night’s episode, with Hawaiian high-schooler Iam Tongi crushing it with his version of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” complete with some homey touches. After ditching his trusty guitar for Sunday night’s episode during performance of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home To Me,” Tongi donned a colorful Hawaiian shirt and performed with a ukulele. Tyson Venegas and Marybeth Byrd were eliminated, while Oliver Steele earned a judge’s save.
American Idol airs live coast-to-coast on Sunday from 8-10 p.m. ET/5-7 p.m. PT on ABC.