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The season finale of The Last of Us is approaching, and in honor of the popular post-apocalyptic drama series, Billboard is highlighting its season two star, Isabela Merced, who in addition to acting, leads a music career of her own.
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Isabela was cast as the last major addition to the show, joining series stars Pedro Pascal (Joel Miller) and Bella Ramsey (Ellie). In season two, Isabela portrays Dina, a freewheeling and loyal spirit who serves as Ellie’s romantic interest and Jesse’s ex.
“Dina is warm, brilliant, wild, funny, moral, dangerous and instantly lovable,” said Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, The Last of Us‘ co-creators, writers, executive producers and directors, according to Deadline. “You can search forever for an actor who effortlessly embodies all of those things, or you can find Isabela Merced right away. We couldn’t be prouder to have her join our family.”
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In addition to the lovable character on the hit HBO series, Isabela has also portrayed roles in films including Transformers: The Last Knight; Sicario: Day of the Soldado; and Dora and the Lost City of Gold, where she portrayed Dora.
But beyond her remarkable screen work, Isabela is also a promising music star. Below, check out some fun facts about the actress and singer.
Her Artist Name
The actress was born in Ohio to a Peruvian mother and a father from Louisiana. Her real name is Isabela Yolanda Moner, and was formerly known as Isabela Moner when she kicked off her acting career. However, when she launched her career as a solo musician in 2018, she changed her artist name to Isabela Merced as a tribute to her grandmother, Yolanda Merced, and her Peruvian heritage.
Her Music Career
In 2019, Isabela officially launched her music career, and has already collaborated with artists including Sebastian Yatra, Matt Hunter, and Danna (formerly known as Danna Paola), to name a few. Her 2020 EP The Better Half of Me features five tracks —in English and Spanish — navigating from reggaetón to R&B rhythms, and best putting on the map her fresh bilingual pop sound. Isabela has also recorded songs for the Instant Family and Spirit Untamed movie soundtracks, and has two Christmas songs: “Caliente Navidad” and “Cuffing Season.” Billboard can confirm that she’s currently working on new music.
Her Latin Roots
Isabela is a proud Peruvian-American, and the official music video for her single “Papi” is proof of that. The clip included a modern twist to the traditional Peruvian dance called Marinera and the devil masks worn by her dancers, which represent the Diablada. “Different elements of my Peruvian culture, from the coast to the Amazons, are incorporated into every aspect of my music, wardrobe, dancing, and storytelling of my videos,” she previously said to Billboard. She’s also a UNICEF ambassador in Peru and has visited communities in the Amazon.
The season two finale of The Last of Us will air at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 25 on HBO and stream on Max.
Disney released the first trailer for Zootopia 2 on Tuesday (May 20), with Shakira reprising her role as the voice of Gazelle.
It was revealed last November that the Colombian superstar would once again lend her vocal power to the fiercely independent antelope who dazzled audiences with her shimmering, belly-dancer-inspired coin skirt and upbeat anthem “Try Everything” from the 2016 release.
Directed by Oscar-winning duo Jared Bush and Byron Howard, Zootopia 2 reunites the “Whenever, Wherever” singer with actors Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman, who reprise their roles as detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Together, they’re ready to uncover secrets in new corners of the sprawling animal metropolis.
In the new teaser trailer, Nick, Judy, and Gary — a new snake character portrayed by Ke Huy Quan — flee from the police through various parts of Zootopia, encountering a mysterious hooded figure with glowing eyes. The montage also introduces new characters Nibbles the beaver (Fortune Feimster) and Dr. Fuzzby, a quokka therapist (Quinta Brunson).
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With her signature blonde mane and “hips that don’t lie” (yes, Shakira famously worked with Disney to give Gazelle more curves in the original film), the beloved character is expected to bring even more excitement — and heart — to the sequel.
And with Shakira currently dominating world stadiums with her record-breaking world tour Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, also the name of her latest album, her star power now shines even brighter, making Gazelle’s return all the more exciting for fans of all ages.
The Colombian musician recently celebrated 20 years of “Hips Don’t Lie”on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and performed her beloved 1996 ballad “Antología” on the late-night show on Monday (May 19). She’s also going to be making stops in Montreal, Chicago, Boston, Phoenix, and San Diego as part of her U.S. trek before wrapping up in San Francisco on June 30.
Zootopia 2 hits theaters on Nov. 26. Check out the trailer below:
Bad Bunny is set to break records across Latin America, Europe and Australia with his Debí Tirar Más Fotos tour after generating hundreds of millions of dollars from 2.6 million tickets sold, according to data provided to Billboard by promoter Live Nation.
“Bad Bunny is having incredible success without crossing over [musically]. In fact, it’s the audience — millions of people across the world, who are crossing over [to] him,” says Hans Schafer, senior vp of global touring for Live Nation, which is co-promoting the 54-date tour with Rimas Nation. Schafer notes that the superstar will be the first Spanish-language artist to perform a stadium concert in seven of the countries he’s visiting on the tour, which kicks off Nov. 21 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and ends July 22 in Brussels, Belgium.
The new tour is set to break the records Bad Bunny first broke in 2022 when he became the first Latin act to earn the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Year-End Boxscore Top Tours chart, grossing $373.5 million from 1.8 million tickets across 65 shows.
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Thanks to a massive demand for tickets, what began as a 24-date tour early last week has blossomed into a 54-show run across 18 countries. Bad Bunny expanded his Mexico City visit from two shows at Estadio GNP to eight shows. In South America, he grew his stops in Medellin, Colombia; Santiago, Chile; and Buenos Aires from one show to three shows in each market. And in Madrid, he expanded his plans for two shows to a staggering 10 concerts at the 70,000-person Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium.
Bad Bunny is playing two-night engagements at almost every stop on his tour and is breaking new records in nearly every market. He is the first and only Latin act to sell out a stadium concert in Australia and became the only artist in Colombia’s history to sell out three stadium concerts in 24 hours. He broke the record for the fastest-selling concert in the history of Costa Rica, and in Mexico, he broke the record for the most tickets sold in a single day by any artist.
The superstar now holds the record for the most tickets ever sold by a Latin artist in France, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Sweden. And with 12 stadium shows booked for Spain — including two in Barcelona — he now holds the record for the biggest concert run ever for an artist in the country with 600,000 tickets sold.
He’s also become the top-selling Latin artist in the U.K., breaking the record previously set by Karol G.
“Bad Bunny is a true global artist and this tour is testament to his power as an international superstar,” Schafer says. “We’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
Soccer, music and community came together on Monday (May 19) at the Tenple field in Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain, where Myke Towers’ Young Kingz Foundation and David Villa’s DV7 Academy officially kicked off their global partnership. The event marked the start of a series of joint initiatives aimed at creating real opportunities for young people in vulnerable situations.
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Towers, one of the most influential voices in Latin urban music, and Villa, the all-time top scorer for Spain’s national soccer team and a 2010 World Cup champion, share the same vision: transforming lives through talent, discipline and social commitment.
“I’m not doing this expecting it to blow up like a song,” Towers tells Billboard Español. “It’s more about leaving a legacy. Creating a habit. Inspiring those who can help to do so, in their own way.”
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“I feel good because this brings together two things I’m passionate about: music and sports,” he adds. “And if I can do something for others through that, even better.”
For Towers, giving back is essential. “When you’re blessed, it’s only natural to want to bless others,” he shares.
Although Villa couldn’t attend the event in person as he was in the Dominican Republic visiting one of his academies, he connected with Towers via video call, where both reaffirmed their commitment to joining forces to provide real resources to young people. Towers took the opportunity to thank Villa for his earlier visit to the Quintana Club in Puerto Rico, a gesture that marked the beginning of the bond between their two foundations.
Villa, on the other hand, celebrated the collaboration with the Young Kingz Foundation. “Soccer is a powerful tool for building community and well-being,” he tells Billboard Español, and reveals that his favorite song by Towers is “Lala.”
The partnership is already underway, with projects in Puerto Rico, New York, Colombia and Spain that include free sports clinics, exchange programs, urban space revitalization and educational support for vulnerable youth. For Villa, the most rewarding part is seeing the immediate impact on the daily lives of young people. “When I visit the academies and see them happy, sharing, and enjoying themselves, that’s the most beautiful thing,” he says. “You can win or lose, but the important thing is that they have a meaningful experience.”
The Young Kingz Foundation was established in July 2024, but Myke Towers’ community commitment had been developing long before that. “Michael had already been consistently supporting his community. The foundation allowed him to organize that effort and amplify its impact,” Derick Luna, president of the board of directors and the artist’s business manager, tells Billboard Español.
One of the standout stories from the event was that of Mateo Bermúdez, a 13-year-old Puerto Rican soccer player who traveled from Galicia to attend; he was sponsored by the DV7 Academy to continue his training in Spain. Mateo was born in the same community as Towers, Quintana, and represents the kind of talent this project aims to highlight and support.
“He has something special. He adapts, smiles when the group smiles and knows how to push through tough moments. That’s not something you can teach,” Ossie Antonetti, president of JDB Internacional (Young Puerto Rican Athletes) and a partner of the Young Kingz Foundation, tells Billboard Español.
“Mateo is a kid I’ve known since he was little, and I have a lot of love for him. I know he’s going to go far because he has humility, and that will take him very high,” adds Towers.
In a conversation with Billboard, Villa emphasizes the importance of supporting soccer development in communities that often go unnoticed. “We know where we can help, and this partnership allows us to do so with real impact,” he says.
During the event in Madrid, Towers also spent time with students from Villa’s soccer academy and took photos with fans who came to the field.
The event coincided with the kickoff of Myke Towers’ Europe Tour 2025, which will begin with two sold-out concerts at the Movistar Arena in Spain’s capital. In the coming weeks, the artist will perform in Cádiz, Barcelona, Paris, Zurich, London and other cities as part of his tour.
Since launching her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour in Brazil earlier this year, Shakira has surprised attendees by inviting a number of fellow hitmakers to join her onstage. From Grupo Frontera, Carlos Vives and Maluma — all three joined her in Latin America — to Wyclef Jean, Alejandro Sanz, Ozuna and Rauw Alejando […]
Elegance. Showmanship. Unmatched flair. Rauw Alejandro made his triumphant return to New York City on Monday night (May 19), kicking off a three-night takeover at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center as part of his Cosa Nuestra tour.
For the Puerto Rican singer, these performances carry deep significance, blending his personal story with the cultural legacy of the city’s Nuyorican community.
“Rauw Alejandro performing Cosa Nuestra live, where it all began, here in the city of New York,” said the man of the night while commanding the stage with superstar swagger. “New York is very special to me, it’s my second home. It’s where my father was born. My grandfather — they came here to work hard, to earn money for their family. Cosa Nuestra was created right here in New York. Tonight is special. This concert is a little bit different from the others.” And he was absolutely right about that.
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The energy in the arena was electric, with fans dressed to the nines per Rauw’s “dress code” for the night — a glam celebration that felt more Broadway than your typical Latin music show. And Rauw’s performance delivered high-octane drama in four acts, crafted like a theatrical masterpiece, at times invoking West Side Story, in others Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” video, to his own arsenal of hits from his new album — “Revolú,” “Déjame Entrar,” “Mil Mujeres” — and even some Rauw classics such as “Tattoo,” “Todo De Ti,” “Desesperados” and more.
The show was filled with imagery that depicted New York’s iconic landmarks and its Latin roots, with the Brooklyn Bridge and the city skyline as a backdrop. With his impeccably tight choreography, tailored and glitzy wardrobe and the vintage muscle car in one notable scene, his homage to the Boricua diaspora was heartfelt and unapologetically vivid — a tribute to resilience, culture and identity.
“New York is a special place, especially for this show, for Puerto Rican culture — for me being Puerto Rican from New York,” said an attendee who looked dapper in vintage-looking slacks and a flat cap. “There’s a lot of history here, a lot of culture, and it’s good to see all the people come together for a special event like this that celebrates us.”
The city is also the cradle of Puerto Rican salsa, the birthplace of the late ‘60s and ‘70s Latin music revolution defined by legends such as the Fania All Stars. That golden era of big-band artistry sparked the vision for Rauw’s Cosa Nuestra album and the theatrical brilliance of the night’s performance — a seamless fusion of tradition and modernity that felt like a love letter to New York’s Puerto Rican roots.
Rauw’s Cosa Nuestra topped Billboard‘s Best Latin Albums of 2024 (Staff Picks), and reached No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart, where it remained at the top for six weeks.
His next stops include Atlanta, Orlando and several dates in Miami before wrapping up his U.S. tour with a four-night series of shows at the iconic Coliseo de Puerto Rico. This summer, he’ll take his Cosa Nuestra tour to Europe.
Carín León places his second No. 1 of the year, and fourth overall, on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart, as “Ahí Estabas Tú” ascends 3-1 on the May 24-dated list. The new achievement comes only two months after his most recent triumph with “El Amor de Mi Herida.”
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“Ahí Estabas Tú” claims the top spot on the overall Latin Airplay chart with 8.2 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. during the May 9-15 tracking week, according to Luminate –that’s a 21% gain from the previous week. The Greatest Gainer-awarded track of the week trades places with Gerardo Coronel ‘El Jerry’’s “No Se Dice,” after the latter drops 1-3 with a 5% dip in impressions (to 8.23 million).
“Ahí Estabas Tú” marks León’s second champ of 2025. Previously the Hermosillo, Sonora-born singer-songwriter took command of Latin Airplay for one week through “El Amor de Mi Herida” (March 22-dated list).
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With a second ruler in 2025, León is only the second soloist to have two No. 1s on Latin Airplay this year unaccompanied by another act. Earlier in 2025, Bad Bunny topped the chart twice with his solo tracks “El Clúb” and “Baile Inolvidable,” each reigning for two weeks in February and March, respectively.
In total, four artists have secured two No. 1 hits in 2025 so far. Between Benito’s two chart-toppers, Myke Towers claimed the No. 1 spot with “Otra Noche” featuring Darell, for one week in February. He followed up with another No. 1 hit, “Degenere,” which features benny blanco, leading for one week on the May 3 chart. Meanwhile, Colombian Kapo placed back-to-back champs as “Más Que Tú,” with Ozuna, ceded its place to “Imagínate,” with Danny Ocean, on the April 26 list, both one-week rulers.
Beyond his Latin Airplay coronation, León also takes “Ahí Estabas Tú” to the summit on Regional Mexican Airplay, where it jumps 2-1, his eighth No. 1 overall. He ties Eden Muñoz for the fourth-most rulers among soloists in the 2020s decade. They trail Christian Nodal who leads with 17 No. 1 this decade, Gerardo Ortiz follows with 13, and Alejandro Fernández with 12 leaders.
All charts (dated May 24, 2025) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow, May 20. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Wrestlemania 41 was full of fans with strong opinions, and we went ahead and asked them who would win in the ring: Bad Bunny or Travis Scott?
Who do you think would win in the ring? Let us know in the comments!
Carl Lamarre:
Street fight: Travis Scott and Bad Bunny, one on one. Who’s taking it?
Fan 1:
Travis Scott is a bi—.
Fan 2:
I gotta go with “Goosebumps.” I gotta go with the Trav.
Carl Lamarre:
He gave Cody Rhodes a black eye, man.
Fan 2:
Yeah, he busted his eardrum. Come on.
Fan 3:
Travis Scott.
Carl Lamarre:
Why Travis?
Fan 4:
Travis is like a little ghetto, you know? Bad Bunny, he’s cool. He’s cool, you know. But like, they do it differently in Houston.
Fan 5:
Bad Bunny. Bad Bunny, all day.
Carl Lamarre:
Benito. Why?
Fan 5:
Because he’s also the GOAT. No, um, I don’t know. He just got, he got that dog in him.
Fan 6:
Yo soy Boricua, I’m from Puerto Rico. Oh, I’m not from Puerto Rico, but I’m Puerto Rican, so I have to pick him. Loyalty, you know what I mean? Bad Bunny. Yo soy Boricua pa’ que tú lo sepas.
Fan 7:
Travis Scott.
Carl Lamarre:
Why Travis?
Fan 7:
Bad Bunny don’t look like he could fight too good.
Carl Lamarre:
Bad Bunny got pretty busy in the ring not too long ago.
Fan 7:
You know, everybody lucky every once in awhile, right?
Fan 8:
Bad Bunny all day. You saw the damage he took from Damian Priest, I think it was last year.
Carl Lamrre:
At Puerto Rico.
Fan 8:
Puerto Rico, right? You saw the damage he could take. He can handle it.
Carl Lamarre:
Why Bad Bunny?
Keep watching for more!
Alejandro Fernández couldn’t be prouder to carry on the family legacy through his children, including Camila Fernández, who is currently joining him on his De Rey a Rey tour across the United States.
The 27-year-old artist showcased great confidence and poise on Sunday (May 18) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., where she performed songs from her repertoire like “Todo Todo,” “Pudimos Ser,” and “Se Cancela la Llorada,” earning a roaring ovation from the audience.
“Thank you for your applause,” said Vicente Fernandez’s granddaughter, elegantly dressed in a charro outfit. “Now I leave you with the new king of ranchera music who honors another king who was my grandfather, my father Alejandro Fernandez””
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Also dressed as a charro, El Potrillo opened his set with his father’s classic “No Me Sé Rajar,” included in his tribute album De Rey a Rey (meaning From King to King).
“I want to tell you that I was born with two blessings: the first, being born in Mexico; the second, being born a Fernández,” expressed the superstar. “Let’s celebrate together the legacy of the great Charro de México the way he would have liked — singing his songs at the top of our lungs.”
The setlist included classics like “Lástima Que Seas Ajena,” “Estos Celos,” “El Rey,” “Volver, Volver,” “De Qué Manera Te Olvido,” “Por Tu Maldito Amor,” and more.
In a heartfelt moment, the father and daughter duo performed “Fue Un Placer Conocerte” and “Siempre Estoy Pensando en Ti,” paying tribute to Juan Gabriel and Rocío Dúrcal, who used to sing those songs together. The tender glances and undeniable connection between Alejandro and Camila, along with their beautiful vocal harmonies, deeply moved the fans, who applauded nonstop.
“I want you to know that in this family, there are at least three of us who will fight tooth and nail to keep Mexican music alive, and we carry it deeply in our hearts,” said Alejandro Fernández, also referring to his son Alex.
And while the show serves as a tribute to his father, some Alejandro’s biggest hits couldn’t be left out, including “Me Dediqué a Perderte,” “Si Tú Supieras,” “Caballero” and “Hoy Tengo Ganas De Ti,” which was originally recorded with Christina Aguilera but performed during the concert with his daughter Camila.
The De Rey a Rey tour, which continues on May 23 in Salt Lake City, Utah, includes stops in Denver, Chicago, Miami, New York, El Paso, and Las Vegas (for Mexican Independence Day celebrations), before wrapping up on September 21 in San Diego, Calif.
Check out a clip Alejandro and Camila Fernández singing together below:
Mora (real name: Gabriel Armando Mora Quintero) surprised fans with the release of his fifth studio album, Lo Mismo de Siempre, on Sunday (May 18) via Rimas Entertainment.
The 17-track set, which was first produced in Miami and then finished in Puerto Rico, was created during an ultra-personal moment in Mora’s life: fatherhood. Though the songs don’t necessarily delve into his personal life per se, it was important for him to move back home with his family to spark his muse and seek the ideal inspiration.
Lo Mismo de Siempre — named in honor of those who say that the Puerto Rican artist-producer is “always doing the same thing” in his music — is truly an ode to the day-one fans.
“None of this was due to luck/ I’ve had a thousand falls, and although they hurt, they made me stronger/ The people made me, and that’s why I’m here with the same people as always,” he chants in the opening title track, over a dark, dramatic synth melody.
The set then navigates through futuristic reggaetón and perreo sounds (yes, true to Mora’s essence), but also some innovative trap, ballads, tropical and house fusions. He also reeled in potent collaborators, including C.Tangana, Young Miko, Sech, Ryan Castro, and Omar Courtz. Lyrically, he sings about love, heartbreak, the loses, the wins, and other relatable topics.
Lo Mismo De Siempre follows the sets Primer Día de Clases, Microdosis, Paraíso, and Estrella — all of which debuted top 10 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart.
Below, Mora breaks down five essential tracks from his new album, in his own words:
“Bandida”