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Ben Stiller was reminded of Wicked: For Good star Ariana Grande‘s prodigious talents when the singer signed on to play his future daughter-in-law in the upcoming episode in the Fockers quadrilogy, Focker-in-Law. “It’s crazy how talented [she is],” Stiller told Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday night’s (Nov. 12) Tonight Show.
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“She’s so sweet. I didn’t know her before,” Stiller said, before quickly realizing that they had previously had a meet-weird on set. “Actually, I had met her before because she did a cameo in Zoolander 2 10 years ago. She was in an orgy scene we had. But I haven’t seen her since the orgy. She’s so great with comedy. She’s amazing in Wicked and she’s such a good singer, obviously, too,” he recalled.
Stiller described how Grande would wander around set humming and singing to herself, mimicking the vocal exercises the singer would do to keep her instrument prepped. He described the murmurations as “incredible, operatic… kind of soliloquy. And that’s just her humming. It doesn’t sound like I just did it. That sounds like I was possessed or something.”
Though Grande’s dramatic chops are on full display in both Wicked movies, the 32-year-old superstar who got her start in light comedy on Nickelodeon’s Victorious and Sam & Cat more than 15 years ago still has her comedy chops fully intact according to Stiller. “She’s so good with comedy. She’s just like a total natural,” he told Fallon. “I feel like she could do anything.”
Grande recently confirmed that she’d finished her time on the Fockers-in-Law set while sharing a sweet message to her co-stars and some pics from the shoot. “these past few months have been so, so unimaginably special. i love my Fockers, and i love my Byrnes… so, so very much. i will miss this bunch terribly. see you next november!” Grande wrote on on Oct. 31 in a post that featured her pointing to a nameplate with her character’s name (Olivia Jones) and hugging Stiller.
Fockers-in-Law, which also stars returning cast members Robert De Niro, Teri Polo and Blythe Danner, will be in theaters on Nov. 25, 2026.
Watch Stiller talk working with Grande on The Tonight Show below.
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The life and career of 13-time Grammy winner Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds will take center stage in a documentary that’s now in production and backed by HarbourView Equity Partners. Helming the documentary are Emmy-nominated director Chris Moukarbel (Gaga: Five Foot Two, Cypher) and Kenya Barris (black-ish, grown-ish).
According to a press release announcing the project, the documentary will feature Babyface during in-depth interviews talking about the triumphs and challenges he’s encountered in the music industry, his songwriting and production process and his star-filled list of collaborators over the years such as Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Beyoncé, Eric Clapton, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men and SZA. As such, the documentary will also feature interviews with many of Babyface’s key collaborators as well as behind-the-scenes and concert footage of his upcoming shows at The Palms in Las Vegas.
The documentary will also encompass his trajectory as a co-founder of Atlanta-based LaFace Records with Antonio “L.A.” Reid in the ‘90s and early 2000s. In addition to Braxton, the storied label’s roster included OutKast, Usher, TLC, P!nk and Ciara.
“I’ve often wondered how an unassuming kid from Indianapolis got to where he is today, working with artists and achieving dreams I could’ve never imagined when I first started,” commented Babyface in the press release. “This documentary is giving me a chance to go down memory lane with a fine-tooth comb, reexamining the highs and lows of my life and career. I’m discovering where all the songs really came from — and perhaps just as important, the how and why.”
That “unassuming kid” went on to write and produce seminal film soundtracks and songs as well. Those credits include The Bodyguard, Boomerang, Soul Food and Waiting to Exhale — the latter of which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. He also produced “When You Believe,” the Academy Award-winning duet between Houston and Carey from the animated film The Prince of Egypt. Beyond his 13 Grammy Awards. the prolific music man is a seven-time BMI pop songwriter of the year honoree. He also counts 16 No. 1 pop singles, 45 No. 1 R&B singles and 125 top 10 hits per the Billboard charts.
“Babyface and his music has always been part of the soundtrack of my life,” said director Moukarbel. “His imprint on the music world is massive and I feel really honored to be even a small part in sharing his story through directing this film.
Sherrese Clarke, founder/CEO of HarbourView Equity Partners, said, “We’re passionate about investing in stories and creators who’ve shaped culture in lasting ways. Babyface’s influence on music and artistry is immeasurable — his songs have defined generations. We’re proud to support this project celebrating his genius, legacy and the emotional honesty behind his work.”
Describing Babyface as “one of one — a culture-defining hitmaker whose impact cannot be denied or overstated,” Barris added, “We’re honored to be a part of telling his story and grateful that we’re teaming with Harbourview, a company that understands the importance of investing in culture and storytelling like this, to do so. I hope this project not only spotlights Babyface’s remarkable career but also gives people a glimpse into the man behind the musical genius, who just might be one of the funniest motherfuckers I’ve ever met.”
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KATSEYE is learning that some parts of fame can be really gnarly — and not in a good way.
In a conversation with BBC News posted Wednesday (Nov. 12), the girl group opened up about the high volume of hate — and sometimes death threats — they’ve received since debuting in 2024. “I think as time goes on and on, the stakes just get higher and higher, and the pressure from 360 all sides becomes more heavy and intense,” said member Lara Raj. “I’m like, ‘It doesn’t matter, and what people say doesn’t matter,’ but we’re humans.”
“And if 1,000 people are, like, sending you death threats, it’s jarring,” Lara continued. “Even if it’s not gonna happen, and it doesn’t mean anything, it’s heavy, and it’s jarring.”
When interviewer Mark Savage responded with surprise that the ladies had already faced such intense negativity so early on in their careers, member Sophia Laforteza confirmed that even their families and friends have had to put up with online hate and attacks. “We’ve gotten a lot of things already said to us, about us, to our families,” she said.
“It’s something that we know we signed up for, being so public and just being out there for people to … they know so much about [us], and it’s a part of our job,” Sophia added as bandmates Daniela, Manon, Megan and Yoonchae nodded. “We know it’s a part of fame. But it doesn’t change the fact that we are human.”
Fortunately, the group members agreed that it’s nice to have each other to lean on when things get tough, as they all already know everyone in the band knows how it feels.
The interview comes as KATSEYE’s fame is exploding in 2025, with the sextet recently nabbing a best new artist Grammy nomination ahead of next year’s awards. In an interview with Billboard about the honors, Megan said, “With any award or nomination, it means so much to us because we work so, so hard … So, it’s like all of the hard work, those long hours and all the dedication are really paying off.”
The nomination comes less than two years after KATSEYE released its debut single, “Debut,” in 2024 after forming the year prior on the competition series Dream Academy. The band scored its first-ever Billboard Hot 100 hit in May when “Gnarly” made its entrance on the chart, and this fall, the ladies reached the top 40 with “Gabriela,” which also scored a Grammy nod for best pop duo/group performance.
Watch KATSEYE’s full sit-down with BBC News above.
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New Kids on the Block are ready to spend the next year in a committed relationship with Las Vegas, ’til death 2026 do them part.
On Wednesday (Nov. 12), the veteran boy band — made up of Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight and Danny Wood — headed to Las Vegas’ Little White Wedding Chapel to “recommit” to Sin City for 16 new dates of “The Right Stuff,” their debut Vegas residency, bringing their grand total of 2026 shows to 24. Clark County Commission chairman Tick Segerblom also gave NKOTB the keys to the Las Vegas Strip, so it sounds like they’re officially moving in to their new home of Dolby Live at Park MGM for the next year.
After kicking off the residency back in June, New Kids will have three more shows this week (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) before returning for previously announced February concerts starting on Valentine’s Day and continuing with the brand-new dates in June, July and October.
“What we’ve built here in Vegas, together with our incredible Blockheads, feels truly magical,” Wahlberg said in a statement announcing the news. “The energy in that room each night — the lights, the lasers, flying up to the balcony to see all our Blockheads dancing and singing along — is so far beyond anything we’ve ever done before. Vegas has been so welcoming to us, we couldn’t leave just yet! We are having the absolute best time and are so excited and honored to be asked to extend our stay here at the Dolby through 2026.”
To get tickets to the newly announced shows, Fan Club pre-sale starts Monday at 10 a.m. PT, while Citi cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets starting Monday at noon PT through the Citi Entertainment program. Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers will have access to a pre-sale starting Tuesday at 10 a.m. PT, while members of MGM Rewards will receive access to a pre-sale starting Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. PT. All pre-sales end Nov. 20 at 10 p.m. PT before the on-sale begins Nov. 21 at 10 a.m. PT.
A limited number of tickets for all previously announced performances are on sale now as well.
In addition to Wednesday’s quickie Vegas wedding, “The Right Stuff” residency also includes a different set of marriage vows each night: between the band and their fans. “Do you, New Kids, take these Blockheads to be your forever fans, so long as we both shall live?” Wahlberg asked his bandmates during the residency’s June 20 debut, to which they all responded: “I do.”
“Do you, Blockheads, take these New Kids to be your forever boy band, forsaking all other boy bands — that means *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, O-Town, One Direction, all of them — so long as we both shall live?” Wahlberg cheekily asked the screaming crowd, who clearly had no trouble abandoning all those other groups to commit to New Kids on the Block once and for all.
See the full “Right Stuff” residency dates below:
Trending on Billboard Just a few days after earning her second career Grammy nomination — best African music performance for “Push 2 Start” — Tyla called upon her pop music foremothers to launch her We Wanna Party at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on Tuesday (Nov. 11). Mounted in support of July’s WWP EP, the We Wanna […]
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Herb Alpert says he’s returned to holiday music as another thing to do — and for all the right reasons.
“I just like making music,” says the iconic trumpeter, composer and record company executive, who delivered Christmas Time Is Here, his third holiday set, on Nov. 7. “That’s what I do to stay healthy. I like to record, and if I can find a song that haunts me for some reason and do it in a way that’s different, that people haven’t heard before…that’s what I like to do. I picked out a bunch of songs, and even though I’ve recorded a couple of these songs before I felt I could put another spin on them.”
Holiday albums have certainly been good for Alpert during his 67-year recording career, which has put him in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and earned him a National Medal of Arts. Alpert’s first seasonal effort, Christmas Album in 1968, went gold, per the RIAA; 2017’s The Christmas Wish hit No. 2 on the Jazz Albums chart and No. 5 on the Top Holiday Albums chart.
“They sell every year,” Alpert notes. “You put ’em to rest for 11 months and they come back like they’re almost fresh. They’re good songs, and when you pick good songs, I think people appreciate that.”
Alpert tried a few different things with some of the 12 tracks on Christmas Time Is Here. Particularly notable is his new cover version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein standard “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music, which Alpert kept melodically faithful within a revamped arrangement. “I always liked that melody,” he explains. “It’s written in 3/4, like in a waltz time. I found a way to do in 4/4 that seemed like it fit the song. There’s been so many recordings of (the song), but this one certainly doesn’t sound like something that’s been overplayed.” Alpert, who’s joined by keyboardist Jeff Lorber on several of the songs, also lent a New Orleans flavor to the staple “Jingle Bells” and incorporates some vocals into the mostly instrumental set on tracks such as “Sleigh Ride” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
“It takes relaxation and not thinking too hard,” he says of the process. “I’m not trying to make a hit record that’s going to sell a zillion copies. I’m just trying to make something that feels good to me. I’m always looking for that. That’s my goal, to make music that feels good. So when I hit on a type of arrangement just felt right, felt interesting, that’s when I felt like (the songs) deserved to be done again.”
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” is the most contemporary selection on the set but one that’s certainly been on Alpert’s radar since its 1994 release. “I always thought it was a really good song, good melody, nice lyric — it didn’t surprise me that record of hers did so well,” he says of the perennial Billboard Hot 100 topper. “It’s always melody first; like Quincy Jones once said, you can take the greatest singer in the world, and if the song’s not there the record won’t be any good.”
Christmas Time Is Here comes in the midst of a variety of celebrations for Alpert during the past year-plus. During September of 2024 he released 50, his — wait for it — 50th studio album. This year, meanwhile, he turned 90 (on March 31) and has been commemorating the 60th anniversary of his breakthrough Whipped Cream & Other Delights — his first of five No. 1s on the Billboard 200 — by touring with a reconstituted Tijuana Brass, which hit the road again Nov. 9 with dates booked into next summer.
“It’s this new renaissance; I can’t believe what’s happening,” Alpert says. “I’m 90 years old and I’ve got this audience that wants to hear music that I did 60 years ago. I’m doing it for the right reasons; it’s something I have to do. It gives me energy; It gives me a reason to be. I like it, and I get a chance to make a lot of people happy. That seems like a good deal. I didn’t expect this to be happening at my present age.”
There’s more to come, he says. Alpert is planning to release a live album from the tour, though no release date has been determined. Meanwhile, he adds, “I’ve got a whole bunch of songs that are ready to be released,” again without a firm plan yet, and he’s confident there will be even more after that.
“That’s what I love to do,” he says. “I love to record. I love to work. I have a Logic (recording) system, and it keeps my brain working. I play the horn just about every day of my life. I’m a right-brain guy — I paint and sculpt and blow the horn. I’ve got this gift, and I love that I get to share it with people.”
Trending on Billboard The Devil Wears Prada is officially back in vogue, with the first teaser for the film’s long-awaited sequel arriving Wednesday (Nov. 12) featuring a perfect song sync from Madonna. In the 50-second clip, viewers are transported back to the fictional Runway magazine office in New York City as the one and only […]
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There’s a reason Little Monsters call Lady Gaga “mother.” At a recent show on her Mayhem Ball tour, the superstar stopped mid-song and paused her performance for several minutes to help care for a fan in need of medical attention and water.
In a video shared to X pegging the moment to Gaga’s Tuesday (Nov. 11) concert in Antwerp, Belgium, the hitmaker sits at her piano while belting out a stripped-back version of “The Edge of Glory.” After hearing fans in the crowd cry for help, however, she immediately called for a time-out.
“Stop, stop, stop. Is everyone OK?” she says in the clip, instructing the crowd to keep quiet while directing crew members to get water. “Just wait one second everyone. If everyone could wait patiently, just so we can make sure they’re OK.”
“Let’s get her backstage and take care of her backstage,” Gaga continues in reference to the fan in need, causing a few surprised murmurs from others in the audience. “If everyone could just stay quiet for a moment please, thank you.”
As the struggling concertgoer was shepherded away, the 14-time Grammy winner called after her, “I hope you feel better.”
Promptly jumping back into her performance of “Edge of Glory” on piano, Gaga added between lyrics, “There’s a lot that’s more important than show business.”
The Antwerp concert comes toward the end of Mother Monster’s run of European shows on her Mayhem Ball trek. After a handful of performances in France, she’ll close out 2025 with an Australian leg.
Next year, Gaga will take the tour through Japan before doing one last victory lap through the United States and Canada in February, March and April.
The show follows on the heels of the Grammys unveiling its list of 2026 nominees, on which Gaga’s name appears quite a bit. The icon picked up a total of seven nods, coming second only to Kendrick Lamar, who scored nine. Among them are song and record of the year for “Abracadabra,” while her Billboard 200-topping album Mayhem is up for album of the year.
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Meghan Trainor isn’t playing around with haters anymore. On Wednesday (Nov. 12), the hitmaker announced her new album, Toy With Me, and shared the project’s first single — “Still Don’t Care,” which she wrote for “anyone who’s ever felt judged.”
On Instagram, Trainor revealed that her seventh studio album will arrive April 24 of next year and shared the project’s pink, Barbie doll-inspired cover. The LP will feature a total of 16 tracks, including “Still Don’t Care,” which the singer described in a statement shared with Billboard as “bold, fun, a little cheeky and full of confidence.”
“This song came from a place of growth for me,” she continued. “I’m learning to shake off negativity, choosing joy, and living life my way — because at this point in my life and career, I’m ready to be done worrying about pleasing everyone. ‘Still Don’t Care’ is my reminder to myself — and to anyone who’s ever felt judged.”
Trainor also shared Wednesday that she’ll be embarking on a 2026 tour with Icona Pop in support of Toy With Me. The trek will kick off June 12 in Clarkstown, Mich., and — following stops in New York, Chicago, Boston and more cities — end Aug. 15 with a show in Los Angeles.
“Toy With Me feels like the most honest and fearless I’ve ever been — it’s all about self-confidence, freedom and learning how to meet people where they are at,” Trainor added in her statement. “I wanted to kick off this new chapter with a song that makes people feel unstoppable, and I can’t wait to bring that same energy to everyone on The Get In Girl Tour next summer.”
Trainor’s next venture will arrive about two years after the release of her last album, Timeless, which reached No. 27 on the Billboard 200. All six of her full-lengths have charted on the U.S. albums ranking, including debut album Title, which debuted at No. 1 in 2015.
This past March, Billboard honored Trainor with the 2025 Hitmaker Award at the annual Women in Music event.
Check out Trainor’s album announcement and listen to “Still Don’t Care” below.
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Adele is slated to make her acting debut in the upcoming Tom Ford adaptation of Anne Rice’s 1982 novel Cry to Heaven. According to Deadline, Adele, 37, will join the star-studded cast of the movie that will also be written and produced by Ford through his Fade to Black production shingle.
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Among those reportedly lined up to feature in the film set in 18th century Italy are: Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Ciarán Hinds, George MacKay, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, Paul Bettany, Owen Cooper, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Hunter Schafer, Josephine Thiesen, Thandiwe Newton, Theodore Pellerin, Daryl McCormack, Cassian Bilton, Hauk Hannemann and Lux Pascal.
The film is reportedly in pre-production in London and Rome now, with principal photography set to begin in mid-January for a planned late fall 2026 release. At press time a spokesperson for Adele had not returned Billboard‘s request for confirmation on her debut film role.
The singer known for going off the radar between albums, has been quiet since completing her massive Weekends with Adele residency series in Munich, Germany in August 2024. Her most recent album was her fourth LP, 2021’s 30, which featured the songs “Easy On Me,” “Oh My God,” “Can I Get It” and “I Drink Wine.”
The Rice novel tells the tale of a Venetian nobleman and a castrati singer from Calabria who are both trying to make their names in the opera world. Director and fashion designer Ford has directed two other films to date, beginning with his debut, 2009’s period romance A Single Man about a gay British professor (Colin Firth) living in Los Angeles in the early 1960s.
He followed that with the acclaimed 2016 neo-noir thriller Nocturnal Animals starring Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Taylor-Johnson, Isla Fisher, Armie Hammer, Laura Linney and others in a story about an art gallery owner (Adams) who receives a manuscript for a novel written by her estranged ex-husband (Gyllenhaal) which appears to mirror their failed relationship. The latter won the 2016 Grand Jury prize at the Venice Film Festival and landed an Oscar nomination for Shannon for best supporting actor.
