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Yes, baby, Madison Beer has announced the release date for her upcoming album, Locket, which will arrive in January 2026.
Beer made the news official via Instagram on Wednesday (Oct. 22), while also revealing the project’s cover art, which finds the pop star holding a golden heart-shaped locket.
Locket is slated to be released on Jan. 16 via Epic Records, and Beer shared that she’s never been “so proud” or “excited” about a project in her career.
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“Locket , my new album , will be yours 1.16 you can preorder it now – link is in my bio (♡ ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈ ) !!!!!!!! i really can’t believe i am saying this,” she captioned her post. “This album means the world to me, i’ve never been so proud or excited about something n i am soooooo beyond excited for you to listen :’)) this project is my world locket 1.16 !!!”
The artist also said in a press release, “After writing the album, it feels like each song lives within this metaphorical locket for safekeeping. Each album feels like an era and once the albums are out in the world the chapter for me, usually with what I wrote about, is closed.”
The 26-year-old set the table for the album with a trio of singles: “Yes Baby,” “Bittersweet” and “Make You Mine.”
Beer released a self-directed visual for the airy “Bittersweet” on Monday (Oct. 20), which finds her evading paparazzi and arguing with The Summer I Turned Pretty star Sean Kaufman.
“I think the album has such duality — there are songs that are upbeat but still emotional,” she told Vogue of Locket in an interview also published Oct. 22. “It’s a real roller coaster.”
It’s been a fun month for Beer. She made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut Oct. 15 in Brooklyn, where she sported wings and performed tracks such as the aforementioned “Bittersweet” and “Make You Mine” during the show.
Beer’s last album, Silence Between Songs, arrived in September 2023 and reached No. 86 on the Billboard 200. The dreamy pop project was also nominated for best immersive audio album at the Grammy Awards.
Find the Locket cover art below.
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Last week, Billboard’s R&B/hip-hop team shared our nominee predictions in three of the five R&B categories for the 68th annual Grammy Awards: best R&B performance, best traditional R&B performance and best R&B song. Here, we’re going to forecast which projects are most likely to make the cut in the best R&B album category.
Recent best R&B album winners include Jazmine Sullivan (Heaux Tales, 2022), Robert Glasper (Black Radio III, 2023), Victoria Monét (Jaguar II, 2024) and Chris Brown (11:11 [Deluxe], 2025). Before we predict the five nominees for the 2026 Grammy derby, which will be presented Feb. 1, here’s a quick refresher regarding the Recording Academy’s category definition for best R&B album.
It’s been four years since the Grammys’ best contemporary R&B album category was discontinued and its name changed to best R&B album. The revamped category brought together albums featuring infusions of contemporary hip-hop and those featuring more traditional R&B leanings under one roof. According to the academy’s current rulebook, best R&B album — vocal or instrumental — “recognizes artistic excellence in albums of R&B music.”
This year’s crop of R&B albums represents a diverse range of styles, long-anticipated returns and breakthroughs by a mix of established and rising stars — including several prior Grammy winners and nominees.
Among the long-anticipated returns is that of Teyana Taylor. Winning raves for her role in the Leonardo DiCaprio thriller One Battle After Another, she elicited strong buzz this summer for her BET Awards performance of “Fire Girl” and “Long Time.” Those songs plus the single “Bed of Roses” are from her anticipated first new album in five years Escape Room.
Another long-awaited moment arrived this year with the release of Justin Bieber’s seventh studio album SWAG. While one of its notable tracks, “Yukon,” is entered in the R&B category, the album is instead among the pop vocal album entries. This calls to mind the 2020 Grammys when Bieber questioned his Changes album being placed in the pop category versus R&B.
On the breakthrough front, one of this year’s heralded arrivals was Ravyn Lenae with the R&B/pop crossover lead single “Love Me Not,” alongside another popular track “Love Is Blind” — both from her critically acclaimed sophomore set Bird’s Eye. Her album, however, isn’t eligible for a nod as it was released Aug. 9, 2024, and the eligibility period for the 68th annual Grammys was Aug. 31, 2024-Aug. 30, 2025.
Additional artists who received attention this year include Alex Isley (WHEN), Thee Sacred Souls (Got a Story to Tell) and Eric Benét (The Co-Star).
So now let’s have a drumroll, please, as we share our fearless forecast of who will comprise the five slots when the best R&B album nominations are revealed on Nov. 7.
Leon Thomas, Mutt
Cavin Yarbrough, half of the 1980s R&B duo Yarbrough & Peoples, has died at the age of 72. The singer-musician-producer passed away on Thursday (June 19) owing to complications from heart disease. “He was the love of my life, my protector. Now he’s my guardian angel,” Yarbrough’s wife and longtime music partner, Alisa Peoples, said […]
A federal judge has rejected R. Kelly’s emergency request to be let out of prison due to an alleged jailhouse murder plot against the disgraced R&B star, who’s serving more than 30 years for multiple sex crime convictions.
Kelly’s attorney, Beau Brindley, has been petitioning a Chicago court for Kelly’s release since last week, saying prison guards are trying to have the singer (Robert Sylvester Kelly) killed to stop him from uncovering prosecutorial misconduct in his case. Brindley claims jail officials attempted to solicit a fellow inmate to carry out the hit, and that when that didn’t work, they fed Kelly an overdose quantity of sleeping pills and denied him medically-necessary surgery for blood clots.
Prosecutors have dismissed the allegations as a “fanciful conspiracy” and “deeply unserious.” Judge Martha M. Pacold denied the bid for release on Thursday (June 19) without addressing its merits, saying such a request must be brought as a civil rights lawsuit or habeas corpus petition in North Carolina, where Kelly is imprisoned.
“Jurisdictional limitations must be respected even where, as here, a litigant claims that the circumstances are extraordinary,” wrote the judge.
Judge Pacold issued her decision ahead of a hearing that had been set for Friday (June 20), canceling the court date after seemingly learning all she needed to know from voluminous court papers that have been filed on the issue.
In a statement shared with Billboard on Thursday, Brindley said his team is “not surprised by this ruling as we knew that technical jurisdiction would be a challenge under these circumstances.”
“However, we had no choice but to act immediately given explicit evidence of a threat to Robert Kelly’s life,” Brindley added.
On Friday (June 20), Brindley tried another avenue to convince the Chicago judge to release Kelly: filing a motion for a new trial and asking for emergency bail in the meantime.
The Friday motion reiterates Brindley’s previous allegations that prosecutors unlawfully pressured a witness to testify against Kelly and intercepted Kelly’s communications with his lawyers ahead of his federal trial in Chicago.
“If someone dies in prison, it seems commonplace,” writes Brindley. “With that in mind, it becomes easy to understand how the people who committed this corruption and those that helped cover it up would rather kill a disgraced inmate convicted of sex crimes than face consequences that could ruin their lives and careers.”
The motion repeatedly notes that President Donald Trump is prioritizing rooting out corruption in the justice system. Brindley has publicly asked Trump to pardon Kelly in conjunction with the jailhouse murder plot claims.
A spokesperson for prosecutors did not immediately return a request for comment on Friday.
Kelly was convicted in Chicago of child pornography and enticing minors for sex in 2022, one year after a separate federal jury in New York also found the singer guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking
The former R&B star was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the New York conviction and 20 years in the Chicago case, though all but one year of the second sentence will overlap with the first. Both convictions have been upheld on appeal.
Erykah Badu and The Alchemist are really making an album together, and their first single is finally here. Badu and the West Coast producer dropped their new song “Next to You” at midnight after she performed Badu Presents: Echos 19 in her hometown of Dallas as part of Forever in Rotation, Amazon Music’s Juneteenth celebration. […]
SZA might be extraordinarily busy as she prepares to head overseas with her and Kendrick Lamar‘s Grand National Tour — but that didn’t stop her from swooping in for a quick recording session with her friend Lizzo.
In a series of posts to her Instagram Stories early Friday (June 20), SZA teased fans with a forthcoming collaboration between her and the “Juice” singer. What started as a glimpse of Lizzo’s own new music in the video, the “Luther” singer started sharing clips of her voice playing alongside Lizzo’s in the background. “Working on a guest star for bookie @lizzobeeating’s new mixtape,” SZA wrote in one caption, while calling their link-up a “lil after-dinner session” in another.
Back in March, Lizzo announced that she was officially “done” preparing her new album Love in Real Life, adding that she “got an emergency root canal, announced SNL & finished my album all in one day.” While it’s unclear whether Love in Real Life is the “mixtape” SZA referred to in her post, the album has yet to receive an official release date.
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Earlier this week, SZA opened up to Chappell Roan about her friendship with Lizzo during a conversation for Interview Magazine. Speaking about the first time she and the “About Damn Time” singer met, SZA praised the “organic and very random” connection they immediately shared. “One day, we were on the same tour, and I was like, ‘We’re about to drive out to Lake Michigan, do you want to come?’ And she was like, ‘Yeah, let’s go,’” SZA recalled. “And then we just got drunk and hung out, and we kept doing that, and then our lives and careers progressed, and we kept talking and hanging out.”
The new song wouldn’t be the first time the pair have worked together, either. Back in 2023, SZA appeared on a revamped version of Lizzo’s 2022 hit “Special.” In May, Lizzo even crashed the stage during SZA and Lamar’s tour stop in Los Angeles to perform the track with her on stage.
The news comes after SZA and her co-headliner Lamar wrap the first leg of their 2025 Grand National Tour. Starting in July, the pair will begin performances across Europe — including shows in Paris, London, Barcelona and Rome — and close out their headline-making run with a set of shows in Australia this December.
When JayDon springs into the Billboard offices in late May, there’s an unmistakable bounce in his step. At just 17, the wiry triple-threat appears taller than expected — his spry frame helping explain the explosive dance moves that have the R&B world buzzing. As soon as the elevator doors part, he launches into performance mode. With no mic and zero hesitation, he starts crooning with such clarity and control that his voice slices through the office walls, prompting staffers to pop their heads out and ask, “Who’s that?”
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That kind of chutzpah is what landed JayDon a coveted spot with Mega, the newly minted label helmed by L.A. Reid and Usher.
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“Being with Mega — L.A. Reid, Usher, and that whole camp — helped me develop as an artist substantially,” JayDon tells Billboard weeks later during his June Rookie of the Month interview. “I’ve learned the ins and outs of stardom — what to look for, what to pay attention to, and studio etiquette. That was my first time being in the studio every day, back-to-back-to-back for months. Like six months straight. Twelve to fifteen hours a day. From two to four A.M., just singing a lot of songs.”
Now, JayDon has the R&B sphere abuzz with his undeniable skill set. Drenched in ’90s and early-2000s R&B nostalgia, tracks like “I’ll Be Good” and “Lullaby” have both Gen Z fans and millennials swooning. And when he’s not melting hearts with buttery vocals, it’s his hypnotic dance moves — reminiscent of a young Chris Brown or Omarion — that are filling timelines and turning heads.
“I still want to be authentic and brand new at the same time,” he says. “As I keep going forward, I can’t stop. I want to be the best version of me –and keep doing what I’ve always dreamed of doing.”
Today (June 20), JayDon keeps the momentum going with the release of “Bougie Baby,” a fast-paced collaboration with social media standout Zeddy Will. The track marks a stylistic shift, showcasing Jaydon’s ability to push the tempo without losing his soulful edge.
Check out our conversation with June’s R&B Rookie of the Month, JayDon, below.
Do you remember when you wrote your first song?
On the writing side, I was 12 years old. I really got into it 12, 13. The summer of last year, I ended up being with Mega and working with different writers — being in the studio everyday. That’s what got my pen working. [The first song I wrote] was called “Text You.” Shout-out my cousin Chuck Heat. He’s a producer, writer, overall musician — dope.
My own family does music. I got a beat from Chuck Heat and you know, I been recording music since I was eight years old, but this was my first time actually sitting down by myself with my phone. I used to write in my notebook — I have it somewhere — and I wrote the whole song. I was inspired by by [starts singing “Girlfriend” by Heavyweight]. I wanted to make a song like that or [starts singing “Jennifer” by Trinidad Cardona]. This was 2020 and that’s when the songs were resurfacing. I wanted a song like that. Real R&B smooth. It’s actually dope. I still listen to it to this day.
When did your family first discover that you had a talent for music?
About six years old. I was already dancing. My family doesn’t really dance. My grandpa taught me how to do Michael Jackson [moves] and everything like that. Him and my Uncle Robert. They showed me a little bit of how to dance. That was kind of it. Around that time, I was learning how to dance like Chris Brown. I was teaching myself things. They saw that I really wanted it. That’s what it was. They were already molding me to be a singer and a musician because I already had music around me. It’s a family thing, but when it comes to the entertainment, that’s when they were like, “He wants it.”
You’re morphing into this incredible triple-threat in real-time with being a singer, dancer and actor. How would you rank your talents from top-to-bottom?
My talents? What would I rank from top-to-bottom [laughs]? Why can’t they all just be at the top?
I’m not mad at that. Talk your sh-t.
Right now, I’m dialed in on the music. So, of course, that’s my forefront, but I’m an entertainer and artist of all realms.
Cats from your generation don’t dance like how they used to back in my day. How important was it for you to incorporate the choreography into what you’re doing on the music side, especially in something like your “I’ll Be Good” music video?
Man, I just want to show what I’m already am: dancing, being fun and doing it all in a way that I love. Every with all the movies that I’ve been in, I’ve been able to dance and sing or [solely] sing in ’em. So I love tying everything into one knot and definitely being able to show that in “I’ll Be Good” was the goal.
The video was giving Step Up and Save The Last Dance vibes with how heavily involved the dancing elements were. Was that intentional?
Absolutely! With all my videos, I wanna do something different.
Whether it’s “I’ll Be Good” or “Lullaby,” your music has some ’90s and ’00s influence to it. How important was it sonically to include that kind of music into your foundation?
It’s already an authentic thing for me. There’s some other artists that I’ve seen out here trying to purposefully attach their name to that like, “I’m a ’90s R&B artist from today.” They’re trying to do that. That’s definitely a piece of my music and what I want to bring to the table, but that’s just who I am. I feel like if you put me back in time, I’d belong there. It’s a natural thing for me.
The first comment I saw when watching “I’ll Be Good” was along the lines of “this guy is a fusion of Chris Brown, Mario and Omarion.” As you continue to build your artistry, how often do you look into some of your R&B heroes and try to infuse them into your style?
I’m not gonna act like I’m not inspired, man. I’m inspired by so many different artists, different times. From back in the day to old school R&B to the founders of it like Sam Cooke and Donnie Hathaway to all the way to Chris Brown, Usher and Miguel. Different artists, man. I love to study. I definitely take pieces from everybody. So if you see a move and it looks like it was for Chris Brown, it probably was.
“I’ll Be Good” samples Usher’s “How Do I Say.” Was there hesitation on your end to sample a record like that knowing that your boss made it?
Man, shout-out Sweata. He produced the track and everything. He wrote it with me. Great, amazing writer. Y’all go check him out. He’s also signed to Mega. It just felt right for that type of vibe that we was on that day being in the studio. We just wanted to capture something [good]. It was actually his idea. He came to me with the track and played it for me and everything. He said, ‘Let’s go for this feel’ and we wrote it together. It definitely combined well.
What was Usher’s reaction to the record when he first heard it?
He loved it, man. I never played it for him in person, but I’ve seen some of his reactions. I’ve talked to him and everything. He loves it and I appreciate him for blessing me with the sample.
Let’s pivot to the acting. You were in The Paynes and played Simba in the Lion King. How did acting better prepare you for the music world?
[Learning] to be comfortable in front of a camera. Definitely that. Being able to connect and when you’re shooting music videos or preparing yourself for that. Being an actor and having experience with that, it definitely helps to put that emotion in your face and show what you’re singing about. I feel like I’m already a little developed there.
We’re seeing a lot more double-threats from the acting and music side like Coco Jones and Chloe Bailey. Do you plan to further pursue acting as you continue to step into music?
Absolutely. Right now, my launch pad and my focus is on the music and everything that I have coming forward. It’s definitely that, but I’ll never let go of acting, man. I really want to pick it up [again]. I don’t wanna put no time-stamp or limitations, but I love acting, man. If the role is right, if the time is right, I’ll be there.
You have a great relationship with your dad. How do you maintain that father-son bond and keep it sacred without stardom getting in the way?
Man, you trying to hype my head up. I ain’t even famous like that yet. [Laughs.]
I know you go outside and the girls see you.
I do get spotted, though. That’s really the crazy part. When I was in New York, there was a bunch of people [coming up to me]. But the relationship between me and my dad, it’s more brotherly, honestly. That’s my dog. Whatever I go through, he’s gonna understand me. He wants to see me win. There’s nothing that’s going to come between us.
Do we have a tape dropping?
The tape is coming. Got an EP on the way. Y’all keep y’all eyes peeled.
Do we have a name and date?
I’m thinking Me, My Songs and I. I wanna name my album Jaydon. When I come with an album, I do want it to be self-titled. This one, I think it just represents what it is: It’s Me, My Songs and I. It’s my spirit in music.
LONDON — Chris Brown appeared in a London court on Friday (June 20) to plead not guilty to a charge of serious assault. The Grammy Award-winning singer is facing multiple charges in relation to an alleged physical dispute with a music producer. The alleged incident took place in a nightclub in Mayfair, London in February […]
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis will receive the Vanguard Award at The Guitar Center Music Foundation’s fourth annual Gala and Benefit Concert, which will take place on Sept. 11 at The Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. The pair, who have written and produced dozens of hits for such artists as Janet Jackson and Mariah […]
Muni Long is set to perform at Megan Thee Stallion’s inaugural Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala in New York City next month. The gala is scheduled for July 16 at Gotham Hall in the Big Apple, as the Houston rapper took it upon herself to completely organize the inaugural event. Taraji P. Henson will play […]
