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Jack Black reimagined a classic My Chemical Romance track in a hilarious sketch on Saturday Night Live.
While hosting the iconic sketch comedy show on April 5, the actor and comedian channeled MCR frontman Gerard Way by performing a reggae parody of the band’s 2006 hit “Welcome to the Black Parade.”
The nearly three-minute sketch, titled “Goth Kid on Vacation,” features SNL cast members Kenan Thompson and Ego Nwodim as members of a Jamaican reggae band who cope with their own pain by laughing at goth kids vacationing on their island.
“When there is war and struggle and pain/ How do we fill our souls with joy again?” the duo sings before adding, “We look and we laugh at goth kid on vacation.”
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The camera then cuts to a stereotypical goth teenager (played by Michael Longfellow) dressed in all black with a classic emo hairstyle. He’s shown playing Magic: The Gathering from his hotel balcony, walking the beach in a heavy black leather jacket and combat boots, and belting in frustration after getting hit with a beach ball while painting his nails black.
Halfway through the pre-recorded skit, a long-haired Black joins the scene with a backing band, adding a reggae twist and reimagining the lyrics to My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade,” which reached reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2007.
“When I was a young boy, my parents took me down to Jamaica for my high school spring break,” Black sings, wearing an outfit reminiscent of Way’s goth-inspired look from the music video. “They said come to the pool, but I stayed in the room with my graphic novels so I could mastur—-.”
Saturday’s episode also featured musical guests Elton John and Brandi Carlile, who performed a pair of songs from their new collaborative album, Who Believes in Angels? Check out their performances of “Little Richard’s Bible” and the project’s title track here.
Watch SNL‘s “God Kid on Vacation” sketch below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
Elton John and Brandi Carlile paid a visit to Studio 8H to perform a pair of songs from their new collaborative album.
The longtime friends appeared as the musical guests on Saturday Night Live on April 5, with Jack Black taking on hosting duties.
Set against a starry, neon-lit backdrop with their names emblazoned on the walls, the duo opened with the rocking, 1950s-inspired “Little Richard’s Bible,” with John on piano and Carlile on guitar. Later in the episode, they returned for an inspiring performance of the title track from their new album, Who Believes in Angels?
John and Carlile wrote and created the album alongside John’s long-time co-writer Bernie Taupin and producer Andrew Watt. Who Believes in Angels?, which dropped on April 4, features previously released singles “Swing for the Fences,” “Never Too Late” and the title track.
“As my Farewell tour came to an end, I knew I wanted to make a new album with Brandi, I wanted to shift gears and do something different from anything I’d done before,” John previously told Billboard of the project. “I have always found Brandi so inspiring, our friendship was so close, and I just had the instinct that we could produce something really amazing.”
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The iconic musician added, “Creating Who Believes in Angels? was challenging, and I had a lot of self-doubt, but alongside Bernie Taupin and Andrew Watt, we ended up writing 10 songs in 20 days and it was one of the most joyous and exhilarating experiences I’ve ever had in my life.”
This marked John’s first time back on SNL in more than a decade. He last appeared on the sketch comedy show in 2011, when he pulled double duty as both host and musical guest. Prior to that, he made his SNL debut in 1982. Meanwhile, Saturday marked Carlile’s third appearance on the late-night show.
It’s a busy weekend for both musicians. In addition to their SNL appearance, they will also host a one-hour concert special celebrating the new album. An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile will air on CBS on Sunday (April 6), featuring live performances, stories about the duo’s friendship, and an intimate look at the making of their new album.
Watch John and Carlile’s SNL performances below. For those without cable, the broadcast streams on Peacock, which you can sign up for at the link here. Having a Peacock account also gives fans access to previous SNL episodes.
Ed Sheeran and Weezer were two previously unannounced acts spotted on the 2025 Coachella lineup when set times for the this year’s festival were posted on Saturday (April 5). They’ll each pop in for a one-day, daytime set. Weezer will play the Mojave tent on Saturday afternoon (3:10-3:55 p.m.) on April 12, during the festival’s […]
Elton John is sharing a heartbreaking update about his vision.
During a visit to Good Morning America late last year, the 78-year-old rock legend revealed that he lost the ability to see in his right eye after suffering from an eye infection that summer.
In a new interview with The Times of London, published Friday (April 4), Sir Elton got even more candid about his eyesight problems.
“I can see you, but I can’t see TV, I can’t read,” the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame icon said. “I can’t see my boys playing rugby and soccer, and it has been a very stressful time because I’m used to soaking it all up.”
John, who shares sons Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12, with his husband, David Furnish, described the situation as “distressing.”
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“You get emotional, but you have to get used to it because I’m lucky to have the life I have,” the iconic artist said. “I still have my wonderful family, and I can still see something out of [my left eye]. So you say to yourself, ‘Just get on with it.’”
While appearing on Good Morning America in November 2024, John revealed that he contracted the eye infection while in the South of France. “It’s been four months since I haven’t been able to see, and my left eye’s not the greatest. I’m, kind of, stuck in the moment,” he told ABC News’ Robin Roberts at the time.
The hitmaker also shared that his eye issues could impact his ability to make new music.
“I can’t see a lyric, for start. We’re taking an initiative to try and get it better, but at the moment, that’s really what we’re concentrating on,” he said. “It’s never fortunate for anything like this to happen. It kinda floored me, and I can’t see anything. I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything.”
The following month, John addressed his eyesight loss during the stage debut of The Devil Wears Prada in London. “As some of you may know, I have had issues and now I have lost my sight,” he told the crowd at the Dominion Theatre, according to the Daily Mail. “I haven’t been able to see the performance, but I have enjoyed listening to it.”
John also joked about his eyesight problems during the 2025 Golden Globes, where he took the stage alongside pal (and fellow Grammy winner) Brandi Carlile, who co-wrote the song “Never Too Late” for his documentary Elton John: Never Too Late with him.
“It’s a very special night for me to be here because, I don’t know if you know, but there’s been stories going around about my regressive eyesight,” John said. “I just want to reassure everybody — it’s not as bad as it seems. I’m so pleased to be here with my co-host, Rihanna,” he said, pointing to Carlile.
Despite his eyesight struggles, John teamed up with Carlile for a new collaborative album, Who Believes in Angels?, which arrived on Friday. The duo is set to appear on Saturday Night Live as musical guests on Saturday (April 5), and the day after, they’ll host a one-hour concert special in celebration of the new album.
The Black Keys’ “The Night Before” becomes their ninth No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart, lifting two spots to the top of the survey dated April 12.
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The duo earns its first leader since “Beautiful People (Stay High)” reigned for five weeks in early 2024. In between, “On the Game” reached No. 5 last July. The Black Keys first topped Adult Alternative Airplay in 2011 with “Lonely Boy,” a year after making their initial appearance with “Tighten Up” (No. 12 peak).
With nine No. 1s, The Black Keys move into sole possession of the fifth-most leaders since Adult Alternative Airplay was first published in January 1996.
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Most No. 1s, Adult Alternative Airplay:14, U213, Coldplay11, Dave Matthews Band (including two solo by Dave Matthews)11, Jack Johnson9, The Black Keys8, Death Cab for Cutie8, The Lumineers8, John Mayer
Concurrently, “The Night Before” rises 7-5 on Alternative Airplay and is bubbling under Mainstream Rock Airplay. On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, it bullets at its No. 8 high with 3.1 million audience impressions (up 2%) in the week ending April 3, according to Luminate.
“The Night Before” is the lead single from No Rain, No Flowers, The Black Keys’ 13th studio album. Though it’s expected in 2025, the set doesn’t yet have a release date. It follows 2024’s Ohio Players, which debuted at No. 5 on the Top Alternative Albums chart in April 2024 and has earned 85,000 equivalent album units to date.
All Billboard charts dated April 12 will update Tuesday, April 8, on Billboard.com.
Disturbed‘s “I Will Not Break” rises a rank to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart dated April 12, giving the band its 13th ruler.
The David Draiman-fronted act moves into a three-way tie with Godsmack and Van Halen for the sixth-most leaders since the tally began in March 1981.
Disturbed first led Mainstream Rock Airplay in 2006 with its cover of Genesis‘ 1987 hit “Land of Confusion.” The rockers first appeared on the list with “Stupify” (No. 12 peak, 2000).
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Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay:20, Shinedown18, Three Days Grace15, Five Finger Death Punch14, Foo Fighters14, Metallica13, Disturbed13, Godsmack13, Van Halen12, Linkin Park11, Papa Roach
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Concurrently, “I Will Not Break” bullets at its No. 4 best on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, thanks to 3.7 million audience impressions (up 6%) in the week ending April 3, according to Luminate. The track is also bubbling under Alternative Airplay, where Disturbed last charted in 2016 with its No. 22-peaking cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s 1966 classic “The Sound of Silence.”
On the most recently published multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs chart (dated April 5, reflecting data March 21-27), “I Will Not Break” placed at No. 5, following its debut at No. 1 on the March 8 ranking. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 1.2 million official U.S. streams.
“I Will Not Break” is currently a standalone single that follows Disturbed’s eighth studio album, Divisive. The LP debuted at No. 1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart in December 2022 and has earned 184,000 equivalent album units to date.
All Billboard charts dated April 12 will update Tuesday, April 8, on Billboard.com.
Cage the Elephant notches its 13th No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart, tying for the second-most rulers in the tally’s history.
“Metaverse” is the band’s latest leader, jumping three spots to the top of the April 12-dated survey.
The Matt Shultz-led band moves into a tie with Green Day and Linkin Park. Red Hot Chili Peppers lead with 15 Alternative Airplay toppers, dating to the list’s September 1988 inception.
Most No. 1s, Alternative Airplay:15, Red Hot Chili Peppers13, Cage the Elephant13, Green Day13, Linkin Park12, Foo Fighters11, Twenty One Pilots8, U28, Weezer7, The Black Keys7, Imagine Dragons
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“Metaverse” gives Cage the Elephant its fourth No. 1 in a row, the band’s longest streak, besting two other runs of three straight (in 2010-11 and 2015-16). The current stretch dates to 2021, also encompassing “Skin and Bones” that year and “Neon Pill” and “Rainbow” in 2024. The band first topped the chart in 2010 with “Back Against the Wall.”
Concurrently, “Metaverse” bullets at its No. 6 best on Adult Alternative Airplay. On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, it lifts 9-7 with 3.3 million audience impressions (up 8%) in the week ending April 3, according to Luminate.
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“Metaverse” is the third single from Neon Pill, Cage the Elephant’s sixth studio album. The set debuted at No. 7 on the Top Alternative Albums chart last June and has earned 89,000 equivalent album units to date.
All Billboard charts dated April 12 will update Tuesday, April 8, on Billboard.com.
Mumford & Sons has returned to the top of the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart for the first time in nearly a decade with the release of Rushmere (Apr. 4).
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The folk group’s fifth studio album – their first since 2018’s Delta – has placed them back at No. 1, and follows two previous chart-toppers: 2012’s Babel and 2015’s Wilder Mind. Their huge 2009 debut, Sigh No More, peaked at No. 2, as did Delta. Each of the band’s LPs – minus Sigh No More – has topped the Billboard 200.
Rushmere is the first LP from the group since the departure of guitarist Winston Marshall who left the band in 2021, with Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwayne continuing as a trio.
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The group’s upcoming arena shows sold out instantly upon ticket release last week, and will include two dates at London’s The O2, alongside dates in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Cardiff, Glasgow and Sheffield in November and December.
Rock band The Darkness finish the week at No. 2 with eighth studio album Dreams on Toast, their highest spot for 22 years. Earlier this week, guitarist Dan Hawkins threw down the gauntlet in the chart battle with Mumford & Sons, saying to Classic Rock that he was “confident” that Dreams on Toast would go to No. 1, adding “We’re going to beat those c—s.” The flamboyant rockers’ 2003 debut Permission To Land remains their sole chart-topper in the U.K.
Following the release of a deluxe edition, Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine returns to the top five, finishing the week at No. 3. The album first went to No. 1 upon its initial release in March 2024 and spawned two singles “Yes And?”, and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” which both hit No. 2 on the Official Singles Chart.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet finishes the week at No. 4 while indie hero Lucy Dacus’ Forever is a Feeling finishes at No. 5. In 2023, the debut album from Boygenius – comprised of Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker – hit the top spot on the U.K. Albums Chart.
The Bear star Jeremy Allen White had some pretty big shoes to fill when he signed on to star as Bruce Springsteen in the upcoming biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere. But according to The Hollywood Reporter, the Emmy-winning actor proved that he was more than up to the task this week when theater owners got […]
Rock, pop, country? You name it, Kelly Clarkson can nail it. On her daytime talker on Thursday (April 3) Clarkson did it again with a soaring cover of the Foo Fighters’ 1999 anthem “Learn to Fly” during the daily Kellyoke segment. With her My Band Y’all band providing muscular backing, Clarkson gave the rock classic a melancholy makeover, injecting an extra layer of longing into Dave Grohl’s lyrics, as well as, of course, busting out one of signature paint-peeling high notes.
“I just had, like, a lot of caffeine and I’m running hot is what’s happening right now!,” a revved up Clarkson told her studio audience after the performance. The singer noted that she had the Foos on her show a few years ago and she talked to singer/guitarist Grohl about “Learn to Fly,” and how she thought the lyrics had so much deep meaning. “He was like, ‘no, I really just wanted to become a pilot,’” she said Grohl told her.
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“I’m still callin’ b.s.,” Clarkson said with a finger wave. “You’re trying to be funny man, but it’s such a deep song! It’s such a cool song! He’s poetic, just lean into it Dave! You could be a pilot and a poet.”
In addition to rocking, out, Clarkson also made some dreams come true for her old friend Tanner Smith from the Netflix dating show Love on the Spectrum, which chronicles the dating lives of autistic adults. She played a clip from the last time Smith was on the show and invited him back to catch up on what he’s been up to and talk about his dating life. She also recalled that last time Smith was on he got a special video greeting from his favorite actor, A Minecraft Movie star Jack Black, after which he set a goal of meeting the energetic star in real life before turning 31.
Clarkson asked Black to make another video for Smith, in which he lamented that he once again could not be there in person because he’s out promoting the big screen video game adaptation. But then, summoning his “insane ninja kung fu powers,” Black burst through the studio doors and ran out on stage into a surprised Smith’s arms.
Smith jumped up, yelling “Jack is here! I’m so happy to meet you! I’m your biggest fan!” bear hugging the actor and introducing him to his younger sister and family in the audience. The sweet moment got even sweeter when the two men bonded over their love of working out, with Smith suggesting he could get Black’s number so they can set up a time to work out together. Black burst out in laughter at the suggesting and high-fived Smith, promising, “this is happening!”
“I love you on the show and I can’t wait for the next season and I’m so happy for you having all this success and time in your life and to meet yo in person is really amazing for me too,” Black said as the two sat arm-in-arm during the lovefest. “Thank you Miss Kelly, thank you so much! This is the best day of my life,” Smith said as Clarkson melted down in happy tears.
Black will host Saturday Night Live this weekend with musical guests Elton John and Brandi Carlile.
Watch Clarkson’s Foos cover and Black’s sweet surprise below.