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Heading out of town for the holidays? According to AAA, an estimated 113 million people are expected to travel to their holiday destination and 102 million of them will be hitting the road.
Meanwhile in the friendly skies, the TSA expects 2022 holiday travel numbers to hit “pre-pandemic levels.”
A Music Fan’s Ultimate Travel Bucket List
12/19/2022
With gas prices still high and seasonal stress levels rising, the holidays can be overwhelming, but there are things that can help relieve some of your anxiety, like making sure that you have everything needed for your upcoming trip. To make the travel process a little easier, we’ve put together a list of travel necessities to take on your flight or road trip.
Hard Shell Suitcase
Walmart
Zimtown 3-Piece Nested Spinner Suitcase
$114.99 $299.99 62% off% OFF
First on the list: luggage! When it comes to the best suitcase for travel, pricier doesn’t always equal better quality. Although top brands such as Samsonite, CalPak and Rimowa suitcases are well worth the investment, you can find moderately-priced, hard shell suitcases and duffle bags at just about every major retailer, including Walmart where this 3-piece set is on sale for $114.99 (regular $299.99). Hard shell suitcases are great for flying but a soft-shell suitcase might be more suitable for other trips. Traveling by car? Be sure to keep snacks, travel toiletries and other necessities within arm’s reach, so that they’re easily accessible.
Airline passengers are allowed to bring one carry-on and a small personal item, including a purse or tote bag or travel backpack such as the Troubadour Momentum Backpack ($275). See more travel backpack options here.
Not sure what you can and can’t bring on the plane? Be sure to review the TSA travel guidelines.
Comfortable Shoes
Cariuma
Cariuma Knit Sneakers
$98
Sneakers, UGGs or slides? No matter your style preference, comfortable shoes are a must for travel. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly option, try Cariuma knit sneakers. Comfortable, affordable and low maintenance, the sustainable shoe is made from recycled plastics, bamboo knit, a sugarcane outsole and cork insole. Cariuma knit sneakers are available in low-top and high-top designs in over a dozen different colors. Click here to see our list of best shoes for travel.
Tablet Streaming Device
Amazon
Amazon Fire 7 tablet, 7-Inch Display, 16 GB
$59.99
Whether you’re traveling by car, bus, plane, or train, you’ll probably need a streaming device. You can stream mostly anything from a smart phone nowadays, but it doesn’t hurt to get an Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Microsoft Surface Pro or Amazon Fire 7, which is only $59.99 at Amazon. If you’re traveling by plane, most streaming platforms allow subscribers to download content that you can catch while the device is in airplane mode.
Delta and other airlines provide in-flight entertainment on domestic flights, while American Airlines passengers have to stream from their own devices. If you plan on flying AA, be sure to have a smart phone, notebook or tablet device handy, a charging cable and a travel adapter, if you’re traveling internationally.
Headphones or Earbuds
Walmart
Beats Studio Buds – True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds
$89.95 $149.95 40% OFF
You’ll need headphones to binge all your favorite content, jam away to music playlists, listen to podcasts and more, without disturbing those around you. If you prefer earbuds, you can’t really go wrong with Beats Studio Buds, AirPods, Google Pixel Buds or Sony LinkBuds. Click here for the best over-ear headphones.
A Good Book
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story
$21.29 $34.00 37% OFF
A long flight might be the only time you get to relax and read a good book! Kindle, Nook Glow and other gadgets have made it easy to read digitally, but for those of you who still enjoy reading physical books, the New York Times Best-Sellers List is a great guide. The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama tops the most recent listm followed by Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died. Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono landed at No. 4 on the list.
Travel Blanket & Pillow
Amazon
EverSnug Travel Blanket and Pillow – Premium Soft 2 in 1 Airplane Blanket with Soft Bag Pillowcase
$29.95 $34.95 14% OFF
Bring a warm and cozy travel blanket and matching pillow, or you can go for a traditional neck pillow.
Disinfectant Wipes
Amazon
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, Bleach Free Cleaning Wipes
$11.90 $15.05 21% OFF
The pandemic has made us all more aware of spreading germs. Airplanes and hotels get professional cleaning, but it’s good to have your own disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer or anti-bacterial spray. Face masks are no longer required for travel, but the CDC recommends wearing them due to rising cases of the flu, COVID-19 and RSV.
Taylor Swift may be the “Anti-Hero” in some regards, but not when it comes to cats. Animal advocate Beth Stern revealed Sunday (Dec. 18) that the pop star made a big donation to her pet rescue foundation Beth’s Furry Friends, and in return, she named a new foster cat in honor of Swift, who turned 33 years old on Dec. 13.
“Welcome new foster from Oman!!” wrote the Kitten Bowl host, sharing a photo of the new kitty. “Her name is Angel Taylor in honor of recent birthday girl, Taylor Swift who sent me a sizable donation to Beth’s Furry Friends to help me save more lives.”
“When I learned about this horrifically abused kitty who was beaten and had her ears cut off, I reached out to @street_cats_of_oman to ask if I could assist in her journey to much needed medical help and a forever family,” Stern continued. “She arrived to JFK on the day that Taylor sent me her generous donation.”
The Oh My Dog! author, who is married to radio star Howard Stern, has a lot in common with Swift when it comes to feline fondness. The “All Too Well” singer has long been open about her love for cats — “Guess I’ll just stumble on home to my cats,” she sings on “Gorgeous” — and has adopted three of her own: Meredith, Olivia and Benjamin.
Stern, meanwhile, has been caring for cats in need through Beth’s Furry Friends for years, and is also a spokesperson for and a board member of the North Shore Animal League. According to her website, she has provided spay/neuter care, foster care and facilitated adoptions for more than 2,000 kitties.
“Kitty Angel Taylor is currently being assessed at my specialist vet hospital,” Stern concluded her post. “I can’t wait to love her and help her heal and find her a forever family. Thank you, Taylor Swift, for helping me save more Angels. You are truly one yourself.”
See the foster kitty Beth Stern named after Taylor Swift below:
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
The season of giving continues! Hanukkah starts on Sunday (Dec. 17), Christmas arrives next week and last-minute shoppers are probably feeling some anxiety
No need to panic! If you haven’t decided on a gift for that special someone on your list, Sephora is having a flash sale on best-selling fragrances that are perfect for the season.
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For a limited time only, beauty insiders can save 20% off full-size fragrances (one ounce or larger). To redeem the promo, use the discount code: FRAGRANCE20 at checkout and save on perfumes and colognes from Tom Ford, Valentino, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent and Rihanna’s Fenty Eau de Parfum, which launched at Sephora last week.
Sephora’s special offer ends on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and excludes fragrance sets and Chanel fragrances (use code: FREESAMEDAY to get free, same-day delivery).
Find additional holiday sales on fragrances and other beauty items at Ulta Beauty, Macy’s, Amazon and Nordstrom. And for more gift ideas, see our list of budget-friendly perfume gift set and cologne gifts sets.
Sephora
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum
$175
Warm, spicy and confident. Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille unisex cologne combines notes of tobacco leaf, vanilla, cocoa, creamy tonka beans and ginger.
Sephora
Daisy by Marc Jacobs
$120
Created by Spanish perfumer, Alberto Morillas, Marc Jacobs’ Daisy is timeless scent of fruity florals with key notes of strawberry, violet leaves, and jasmine.
Sephora
Prada Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette
$100
Prada’s Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette is an earthy, layerable scent fusing bursts of bergamot with iris absolute and vetiver.
Sephora
Valentino Donna Born in Roma Eau de Parfum
$115
Valentino’s Donna Born in Roma has its own digital fan club! You’ll find video reviews about this show-stopping scent all over TikTok. The warm fragrance features top notes of black currant, jasmine grandiflorum, and bourbon vanilla housed in a beautiful bottle.
Sephora
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb
$168
Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf is an intoxicating fragrance featuring cattleya, jasmine and rose blended with warm scents of patchouli and vanilla grounds.
Sephora
Fenty Eau de Parfum
$140
Fenty Beauty’s genderless fragrance will envelop you in hints of coconut and geranium with notes of magnolia, musk, tangerine, Bulgarian rose, vanilla and blueberry.
Sephora
Gucci Flora Gorgeous Jasmine
$149
Gucci’s Flora Gorgeous Jasmine features mandarin, grandiflorum jasmine and sandalwood.
Sephora
Mason Margiela Replica by the Fire
$144
The name says it all. Mason Margiela’s “Replica by the Fire” is a warm, cozy scent featuring clove oil, chestnut and vanilla.
Sephora
YSL Beauty Y Eau de Toilette
$105
Lenny Kravitz is the face of YSL Beauty’s Y Eau de Toilette. The aromatic cologne features a long-lasting scent of sage and lavender and a “crisp bite” of geranium.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.Shopping for a PlayStation 5 for Christmas? Getting your hands on a coveted PS5 console doesn’t have to cost a fortune — even during the holidays.
According to a new report, Sony’s PS5 is one of the hottest Christmas gifts for 2022, and finding one for the $499 retail price can be a little stressful, despite the growing number of retailers that sell the hard-to-get game console.
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Thankfully, there are a few different retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart that have PS5 consoles available right now, while others — including GameStop — are out of stock but could be restocking before the new year.
To make your search easier, we put together a list of a few places where you can purchase a PS5 online. PS5 consoles can run you anywhere from the current $500 list price up to $1,200. Keep reading for more details, links and pricing information.
Amazon
PS5 consoles restocks tend to sell out extremely fast at Amazon (and everywhere else, to be honest). For gamers who have been waiting to snag a console for $500 (or $549.99 for the Horizon Forbidden bundle), Amazon is offering customers an option to sign up for a chance to buy a PS5 at the regular retail price. The newest wave of invites were sent to qualifying customers starting on Monday (Dec. 12). Click here to request an invitation.
PS5 Console (Amazon) $from $610
Unfortunately, the invite-only option doesn’t guarantee that you will secure the console, as not all requests will be granted. However, exclusive offers allow Amazon to ensure that as many “genuine customers as possible” can buy an item that is in high-demand. If you are selected to purchase, you will receive an email when the PS5 is available. For those who don’t want to go that route, there are other PS5 consoles available on Amazon, but they’re usually marked up above the list price.
Playstation – 5 Console – God of War Ragnarök Bundle (Best Buy) $559.99
Best Buy sold out of the PS5 consoles but the God of War Ragnarok PS5 bundle ($559.99) is available for in-store pickup. The bundle is expected to sell out soon, so you’ll have to act fast to get your hands on one. The digital bundle is $459.99 and also in high demand.
Walmart launched a members-only PS5 restock back in February, and it sold out within hours, which means the price went right back up. On the plus side, you can currently find a PS5 console at Walmart for less than $700.
PS5 Console (Walmart) $668.30
When restocks sell out, PS5 consoles can cost hundreds more than you would usually pay. Because there are no regular-priced PS5s at Best Buy and other retailers, we searched for some of the cheaper options. Stock X, for example, has consoles for around $577 and up, which is a bit less than on some of the other websites. Ebay is another resource for PS5 consoles for $550 and up.
PS5 Console (StockX) $577
If you’re comfortable with high price points, Daily Steals has a PS5 with an extra controller for $1,043.99 and QVC has a PS5 available for $829.
Bundles are another way to ensure that you get a console — and maybe even save a little on the back end. Walmart has several bundles, such as this PS5 Disc Version Console with gaming headset bundle ($859), or this Sony PlayStation 5 Disc Version Console with Pro Gamer Starter Pack Bundle ($719).
Offset turned 31 years old on Wednesday (Dec. 14), and Cardi B went all out to celebrate her favorite birthday boy. The “WAP” rapper posted a touching tribute to her husband of five years on Instagram, and shared lots of videos of how the couple commemorated his day by hitting the beach and partying in Jamaica.
“Happy birthday my love,” Cardi wrote, posting a reel of sweet photos of the Migos rapper. “I pray silently and I pray loudly on this post that God bless you & protect you.”
“Thank you for your love to me,” she added. “I love your 4ever & beyond.”
On Instagram Stories, the “I Like It” artist treated followers to an inside glimpse at her Jamaican vacation with Offset, with whom she shares 4-year-old daughter Kulture and 1-year-old son Wave. The two kayaked across beautiful blue waters, hung out beachside and checked out a rocky waterfall.
“Happy birthday sexy maaaaan,” Cardi said while filming her husband on the beach. “It’s your birthday!”
Cardi also shared videos of their couple’s bedroom suite, which she’d had decked out with trails of rose petals and red balloons as a surprise for the “Stir Fry” rapper. “My baby daddy, you deserve it!” she told Offset, filming his reaction to the room.
And finally, the pair closed out the occasion by partying the night away with friends and lots of dancing. Their evening didn’t end until around 6 a.m. — at least, that’s the time stamp on one of Cardi’s final posts on her Story, a video of the sun rising on their waterside vacation home.
The festivities come just a month and a half after Takeoff, Offset’s cousin and former Migos bandmate, was shot and killed Nov. 1 at a bowling alley in the Houston area. Offset was present alongside Quavo, the third member of the Migos trio and Takeoff’s uncle, at Takeoff’s celebration of life ceremony on Nov. 11.
Offset also shared a tribute to his late cousin in a Nov. 15 Instagram post, writing, “I wish I could hug you one last time.”
Cardi has also spoken out about how difficult things have been since the tragedy occurred, saying in a since-deleted Twitter voice note that she feels “so hopeless trying to make my husband happy.”
“Trying to make him crack a smile, f—in’ seeing him randomly cry,” she said at the time. “See him trying to distract his mind completely, f–kin’ schedules been changing, trying to keep up with work after everything that he’s been going through these past couple of weeks. We not in the mood to be f–kin’ playin’ around with y’all.”
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There’s a new Belle of the ball! Grammy and Oscar winner H.E.R. will make her Disney princess debut in Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration, premiering on Thursday (Dec. 15) at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
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Part live-action, part-animation, the two-hour special reimagines a “tale as old as time” with never-before-seen musical performances, exquisite set designs and breathtaking costumes.
Josh Groban, Shania Twain, Joshua Henry, Martin Short, David Allen Grier and Rita Moreno round out the star-studded cast.
This year marks three decades since Beauty and the Beast made history as the first animated film to land an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
How to Watch Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
ABC’s Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration will broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Thursday. The special will stream on Disney+ the next day.
If you have access to local channels through cable, satellite, internet with live TV, or an antenna, you can watch the special live on ABC, the ABC app or stream at ABC.com.
If you don’t have access to live TV, watch the special with a free trial from platforms like FuboTV and Direct TV Stream (streaming packages start at less than $70 a month).
Want more streaming options? SlingTV is discounted to $20 for the first month and Hulu + Live TV will cost you $74.99 a month, but you get access to dozens of lives channels and the massive Hulu library.
Disney+ subscribers can stream the Beaty and the Beast special on Friday at no additional cost. The streaming platform is $7.99 a month to stream with ads and $10.99 a month without ads.
Disney+
$7.99/month
Disney+ has a great lineup of exclusive series, documentaries, music specials and movies such as Willow, Disenchanted, National Treasure: Edge of History, The Santa Clauses, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Dancing with the Stars, Andor, Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium and Encanto Live at the Hollywood Bowl (premiering Dec. 28). You’ll also find both Beauty and the Beast movies (from 1991 and 2017) on Disney+.
Watch the teaser for Beaty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration below.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Over-the-ear headphones have a way of helping you sink even deeper into your favorite tunes, and 2022 has been a great year for music fans.
SZA, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Drake and Beyoncé are some of the artists who have blessed the music world with new albums this year, and with holiday sales heating up, now would be a great time to find headphones at a discount.
To make the search a little easier, we’ve rounded up seven of the best over-the-ear, noise-canceling headphones on the market. The list includes options from Best Buy, Amazon and other major retailers who are offering last-minute holiday sales on select brands and fast and free shipping in many cases.
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Below, find headphones from Sony, Apple, JBL, Bose and other top brands starting at $59.99 and up. For more product recommendations, be sure to check out our roundup of the best wired headphones and our Ultimate Gift Guide.
JBL
JBL Live 660NC Headphones
$99.99 $199.99 50% off% OFF
Enhance your soundscape with JBL Live 660NC headphones. These affordable headphones are equipped with 40mm drivers delivering JBL’s signature, booming sound while adaptive noise cancelling and smart ambient technologies lets you choose which sounds to let in and which to keep out. These headphones feature voice assistant capabilities (with a tap on the ear cup) and up to 50 hours of uninterrupted listening time. If you want a cheaper JBL design, the Live 460NC headphones are on sale for $64.99 (regular $129.99).
Amazon
Soundcore by Anker Life Q30 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
$59.99 $79.99 25% OFF
Soundcore by Anker Life Q30 headphones are one of the better, over-ear options that you can find for under $80 — and they’re even cheaper for the holidays. The Life Q30 headphones, on sale for just $59.99 at Amazon, are equipped with active noise cancellation, multiple sound modes and up to 40 hours of playtime.
Marshall
Marshall Major IV Over-Ear Headphones
$149.99
Major sound at a great price. Marshall’s Major IV Over-Ear Headphones provide unrivaled sound quality with custom tuned, dynamic drivers and a whopping 80+ hours of listening time – that’s three solid days of battery life before you need to charge them again. You can even fold the Major IV for easy storage and they’e available in brown or black colorways. Purchase the Major IV headphones online at Marshall.com and SSENSE and on sale for $99 at Amazon.
Best Buy
Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones
$249 $329 24% off% OFF
Bose 45 wireless, noise cancelling, headphones are currently discounted $80. These top-rated headphones provide up to 24 hours of playtime (they charge via USB in up to two-and-a-half hours, while a 15-minute charge gives you up to three hours of juice) and plush ear cushions make it easy to wear them for hours at a time. Bose 45 headphones have six external microphone and are available in several colors including midnight blue, triple black, eclipse grey and white smoke.
Best Buy
Sony WH-100XM5 Noise Cancelling Headphones
$349.99 $399.99 13% off% OFF
“Sony’s best headphones yet!” Save $50 on Sony’s WH-1000XM5, noise-cancelling headphones. Available in black or silver, these top-of-the-line headphones provide crystal clear sound by way of four microphones and the battery lasts up to 30 hours on a single charge making them great for travel but you can, of course, use them at the office, home, school and the gym.
Amazon
Apple AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
$449.00 $549.00 18% OFF
Apple’s AirPods Max are basically like a larger version of the AirPods, but you can get them in cool colors like sky blue, space gray, green, pink and silver. AirPods Max discounts rarely drop below $50, so if you want to score an even deeper discount, renewed headphones are priced at around $415 and up at Amazon and $240+ on Ebay.
Amazon
Focal Bathys Over-Ear Hi-Fi Bluetooth Wireless Headphones with Active Noise Cancelation
$799.00
For audiophiles who don’t mind splurging, Focal offers a wide selection of high-end, high-fidelity headphones such as the Bathys over-the-ear headphones. These $800 headphones blend active noise cancellation with hi-fi sound providing a truly dynamic listening experience that can last for up to 30 hours at a time. Bathy’s feature an aluminum-magnesium M-shaped dome (made in France) along with wired and Bluetooth connectivity. Click here for more Focal headphones and speakers.
Former Ellen DeGeneres Show DJ Stephen “tWitch” Boss has died at 40. The news of the death of the positivity spreading turntablist who first rose to fame on MTV’s The Wade Robson Project in 2003 before earning the runner-up spot on So You Think You Can Dance in 2008 and joining DeGeneres’ daytime show as guest DJ in 2014 was shared by his wife, Allison Holker Boss.
In an exclusive statement sent to People, Boss said, “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us. Stephen lit up every room he stepped into. He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him. He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans.”
No cause of death had been announced.
“To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt,” continued Boss, 34. “I am certain there won’t be a day that goes by that we won’t honor his memory. We ask for privacy during this difficult time for myself and especially for our three children. Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you.”
Over the weekend, the couple posted an Instagram video in which they joyfully danced in unison to Alicia Keys’ “December Back 2 June,” just a day after Boss posted a sweet ninth anniversary message to his wife featuring pictures from their nuptials.
After joining DeGeneres’ show as the house DJ, he became a permanent part of the crew and was promoted to co-executive producer in 2020.
The Nat King Cole Trio recorded “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)” back in 1946 and turned it into a Christmas classic, one year after it was written by Bob Well and Mel Torme. The song is also commonly subtitled as “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” due to its opening lyrics.
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Multiple arrangements of the song have been recorded throughout the years, but the most notable version has to be Cole’s, which includes the warm sounds of a small string section. The lyrics are filled with warm Christmas feelings and sweet holiday imagery, including: “Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe/ Help to make the season bright…Yuletide carols being sung by a choir/ And folks dressed up like Eskimos.”
The popular Christmas song has been covered by many artists, including Christina Aguilera for her 2000 album, My Kind of Christmas, and Michael Bublé on his Let it Snow EP.
Check out the full lyrics below to get in the Christmas spirit.
Chestnuts roasting on an open fireJack Frost nipping at your noseYuletide carols being sung by a choirAnd folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoeHelp to make the season brightTiny tots with their eyes all aglowWill find it hard to sleep tonightThey know that Santa’s on his wayHe’s loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleighAnd every mother’s child is gonna spyTo see if reindeer really know how to fly
And so I’m offering this simple phraseTo kids from one to ninety-twoAlthough it’s been said many times, many waysMerry Christmas to you
And so I’m offering this simple phraseTo kids from one to ninety-twoAlthough it’s been said many times, many waysMerry Christmas to you
Lyrics licensed & provided by LyricFind
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mel Torme, Robert Wells
Follow along with the lyrics to Andy William’ 1963 holiday hit.