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14 Nov 2024

LISA’s World: Inside the Global Pop Star’s Lifestyle | Billboard Cover

Billboard cover star and global pop star LISA welcomes you inside her world. She shares her passions in life, riveting stories about meeting Sabrina Carpenter and Rosalía, her journey to stardom, sneak peeks into upcoming projects and so much more!

LISA:

Oh, I would love to say Grammy. Hi. I’m LISA, and this is behind the scenes for my Billboard cover, and I want to take you guys all around the world with me. I love to see a different cultures, a different city because every city has their own uniqueness. And I love food, I love shopping. It’s me waving the flag. That’s F1 Miami. I was so honored this day. I was like, are you sure you want me to to wave the flag? Yeah, it was fun. I was so nervous, though, because the car was so fast and I don’t know when to start. So I tell the person beside me that, please tap me. Okay, please tap me. She’s like, don’t worry, you got it, girl. And yeah, she tapped me. And I was like, okay, so yeah. The shower filter, I’m very sensitive. My skin is so sensitive and dry, so if I change a city, and that city, if the water doesn’t suit my skin, I’m gonna have like breakouts and stuff. So, yeah, I always carry my shower filter. This is me with Sabrina. I met her at Hyde Park in London for the concert, and then we both flew into Paris, so we have to be in the same town, and I heard that she was having a concert in Paris, so I just went to see her concert.

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13 Nov 2024

Ariana Grande, Beyonce & More Dazzle in Movie Musicals | Billboard News

Ariana Grande is starring in Wicked, but what other singers have made their way into the world of movie musicals? Keep watching to see who else made it big in their roles!

Tetris Kelly:

Ariana isn’t the only singer to star in a movie musical. Here are four other singers that crossed over into the acting world. Let’s start with Beyoncé! She starred in a movie musical that was inspired by an iconic girl group, Dreamgirls. The musical’s storyline is eerily similar to the story of The Supremes. And who better to play the lead singer of a girl group than Beyoncé! She lobbied to play the character of Deena Jones and won it after a successful screen test. Another pop queen who also lobbied to star in a movie musical? Madonna. She sent a four-page letter to director Alan Parker explaining why she was the best option to play the lead role in Evita after actress Michelle Pfeiffer dropped out of playing the lead role. Madonna did vocal training and flew to Buenos Aires to learn about Eva’s life to prepare for the role. That would give her a Golden Globe for Best Actress Comedy or Musical for her performance in the movie. Another singer who was able to transition into a movie musical role, was Olivia Newton-John. The singer, who already earned two No.1s on the Hot 100s, landed the lead role of Sandy in Grease. Although she didn’t have a ton of acting experience, her performance as Sandy made her synonymous with the role. Another blonde superstar who starred in a movie musical, Taylor Swift.

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13 Nov 2024

BTS’ Jin Is Headed to ‘The Tonight Show’ for Solo Debut | Billboard News

Jimmy Fallon announced Jin’s appearance on ‘The Tonight Show’ later this month, and we’re showing you how it was announced!

Tetris Kelly:

Is Jin Headed to ‘The Tonight Show’? Jimmy Fallon has confirmed in a hilarious video. We have the story. ‘The Tonight Show’ host posted the video announcing the BTS member will be appearing on November 20th. Fallon is no stranger to BTS or its members. He’s had the group on, as well as Suga, Jung Kook and his bias Jimin, but now it’s Jin’s turn as he just released his new single “I’ll Be There.” Are you ready for Mr. Worldwide Handsome? Let us know in the comments.

13 Nov 2024

Parker McCollum Brings On the Heat for His ‘Burn It Down’ Tour | Tour Stop | Billboard

Parker McCollum takes us behind the scenes of the last stop of his ‘Burn It Down’ Tour  in Anaheim, California. He shows off his tour bus, explains the inspo behind the tour, his must-haves on the road and more!

Parker McCollum:

Gotta have the chains, the Rollie and the new fresh Western hat. What’s up, guys, Parker McCollum here. This is a Tour Stop with Billboard. Y’all come check out my bus. We just got onstage. We were doing sound check. We’re in Anaheim, California for the last weekend of the ‘Burn It Down’ Tour, COVID. Headed to the bus. Now gonna show y’all how I live, how I travel on the road. 

Interviewer:

Why did you decide to call the tour the ‘Burn It Down’ Tour? 

Parker McCollum

We cut it on my last record. It ended up being the single. And I just love the song. I loved performing the song. The fans really connected with the song super, super quick. And so when we were gonna name the tour. I was like, we might as well ride ‘Burn It Down.’ And this is the last weekend show number 8465, we are limping into this weekend. We are out of wardrobe. We are not out of energy and we are not out of fun. This is our friends and family room. This kind of travels with us everywhere we go. We got, I guess you would call them flags. Maybe they’re tablecloths, I don’t know, but they’re really cool pictures from the ‘Burn It Down’ Tour. Just past years, past shows we’ve played. That’s the first time we sold out Red Rocks. But it’s kind of our vibe room, as they call it, friends and family room. We travel with a golden tee that we take everywhere with us. 

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13 Nov 2024

Pepe Aguilar on His Mexican Pride Dressing Up As a Charro | Behind the Photo

Pepe Aguilar takes us Behind the Photo, where he shares his pride on charro dress wear, his experience in Osaka and more!

Pepe Aguilar:
Friends of Billboard, I’m Pepe Aguilar and this is Behind the Photo.

Behind this photo is one of the beings I love the most on the planet and it’s my puppy, Fat. This photo is there.

Behind this photo is a very scared guy because we were going to the top of the Empire State Building in New York, and they took me to the 100th floor and I felt something. I was very afraid, that’s what I felt. But before I went up, I was grabbed by King Kong. So, this photo is special because I went to the Empire State Building and King Kong grabbed me.

Behind this photo there are 70 years of history. I am not 70 years old, but I am 50 years old of my father doing shows on horseback, plus my 20s, there are almost 80 years of history, of charreria, of tradition, of honor, of pride in who we are as Mexicans. This is one of my biggest dreams, to be able to dress up as a Mexican. I dress up as a charro, I dress up as a superhero because for me, I dress up as a charro. It’s like I’ve always said, it’s like dressing up as a superhero. In other words, just look at this photo. It looks like lightning and thunderbolts are coming out of Olympus there. So behind this photo there is a lot of pride.

Behind this photo there is a lot of sake. 

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13 Nov 2024

Flo Milli Addresses Pregnancy Rumors | Billboard News

Flo Milli posted a teaser of her upcoming single with T-Pain, but fans and friends quickly took it as a pregnancy announcement, and she addressed the rumors. Keep watching to see the reactions and what she said.

Tetris Kelly:
Rapper Flo Milli took to Instagram to tease her upcoming song with pop legend T-Pain. Things took an unexpected turn when fans started to focus on Flo’s appearance more than her new music.

Flo appears in the video dancing on a mystery person in a stomach-exposing top. Folks quickly started to speculate that the rapper was pregnant. Flo’s post had the internet buzzing with many folks congratulating her on what they thought was a pregnancy announcement. Rapper Coi Leray commented on Flo’s post: “congratulations omg.” Rapper Sexyy Red couldn’t handle the reveal and commented: “FLO WAIT WAIT THIS IS ALOT RN.” And the excitement didn’t stop there! Rapper Regina Carter commented: “Congratulations.” Actress Gabrielle Union said: “Congratulations mama!” And Rapper Lady London commented: “my babyyyy!!!! Rooting for a boy.”

Things got so out of hand that the Alabama rapper herself responded on X. Flo wrote: “damn I can’t be bloated??” Does this dispel the rumors that she’s pregnant? Well, Flo, we need to know! We have reached out for comment. Regardless we’re looking forward to the release of Flo’s new track with T-Pain.

13 Nov 2024

ROSÉ Makes History on the Hot 100 & More | Billboard Explains

ROSÉ’s “APT.” with Bruno Mars made history on the Hot 100, but we’re taking a look back to see how she and BLACKPINK dominated the Billboard 200 and more!

Tetris Kelly:
ROSÉ has made history! Her Bruno Mars’ collab “APT.” made her the first female K-pop artist to reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. But who is ROSÉ? What’s her story? And how did she make history on the charts? This is Billboard Explains: ROSÉ’s Record-Breaking Ride on the Charts. 

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, to South Korean immigrant parents, ROSÉ moved to Melbourne, Australia, at 8 years old with her family. She began singing and playing instruments like the guitar and piano, and she performed in church choirs. In 2012, ROSÉ’s father found out that YG Entertainment was holding auditions for a new girl group in Sydney and convinced her to try out. She ranked first in her auditions and became a trainee at YG Entertainment. After four years of training in Seoul, South Korea, she was selected as a member of BLACKPINK, alongside her bandmates Jennie, LISA and Jisoo. BLACKPINK released their debut EP Square One in 2016, and made its Billboard chart debut with “Boombayah” and “Whistle” on the World Digital Song Sales chart. BLACKPINK saw continued success on the charts, with EPs like Square Two and Square Up, and earned their first Hot 100 entry with “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du,” peaking at No. 55. Over time BLACKPINK released hit after hit, like “Kill This Love,” their Selena Gomez collab “Ice Cream” and “How You Like That.” In October 2020, their debut album — simply titled The Album — debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, becoming the highest-charting album by a female Korean act at that time. 

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13 Nov 2024

What’s Kept Gin Blossoms Going for Nearly Four Decades? Democracy

A few years ago, Gin Blossoms singer Robin Wilson had an idea for a band T-shirt with the song title of one of its most popular songs in the style of a satanic metal band. “It was all blood, and there were pentagrams, and it said ‘Follow You Down’ in old English script,” he tells Billboard’s Behind the Setlist podcast. “It was just blood and flames everywhere, and I loved it so much. I thought it was really funny and great.”

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The other four members of Gin Blossoms — a melodic rock band whose handful of lasting hits from the ‘90s alternative rock era have little in common with dark heavy metal — didn’t share Wilson’s enthusiasm, and the idea never got past the conception phase. Why the shirt didn’t get made helps explain how Wilson and his bandmates have kept Gin Blossoms going for 37 years: Wilson was outvoted.

“Part of what makes our band work is that everybody gets a vote,” says Wilson from his home in Arizona. “And despite the fact that I do more work than anybody else, my vote doesn’t count for any more. It wouldn’t work for us. If I made some power grab, that would be one of the things that could lead to the end of the band.”

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Formed in 1987 in Tempe, Ariz., Gin Blossoms first released an independent album, Dusted, before signing to MCA Records and releasing New Miserable Experience in 1992. The band’s catchy, melodic songs sounded drastically different than the heavier grunge sound that was capturing programmers’ attention at the time, but Gin Blossoms eventually found a welcome home at radio and MTV. Their breakout hit, “Hey Jealousy,” peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993 and was equalled by “Found Out About You” the following year. A double-A side single with “Follow You Down” and “Til I Hear It From You,” and the 1996 album Congratulations I’m Sorry, peaked at Nos. 9 and 10 on the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts, respectively.  

A four-year breakup and three studio albums later, Gin Blossoms’ democratic approach to running the band has proven effective. They spent much of 2024 criss-crossing the country playing playing music venues, fairs and festivals. In August, the band hit the road with ‘90s compatriots Toad the Wet Sprocket and Vertical Horizon. In January, the band will board The ‘90s Cruise in Tampa, Fla., that will also feature Blues Traveler, Everclear, Lit and Lisa Loeb. 

“I think there was a lot of sacrifices made by the everybody in the band to stay together,” says guitarist Jesse Valenzuela. “But at some after 20 years, you start to see it as maybe, I guess, this is my life’s work, and what are you supposed to do? You better make peace with your situation and try to be positive and be the best person you can be. Try to be helpful to others and be honest.”

“Punctuality,” Wilson adds. “Punctuality is important. You don’t make your bandmates wait for you. You want to keep a band together? Get to the airport on time.”

Listen to the entire interview with Robin Wilson and Jesse Valenzuela from Gin Blossoms in the embedded Spotify player below, or go to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Amazon Music, Audible, Podbean or Everand. 

12 Nov 2024

Drake Makes No. 4 on Billboard’s List of 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century | Billboard News

We’re counting down the 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century, and taking No. 4 is Drake. The rapper has topped Billboard’s charts numerous amount of times. Keep watching to see how he dominated the Hot 100, Billboard 200 and so much more!

Tetris Kelly:

With 13 Billboard Hot 100 No.1’s, 13 No.1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and 39 Billboard Music Awards, who ranks No.4 on the greatest pop stars of the 21st century list? Drake! The Canadian superstar first made his name playing Jimmy Brooks in ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation.’ Drake’s music career quickly rose after catching the attention of Lil Wayne, who signed him to his label “Young Money” Records. That led to Drake’s first appearance on the Billboard charts in 2009 with “Best I Ever Had.” As music streaming platforms like Spotify began to rise in popularity, so did Drake. He became the leader of hip-hop for the 2010s mixing his rap verse with more personal R&B style singing, like his frequent collabs with Rihanna during this time. His album ‘Take Care’ not only won his first Grammy in 2013, it continued to show his influence in pop culture. Drake continued to produce No.1 albums like ‘Nothing Was the Same,’ and ‘If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.’ He also began working with another frequent collaborator “Future” with projects like ‘What a Time to Be Alive.’ 2016 was a huge year for Drake, his album ‘Views,’ debuted at No.1 and is his longest running No.1 album at 13 weeks. The album spanned some of the biggest hits of the decade like “Hotline Bling.” Another collab with Riri on “Too Good” and his first No.1 as a lead artist on the Hot 100 with “One Dance.”

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12 Nov 2024

KATSEYE’s ‘Touch’ Launches Them as Billboard’s New Chartbreaker | Billboard News

KATSEYE had the perfect “Touch” which helped them be named as Billboard’s new Chartbreaker. Keep watching to see the girls talk about what the title means to them, the meaning of “Touch” and what’s to come with their music!

Manon:

It is unbelievable. We honestly did not expect that, plus we kind of did, but we didn’t.

Tetris Kelly:

KATSEYE is Billboard’s new Chartbreaker, and we caught up with them about what they’ve been up to and how it feels to be Billboard chart official. 

Manon:

It’s just, you know, a huge achievement. It feels amazing. It feels like our hard work is really paying off. And we love seeing all of the icons and fans out there, you know, doing the “Touch” dance. And yeah, we love that we you know, can make people smile and dance. And yeah, it’s amazing.

Tetris Kelly:

That’s right, they even got Usher to dance. 

Lara Raj:

I think Usher was a huge moment. He did the Jersey Club Remix, which made me sob because that’s just so cool. I feel like that was very unexpected for us. And then also just seeing people of a bunch of different age groups do the dance and just like-

Daniela Avanzini:

The babies. 

Lara Raj:

Yeah, like the babies we’ll see like animals and cats or are doing great. 

Tetris Kelly:

And can we talk about these epic mall shows? 

Sophia Laforteza:

The mall shows is such a throwback. It’s so cool that we are kind of like slowly bringing that back in. Because I feel like it’s a space where you don’t usually get artists like this. It’s like, it’s like it’s not really done anymore, and it’s like everybody used to do it back then. 

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