Music News

07 Dec 2023

Ariana Grande Shares Photos From the Studio Teasing Mystery Project

Stay calm, Arianators — but it looks like Ariana Grande might be working on new music.

After putting her singing career on pause for the past couple years to focus on the Wicked live-action films, the 30-year-old vocalist shared a series of photos and muted videos on Instagram of her hard at work in a professional recording studio. In many of them, Grande — who’s known for producing her own vocals — sits at a computer while editing audio files visible on the screen.

The “Thank U, Next” singer didn’t provide a caption for the Thursday (Dec. 7) post, much less any details about what she’s planning. However, her close friend and frequent collaborator Victoria Monet did comment, “She’s HOME!!!????”

Cynthia Erivo, who’s starring as Elphaba opposite Grande’s Glinda in the Wicked movies, also wrote that “no one is ready.” “I’m so freaking proud of you!!” added the singer-actress. “This project is so freaking special!!!”

The Victorious alum hasn’t had a proper release since her 2020 album Positions. She has jumped on tracks such as The Weeknd’s “Die for You” and “Santa, Can You Hear Me” with Kelly Clarkson over the past few years, and she released a 10-year anniversary edition of her debut album Yours Truly in August. But other than that, Grande’s pretty much kept her sights trained on Wicked and her R.E.M. Beauty business.

“[Wicked] is going to have every piece of me, every minute, every ounce of my heart, my time, my soul, my everything that I can give it,” she said in May 2022. “My hands are quite full with a lot of other ‘thrillifying’ work at the moment. I am spending all of my time with Glinda, I just was not ready.”

Fans have grown increasingly impatient for Grande to release a new album, something she’s teased her listeners about a couple times this year. “I know you’re very annoyed with me and my little makeup, but it’s coming,” she joked in a Q&A in August, referencing fans who are vocal about wanting the star to prioritize music over R.E.M. “There’s more, mhmm. Gotcha!”

In October, she shared Instagram pictures of her hanging out with some goats on a farm and teased: “ag7: goat mother.”

07 Dec 2023

Playboi Carti Is Back Atop TikTok Billboard Top 50

Playboi Carti’s “Sky” returns to No. 1 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50, with Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” creeping even closer to the top of the list, rising 3-2 on the ranking dated Dec. 9.

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The TikTok Billboard Top 50 is a weekly ranking of the most popular songs on TikTok in the United States based on creations, video views and user engagement. The latest chart reflects activity Nov. 27-Dec. 3. Activity on TikTok is not included in Billboard charts except for the TikTok Billboard Top 50.

“Sky,” featured on Playboi Carti’s 2020 album Whole Lotta Red, is a monthly visitor to the top reaches of the TikTok Billboard Top 50 – and on TikTok as a whole prior to the chart’s September 2023 inception – thanks to start-of-the-month trends highlighting the song’s “Wake up/ It’s the first of the month” lyric. In the spirit of the holidays, some of the latest uploads even utilize a Christmas-themed remix of the tune as it vaults to the top.

The Dec. 9 survey is the second time “Sky” has ruled the chart, following the tally dated Oct. 7. It returned at No. 2 on the Nov. 11 list.

“Sky” isn’t the only song whose appearance on the latest TikTok Billboard Top 50 is spurred by first-of-the-month trends, either. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s “1st of Tha Month” returns at No. 27, after debuting at No. 22 on the Nov. 11 chart. That’s no accident, of course; the “Wake up/ It’s the first of the month” lyric from “Sky” is itself an interpolation of the chorus of “1st of Tha Month.”

The ascension of “Sky” concludes a three-week run at No. 1 for Mitski’s “My Love Mine All Mine,” which drops to No. 3. It’s also passed by Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which continues its march to the top of the ranking with a new peak of No. 2.

Continuing with the weekly holiday-themed check-in, Carey leads five holiday tunes on the Dec. 9 tally, up from four the previous frame. Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” joins “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in the top 10, leaping 18-9, and Wham!’s “Last Christmas” rises 14-13. The Ronettes’ “Sleigh Ride” jumps 46-30, one spot behind a debut in Michael Buble’s “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” at No. 29.

The week’s top debut on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 belongs to Laurie Anderson’s “O Superman,” which starts at No. 12. Released in 1981, the experimental electronic track has gone viral after a Nov. 22 upload of a user looking at a photo of her great-great-grandmother who had died 100 years before. The trend centers on the lyrics “Well, you don’t know me/ But I know you,” with creators using the song to delve into their own family histories, discuss supernatural happenings and strange coincidences, and more.

Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” also sports a sizable start, appearing on the chart for the first time at No. 14. The song has gone through multiple waves of virality over the years, with the most recent trend highlighting a filter that slowly ages the user all the way to 2073, 50 years in the future.

And though it’s far from a newcomer on the viral TikTok scene, Conan Gray’s “Heather” also debuts, bowing at No. 23. It originally went viral on the platform in 2020, eventually vaulting to a No. 46 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 that September. Why’s it back now? The song’s opening lyrics reference Dec. 3, the closing day of the latest TikTok Billboard Top 50’s tracking week.

See the full TikTok Billboard Top 50 here, which also features debuts from Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Rod Wave and more. You can also tune in each Friday to SiriusXM’s TikTok Radio (channel 4) to hear the premiere of the chart’s top 10 countdown at 3 p.m. ET, with reruns heard throughout the week.

07 Dec 2023

50 Cent Pledges to Donate Proceeds From Diddy Documentary to Victims of Sexual Assault

Trigger warning: The following story contains descriptions of sexual abuse and rape. Following a fourth allegation of sexual assault against Bad Boy Records founder Sean “Diddy” Combs, 50 Cent announced in a tweet on Thursday morning (Dec. 7) that proceeds from his upcoming documentary about Combs’ alleged misdeeds will go to victims of sexual violence.

“I can confirm that the untitled Diddy documentary is in development through G-Unit Film and Television with Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson serving as Executive Producer,” a spokesperson for Jackson and G-Unit Film/TV said in a statement to Billboard on Thursday. “Proceeds from this documentary that G-Unit Film & Television receives will go to victims of sexual assault and rape.”

“WTF at some point you gotta just do the right thing,” the rapper also shared in an Instagram post about donating the proceeds.

In 50’s social media posts, the MC shared footage of former Bad Boy artist Mark Curry alleging that Combs spiked bottles of alcohol that would be served only to women at parties the mogul was throwing.

A spokesperson for Combs has not yet returned Billboard‘s request for comment on 50’s post or the documentary project.

50 — well-known for taking fellow rappers to task — announced his documentary within hours of the news that a fourth woman had filed suit against Combs, accusing Diddy of an alleged gang rape that occurred at Diddy’s New York recording studio in 2003 when she was 17. The graphic details of the latest filing against Combs comes just weeks after he settled a lawsuit filed by former girlfriend singer Cassie Ventura, who claimed that she was subjected to years of alleged violent physical abuse and rape, which allegedly included forcing her to “engage in sex acts with male sex workers” while Combs watched and masturbated.

Diddy was later sued by two other women who claimed he sexually abused them. The embattled mogul responded to the allegations on Wednesday (Dec. 6) in a statement posted to Instagram. “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

At press time, no additional information was available on the release date or distribution of the 50 Cent documentary.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and need support and/or resources, reach out to RAINN and the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE) for free, confidential help 24/7.

07 Dec 2023

Kane Brown’s ‘Heaven’ Earns RIAA Diamond Certification

Several of Kane Brown‘s famous friends helped surprise the singer-songwriter with the news that his 2018 two-week Billboard Country Airplay No. 1 hit “Heaven” has been certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song is the eighth country single to earn the accolade, with 10 million certified units in the United States.

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Brown and the RIAA shared a video on social media Thursday (Dec. 7) showing the moment he received the news via a video featuring his fellow Diamond-selling country artists Luke Combs, Hillary Scott (of Lady A), Tyler Hubbard (formerly with Florida Georgia Line) and Darius Rucker.

“Not many people have done that,” Combs told Brown of reaching the milestone. “I just want to say welcome to the club, man, super cool. Keep killin’ it, man. You’ve always been awesome.”

“That is such a huge achievement. Welcome to the diamond club, it’s something to be really proud of,” added Hubbard.

“Your song ‘Heaven’ has obviously touched so many hearts and so many lives,” Scott said.

“Welcome to the diamond club. Congratulations, brother,” Rucker said.

“An incredible talent with 23 RIAA certified titles and accolade upon accolade across genres, today, we are thrilled to recognize Kane Brown’s first Diamond for his single ‘Heaven.’ This enchanting hit has clearly struck a chord with fans – topping 10 million certified units! Congratulations to Kane, his creative partners and RCA Nashville team on this rare milestone,” said RIAA COO Michele Ballantyne via a statement.

Previous country singles to be certified diamond by the RIAA are Lady A’s “Need You Now,” Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey,” Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road,” Combs’ “Beautiful Crazy,” the Lil Nas X/Billy Ray Cyrus collab “Old Town Road,” Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” and Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel.”

See the video below:

07 Dec 2023

Ginuwine Says He Genuinely Can’t Recall Justin Timberlake ‘Fo Shiz’ Incident, But He Would Have ‘Looked at Him Weird’

Britney Spears‘ best-selling memoir The Woman in Me featured the stories behind a number of iconic and difficult moments from the “Toxic” singer’s life and career. But one that really struck a chord with so many fans — thanks to actress Michelle Williams’ unforgettable reading of it in the audiobook version — was a scene in which Brit described an alleged run-in with R&B singer Ginuwine in which then-boyfriend Justin Timberlake flexed his rizz for the “Pony” star.

According to Spears, JT’s affinity for Black artists during his *NSYNC days manifested when the “Cry Me a River” singer got excited upon spotting Ginuwine on the street. “They were white boys, but they loved hip-hop… *NSYNC hung out with black artists. Sometimes I thought they tried too hard to fit in,” Spears wrote in the book.

“One day J and I were in New York, going to parts of town I’d never been to before. Walking our way was a guy with a huge, blinged-out medallion,” Spears said of the person who was flanked by “two giant security guards.” According to Spears, that prompted Justin to get “all excited and said so loud, ‘Oh yeah, fo shiz, fo shiz! Ginuwiiiiine! What’s up, homie?”

Here’s the thing, though. When Billboard caught up with Ginuwine this week after his elimination from The Masked Singer, the 53-year-old crooner born Elgin Baylor Lumpkin had no recollection whatsoever of that iconic moment.

“Nah, I don’t remember that,” Ginuwine laughed when asked if the Spears account jibed with his memory. “I would have probably looked at him very weird if he did that like she said,” he added. “I just don’t remember that, but I remember him [Timberlake] being a cool dude and me kicking it down there in Florida with [*NSYNC’s] producer at one time.”

But, sorry, Ginuwine just “fo shiz” did not remember any of it.

07 Dec 2023

Offset Quits His Day Job in New Video ‘Blame It on Set’: Watch It

On the heels of releasing his new video “Don’t You Lie,” Offset springs back to the forefront with his latest visual, “Blame It On Set.” 

Directed by Maya Table, Offset is stuck dealing with a traditional desk job, working an everyday 9 to 5. Draped in a suit, the Migos rapper grows increasingly vexed after spending his time stapling papers. Upon completing his task, his superior walks in and drops off more work for him to finish, further agitating Set. Instead of sulking in dismay, he ejects from his seat and storms out of the office. 

“They got mad ’cause I didn’t want the minimum/ No ‘I love ’em,’ I had to get rid of ’em / Man, your house is the size of my living room/ Kill a opp and I pay for his funeral,” raps Offset.

“Blame It On Set” resides on the rapper’s sophomore album Set It Off, alongside previously released records “Say My Grace” featuring Travis Scott, “Fan,” “Worth It” with Don Toliver, and the Cardi B-assisted “Jealousy.” 

Earlier this week, fans speculated a possible breakup between Set and wife Cardi after the “WAP” star fired off cryptic posts about outgrowing relationships. “You know when you just out grow relationships,” read the first, followed by, “I’m tired of protecting peoples feelings…I GOTTA PUT MYSELF FIRST!” Along with those messages, the two have unfollowed each other on Instagram. 

The rumors come after Offset previously implied that Cardi possibly cheated on him, which led to a social media wildfire. In response, Cardi debunked those claims, and the two later starred in Offset’s “Jealously” video the following month. 

Watch the “Blame It on Set” music video above.

07 Dec 2023

‘MTV Unplugged’ Returns With Hip-Hop 50 Special Featuring Queen Latifah, Wyclef Jean & More

2023 might be coming to a close, but MTV has one more blockbuster event to celebrate hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. Billboard can exclusively reveal that the network is set to air the latest addition to its MTV Unplugged franchise — MTV Unplugged Presents: A Hip-Hop 50th Celebration of Jersey’s Finest — on Thursday, Dec. 14, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The special promises to be a star-studded event featuring performances and appearances by New Jersey hip-hop icons such as Wyclef Jean, Redman and Queen Latifah, who will also serve as an executive producer.

In a year filled with Hip-Hop 50 tributes, concerts and specials, New York has taken up a lot of the focus. While that’s understandable, A Hip-Hop 50th Celebration of Jersey’s Finest provides a space for pivotal New Jersey hip-hop artists to receive their flowers. From Ms. Lauryn Hill and Treach to Coi Leray and Badmanrill, the Garden State has been instrumental in crafting the ever-evolving sound of hip-hop.

A Hip-Hop 50th Celebration of Jersey’s Finest is also slated to include appearances from Naughty By Nature’s Treach, Poor Righteous Teachers, Heather B and The Sugarhill Gang, with additional performances from Lady Luck and Lords of the Underground. Emmy winner Adam Blackstone will handle musical direction for the special, which will be taped at the famed Newark Symphony Hall.

The special is the latest in a string of MTV projects honoring Hip-Hop 50. Back in September, the network spotlighted hip-hop at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards. Countless hip-hop stars graced the stage to perform their latest hits, several female rappers — Ice Spice, Nicki Minaj and Latto, in particular — took home Moonpeople, and two show-stopping medleys celebrated the legacy and longevity of the genre.

Diddy — with special guests Yung Miami and Keyshia Cole — played a smattering of the biggest Bad Boy hits, while a cross-generational lineup of rap icons handled the proper Hip-Hop 50 tribute. Among them were Minaj, DMC, Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J and Slick Rick. This year, the network also launched Mixtape, a documentary that traced the creation of mixtapes and the formats relationship to both hip-hop history and mainstream pop culture.

A Hip-Hop 50th Celebration of Jersey’s Finest marks the first MTV Unplugged special of 2023. After taking the pandemic year of 2020 to explore at-home concerts, the special returned to its original formats the following year with intimate performances from BTS, and Lady Gaga with Tony Bennett. Twenty One Pilots delivered the band’s own Unplugged session in 2022.

Bruce Gillmer and Vanessa Whitewolf will serve as Executive Producers for MTV, with Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere and Yaneley Arty acting as Executive Producers for Flavor Unit Entertainment. In addition, Alicia Portugal will serve Series Executive in Charge, with Lisa Lauricella taking on the role of Series Music Talent Executive.

Watch the teaser for the new special above.

07 Dec 2023

Here’s Why Adele Thinks No One Else Can Sing Her Songs Like Her

No one sounds quite like Adele — and she knows it. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published Thursday (Dec. 7), the publication’s latest cover star was brutally honest about what she really thinks when other artists attempt to sing her hits.

“With my music, and for whoever listens to it, I think I’m not the best singer in the world at all, but no one else can sing my songs like me because they didn’t write them,” she said. “No one can sing my songs like me, period.”

“The lyrics are not their own,” she added, laughing. “And I don’t think anyone else should sing my songs.”

OK, the Queen of Soul might be the one exception. “Apart from Aretha Franklin,” Adele amended when asked about the late legend’s cover of “Rolling in the Deep.”

“No, I don’t mind it when they do, but I’m just saying, they’re never going to be able to emote it,” she continued. “Same way that I can’t sing other people’s songs. I didn’t write the lyrics, and I can’t sing as well as them. But it’s just like, I would choose this any day.”

The 16-time Grammy winner’s new interview comes on the same day as THR‘s annual Women in Entertainment event, for which she is this year’s Sherry Lansing Leadership Award honoree. Still in the thick of her Weekends with Adele Las Vegas residency, the 35-year-old star also opened up about which of her concert guests made her “s–t” herself (Lady Gaga), her love for SZA and Dua Lipa and her surprising dream job — a script reader at a Hollywood studio.

As for new music, Adele says she hasn’t “even thought about it.” The same pretty much goes for collaborations with other artists, with the “Easy On Me” singer revealing that she’s turned down “a lot” of duet requests. “Some of them are just an obvious no, that I would never do,” she shared. “Some people ask and I’m like, ‘In what world do you actually think I would say yes to that?’ And it doesn’t make any sense either. A couple that I’ve been like, ‘Oh, I want to do that,’ and the timing hasn’t worked out.”

“I’m not anti-it,” she added. “I’m not anti-it at all. I’m open to it. But also, if I do it, it has to be f–king great.”

07 Dec 2023

20 Questions: Hoobastank Celebrates 20 Years of ‘The Reason’

On Dec. 9, 2003, Hoobastank followed up their breakthrough self-titled debut with what would end up becoming the biggest album of their careers. The Reason peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, and when its title track was chosen as its second single, the yearning alt-rock sing-along became a smash hit, reaching No. 2 on the Hot 100 and scoring Hoobastank a pair of Grammy noms.

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Next week, the veteran band will celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Reason by performing the album in its entirely during an intimate show at The Echo in Los Angeles on Monday (Dec. 11). The album is also receiving a special edition vinyl reason, with new album artwork and a previously unreleased cover of Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” included.

Prior to the band celebrating the milestone, Hoobastank guitarist Dan Estrin answered 20 questions about his upbringing, The Reason turning 20, and the band’s plans for next year.

  1. What’s the first piece of music that you bought for yourself, and what was the medium? 

Guns N’ Roses, Appetite for Destruction. On vinyl. With the original album artwork. Yes I still have it!

  1. What was the first concert you saw?

Lollapalooza, 1992. Irvine Meadows. Irvine CA.

  1. What did your parents do for a living when you were a kid? 

My dad had his own business supplying/selling clothing to stores, and my mom worked at a film company.

  1. Who made you realize you could be an artist full-time? 

I don’t remember it being someone specific. I just blindly went for it. And I think I came to the realization on my own. My parents were always extremely supportive though.

  1. What’s at the top of your professional bucket list? 

We have played so many amazing venues in our career. But we’ve never played Madison Square Garden. One of these days! We’ve also never won a Grammy. Nominated for three. But lost.

  1. How did your hometown/city shape who you are? 

These are the things that were always around us. The stuff that we grew up doing, things we were exposed to, which had to have shaped who we are. Skateboarding, riding BMX, snowboarding, motocross, going to the beach, swimming, hiking, baseball, basketball, listening to and playing music. Going to local shows. Hanging with family. 

  1. What’s the last song you listened to? 

Fleetwood Mac, “The Chain.”

  1. If you could see any artist in concert, dead or alive, who would it be? 

The Beatles, Elvis, Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Pink Floyd.

9.  What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen happen in the crowd of one of your sets? 

Recently, we were outside onstage looking out at a sea of people. And way out in the distance was the most amazing lightning storm I have ever seen. That… Or a dude, crowd-swimming in his wheelchair. That was pretty awesome!

  1. How has your creative process changed over the years? 

It honestly hasn’t changed too much. I still pick up my guitar or bass and randomly put my fingers somewhere. Sometimes I play something that inspires me, and other times I don’t. If I play something I like or I find interesting I quickly record it on my phone leaving myself a note. Then I’ll go work on it at some point later in my studio. What has drastically changed is the technology. I just have so much more access to so many tools that allow me to be creative.

11. The Reason is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary. How do you look back on that moment for that band today? 

That was by far the most exciting, fulfilling time of my life. I look back and have the fondest and best memories. Creating music with my friends for a living has been an absolute dream come true.

  1. Hoobastank’s self-titled album achieved plenty of success two years before The Reason. What did the band set out to accomplish with its follow-up? 

I think we were just riding high at the moment. Everybody in the band felt great after the success of our debut self-titled album. I personally felt extremely confident at that time. Very focused, driven and obsessed with creating and writing songs. We never got together as a band to discuss what we wanted to accomplish with its follow-up. We didn’t really have to. It was somewhat unspoken and obvious where our heads were at.

  1. “Out of Control,” not “The Reason,” was the album’s lead single. Why was that the right decision for you guys? 

As long as we have been a band, we have always written and played different styles of songs, whether the song was heavy rock or a slower ballad. But the majority of our songs leaned towards being rock or heavy rock. So we always wanted to lead with a song that we felt represented us best. “Out of Control” was that song for us. We knew we were going to get to “The Reason” at some point, but we were very adamant about leading with a rock song.

  1. “The Reason” reached No. 2 on the Hot 100. How surprised were you that the song became one of your defining hits? 

I think we were surprised at how massive it became, and still is. But we also knew the record company loved the song and was going to do everything they could to get it out there. 

  1. “The Reason” is a perennial karaoke and cover-song favorite. Do you have a favorite version of the song that’s not your own? 

Every single day, we get tagged in videos of people covering it. It’s pretty amazing. All different styles, from funk versions to Steve Aoki doing a remix at Tomorrowland. We’ve seen a country version, a group of dads that sing and harmonize together, punk rock versions, heavy metal versions, people playing it on drums, guitar, bass and piano. Different vocal performances and Latin versions. And so on. It’s insane! My favorite karaoke videos are when it gets to the bridge where the lyrics belt out “and the reason is youuuu.“ Watching and hearing the entire bar sing It together is always awesome!

  1. What’s one thing your most devoted fans don’t know about Hoobastank? 

I honestly have no idea what our fans don’t know. If they are hardcore devoted fans, then they probably know everything. We are pretty transparent. So if they don’t know something, chances are it’s intentional and this is the last place I would say it!

  1. What’s your karaoke go-to? 

I don’t karaoke. I actually never have. I go up onstage and play music with my best friends! No disrespect to all you karaoker’s. I’ve seen some pretty badass performances. I just need my guitar as my security blanket.

  1. What movie, or song, always makes you cry? 

“Dust In The Wind” by Kansas. There is so much emotion in the melodies, music and lyrics. the middle section violin solo gets me every time. The George Michael cover of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” with Elton John is another one.

  1. What’s one piece of advice you would give to your younger self? 

Chill the f*ck out! Sometimes I wonder what’s the one piece of advice my younger self could give/remind my current older self. 

  1. What can Hoobastank fans look forward to in 2024 and beyond?

Hopefully some new music. We have been sending ideas back and forth to each other. Getting together to try working new song ideas out. We will also be out on the road off and on all year, celebrating The Reason 20-year anniversary.

07 Dec 2023

Emma Stone Reacts to Rumors Taylor Swift Wrote ‘When Emma Falls in Love’ About Her

Did Taylor Swift write “When Emma Falls in Love” about Emma Stone? The world may never know.

Both stars were in attendance Wednesday evening (Dec. 6) at the premiere of Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimos’ new film starring Stone opposite Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe and Margaret Qualley. And on the red carpet, Stone was asked about the Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) Vault track that had many fans obsessing over whether she was its subject.

Unfortunately for Swifties, the 35-year-old actress’ response didn’t clear anything up. “You would have to ask her,” she told Entertainment Tonight of Swift.

Stone — who is a Billboard-charting artist thanks to her La La Land duet “City of Stars” with Ryan Gosling — and the “Anti-Hero” singer are longtime friends, first meeting when both of them were teenagers. Earlier this year, the Easy A star attended one of Swift’s kickoff Eras Tour shows in Glendale, Ariz., after which Stone said of the musician, “She’s a wonderful friend. She blows my mind.”

On Wednesday night, it was Swift’s turn to support Stone. After walking the red carpet ahead of the screening at the DGA Theater in New York City, TIME‘s 2023 Person of the Year was spotted in the audience sitting next to Suki Waterhouse and Robert Pattinson.

And while confirmation may never come regarding fan theories that “When Emma Falls in Love” was inspired by Stone, many listeners remain convinced. On the previously unreleased track, written circa 2010, Swift sings, “When Emma falls in love, she calls up her mom/ Jokes about the ways that this one could go wrong/ She waits and takes her time/ ‘Cause Little Miss Sunshine always thinks it’s gonna rain.”

When those lyrics dropped alongside the rest of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) in July, the question for some theorists wasn’t whether the track was about Stone, but whether the specific romance described in the song was Stone’s famous relationship with her The Amazing Spiderman costar Andrew Garfield.

The Oscar winner and Garfield dated for a few years before breaking up in 2015. In 2020, Stone married comedy writer Dave McCary, and the pair welcomed their daughter Louise Jean in March 2021.