State Champ Radio Music News
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Kenan Thompson is teasing the possibility of casting changes for the next season of Saturday Night Live. Following the conclusion of the iconic sketch comedy show’s 50th season on May 17 — hosted by Scarlett Johansson with musical guest Bad Bunny — the 47-year-old comedian and longtime SNL cast member called the season’s end “bittersweet” […]
Billy Joel’s daughter is speaking out in support of her father following his recent health diagnosis.
Alexa Ray Joel — the daughter of the “Piano Man” and his ex-wife, model Christie Brinkley — took to Instagram on Sunday (May 25) to thank fans for their support and share an uplifting message after her father revealed he had been diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a type of brain disorder.
“SOUND UP 🕊️ We love you and we got you, Pop!” Alexa wrote alongside a black-and-white illustration of a father holding his young daughter’s hand. “I just wanted to thank you all for the beautiful outpouring of love and support amid the recent news of My Father’s health diagnosis.”
She continued, “My Dad is the strongest and most resilient man I’ve ever known… and he’s entirely committed to making a full recovery with ongoing physical-therapy treatments as he continues to regain his strength.”
Last week, Joel announced the cancellation of all upcoming performances due to complications related to NPH.
“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance,” he said in a statement. “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period. Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritizing his health.”
The cancellations include several scheduled appearances throughout summer and fall 2025, as well as early 2026, including joint shows with Sting, Rod Stewart, and Stevie Nicks.
Alexa Ray concluded her message with a touching quote from her father’s 1993 ballad, “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel),” from his River of Dreams album.
“The genuine care, empathy, and concern from everyone means so much to him… it means a lot to me, too,” she wrote. “‘Someday We’ll All Be Gone / But Lullabies Go On And On / They Never Die / That’s How You And I Will Be.’ ⚓️ The music continues…”
A singer, songwriter and pianist in her own right, Alexa Ray has shared the stage with her father on several occasions, including shows in recent years during his historic residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Christie Brinkley, Alexa’s mother, also shared a message of support for her ex-husband on Saturday (May 24).
“Dear Billy, the whole Brinkley gang is sending you lots of love and good wishes for a full and speedy recovery,” she wrote on Instagram. “I’m sure I’m speaking for everyone in that room when I say please take good care of yourself, we all want you back in that white hot spotlight, you’re OUR piano man.”
See Alexa Ray’s full tribute to her father on Instagram here.
Twenty-five years ago, the self-proclaimed La Chica Dorada bid farewell to the old millennium in unparalleled style. With the release of her fifth studio album, Paulina, on May 23, 2000, in the U.S., Paulina Rubio reaffirmed her status as a Latin pop icon. It was the evolution of an artist who, despite an already impressive […]
OneRepublic are heading back Down Under. The GRAMMY-nominated band led by Ryan Tedder will return to Australia and New Zealand in early 2026 for their Sweet Escape Tour, joined by Swedish pop powerhouse Zara Larsson.
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The tour kicks off at Auckland’s Spark Arena on Feb. 4, followed by stops at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena (Feb. 6), Gold Coast’s HOTA Outdoors (Feb. 11), Brisbane’s Riverstage (Feb. 12), Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl (Feb. 15), and wrapping at Perth’s RAC Arena (Feb. 18). In addition to the headline shows, OneRepublic will also appear at Lookout Festival in Lake Macquarie on Feb. 7 and Torquay on Feb. 14.
Known for their cinematic pop anthems, OneRepublic’s return comes off the back of their sixth studio album Artificial Paradise, released in 2025, featuring tracks like “Hurt,” “Sink or Swim,” and their recent collab with Kygo, “Chasing Paradise.”
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The band’s extensive catalogue includes global hits like “Counting Stars,” “Apologize,” “Good Life,” and their Top Gun: Maverick smash “I Ain’t Worried,” which has now surpassed 3 billion streams globally.
Over the years, OneRepublic has carved out an impressive Billboard chart legacy. Their breakout single “Apologize,” with Timbaland, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2007, remaining on the chart for 47 weeks. In 2013, “Counting Stars” also reached No. 2, spending a massive 68 weeks on the chart. Other notable entries include “Good Life” (No. 8 peak), “All The Right Moves” (No. 18), and “Secrets” (No. 21).
Joining them on the road is Zara Larsson, making her highly anticipated live debut in the region. With a platinum-selling discography that includes “Lush Life,” “Symphony,” and “Never Forget You,” Larsson’s addition to the lineup promises a night of powerhouse vocals and pop precision. She’s expected to preview new material from her upcoming fourth international album, teased by recent single “Pretty Ugly.”
Presales begin May 28, with general on-sale kicking off May 30 at 2 p.m. local time. Visit livenation.com.au or livenation.co.nz for more information.
Neil Young revisited one of the most personal songs in his extensive catalog during a special benefit concert on Friday night (May 23), delivering the first live performance of “My Boy” in more than four decades.
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The show, a solo acoustic set held on the grounds of Ontario’s Lakefield College School, marked Young’s first full performance of 2025 and supported restoration efforts for a historic 116-year-old cottage nearby. Despite the cold and rainy conditions, attendees paid up to $1,500 for tickets to witness the intimate 18-song performance.
While the set featured classics like “Heart of Gold,” “Comes a Time” and “Sugar Mountain,” it was the mid-show performance of “My Boy” that drew audible emotion from the crowd. Originally released on 1985’s Old Ways, the banjo-led ballad is a tribute to Young’s eldest son, Zeke. The song had not been performed live since the 1983 Solo Trans tour.
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“Why are you growin’ up so fast, my boy?” Young sang. Hours earlier, he had posted a vintage photo on social media of himself with Zeke and his late father, renowned Canadian journalist Scott Young. “Practicing for Lakefield, I was playing ‘My Boy,’ thinking about my own dad. I knew he must have heard this song,” Young wrote.
“My dad was a great guy and Zeke is a wonderful son. I think ‘My Boy’ is my favorite recording of all the ones I have done.”
Young also surprised fans with rarely played tracks like “Love/Art Blues” (last performed in 2008) and the CSNY deep cut “Name of Love,” which hadn’t been seen on a setlist since 2014. He closed the show with “Old Man,” although a printed setlist hinted at two intended encore tracks — “Throw Your Hatred Down” and “Rockin’ in the Free World” — that were likely scrapped due to inclement weather.
The show comes ahead of Young’s Love Earth Tour, which launches June 18 in Sweden. The U.S. leg kicks off Aug. 8 in Charlotte, North Carolina. While the setlist remains under wraps, the tour is expected to spotlight tracks from his upcoming album Talkin’ to the Trees, which arrives on June 13 via Reprise Records.
Australian duo Royel Otis have issued an apology relating to the lyrics of their latest single, “moody.”
The single, which was released on May 9 as the first taste of their new era, was written by the pair (comprising Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic) alongside Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Allen.
However, the track has reportedly attracted criticisms of misogyny, largely due to the chorus line which states, “My girl’s a b–h when she’s moody.” In a press release issued alongside the song, Royel Otis remained relatively tight-lipped, simply noting “It’s a song about a girl,” in keeping with the text featured on the single’s artwork.
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In a report from Australian outlet news.com.au, a former school friend of Pavlovic claimed the band were “deleting [social media] comments that call out the lyrics and video, while only replying to the positive ones.” The friend added, “In 2025, it’s disheartening to hear a local Australian artist – someone I know or I knew – casually refer to women as ‘b–hes’ in their lyrics.”
A statement received from the publication by Kay and Hughes Art and Entertainment Lawyers quoted the track’s recent successes while downplaying the lyrical content present within.
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“This song is written from a specific perspective, it is not intended to convey a broader view or standpoint about women in general,” Royel Otis said in the statement. “We apologise if anyone understood those lyrics otherwise.”
Royel Otis first formed in 2019, releasing a series of EPs between 2021 and 2023 before issuing their debut album, Pratts & Pain in 2024. Though their “Sofa King” track reached No. 12 on the Alternative Airplay chart in 2023, the band found widespread fame last year following their cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dancefloor” for Australian radio station triple j’s Like a Version series.
The cover topped the Alternative Airplay charts and also peaked at No. 41 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. The group’s penchant for covers was again felt when their SiriusXM session rendition of The Cranberries‘ “Linger” was released, giving them their first appearance on the Hot 100 when it reached No. 94.
In late 2024, Royel Otis won four ARIA Awards from eight nominations, including best group and best rock album, while producer Chris Collins won best produced release and best engineered release for Pratts & Pain.
More recently, the pair performed two sold-out shows at the Troubadour in Los Angeles before announcing an additional run of U.S. dates for September and October as part of their Meet Me in the Car tour.
Australian Lorde fans are undoubtedly asking themselves “What Was That” after the New Zealand pop icon crashed a Sydney nightclub hosting a party dedicated to the musician.
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Lorde, who is heading toward the release of new album Virgin next month, is currently in Australia as part of the record’s promo trail. Her time in the country also happened to coincide with a special event hosted by Sydney venue Mary’s Underground.
Dubbed What Was That: A Club Night Dedicated to Lorde, the event took place on Sunday (May 25) with Australian DJ Xeimma behind the decks to spin the Kiwi musician’s hits. “We’re officially in the L4 era, so it’s only right we throw a party for our true Lorde & saviour!” the venue wrote on social media.
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However, footage from the event shows that Mary’s Underground also welcomed a special guest to the event, with Lorde herself showing up to bask in the festivities.
Appearing with no fanfare at all, Lorde can be seen within the crowd where only a couple of attendees recognized her, shaking her hand and exchanging pleasantries. However, after being noticed by a couple of other audience members, the club exploded into chaos as the musician was thrust into the spotlight.
As the event unfolded, Lorde soon found herself up on the stage, dancing along to her songs with other fans, and even setting up behind Xeimma’s DJ booth as fans kept their focus on her. “Still in disbelief. Feeling unbelievably grateful to Lorde for making this a night we’ll talk about for years,” Xeimma wrote on Instagram after the event.
“It’s official – Lorde came to my party on 25 May 2025,” she added. “After years of throwing events, this was one of the most rewarding nights of my life. Completely unmatched.”
Lorde recently launched into her latest era with the release of “What Was That” on April 24, with Virgin scheduled to arrive on June 27.
Last week, on May 19, Lorde shared the artwork to her next single, “Man Of The Year,” which she noted will arrive at an unspecified date this week. “An offering from really deep inside me,” she said of the track. “The song I’m proudest of on Virgin.”
Demi Lovato and Jordan ‘Jutes’ Lutes are married. The couple were wed in a ceremony in California on Sunday (May 25), the newlyweds confirmed to Vogue.
Lovato and Lutes said “I do” at around 4 p.m. PT on Sunday, according the outlet, which got an exclusive first reveal of the pop star’s Vivienne Westwood wedding dress. (See Lovato’s wedding gown here.)
Calling herself a longtime fan of Vivienne Westwood, Lovato opted for a custom-designed, corset bodice dress made from heavy silk satin fabric — paired with a cathedral-style veil made from ivory tulle — for her wedding ceremony. The bride’s hair was styled in soft waves.
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As Lovato told Vogue, “When I was thinking about [what dress style I wanted], I often found myself coming back to Vivienne’s designs — specifically how the silhouettes really compliment the curves in your body, and her use of corsets.”
Lovato changed into another Vivienne Westwood dress for their reception: “The Audrey,” an ivory silk satin column dress with a draped corset top and pearls cascading from the neckline, each strand “draped and attached by hand, one by one,” she said.
Just hours before the wedding, TMZ published paparazzi pictures of the bride and groom’s rehearsal from Saturday.
The wedding festivities, which were overseen by event planner Mindy Weiss, were long-awaited for the couple, who made their relationship public in August 2022 and got engaged on Dec. 16, 2023.
“Jordan, I cannot WAIT to marry you!!” Lovato gushed in a message to Jutes on Valentine’s Day, sharing a romantic set of photos from an Old Hollywood-style shoot with her then-fiancé on Instagram. “The past 3 years have been the best 3 years of my life and I have you to thank for that. I’m obsessed with your heart, your love and your light. I can’t wait to grow old with you and start a family together. Happy Valentine’s Day to the love of my life. I love you honey!!!”
Jutes matched the bride-to-be’s sentiments in a caption on his Instagram page, writing, “happy valentine’s day to the love of my life. words will never do you justice, and I’ll never stop feeling like the luckiest guy alive. there’s no better feeling than being loved by you. I adore you baby and I can’t wait to marry you.”
The duo have worked together on music, with Jutes contributing as a co-writer on three tracks that appeared on Lovato’s Holy Fvck album, which reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200 albums chart upon its release in 2022.
Virtual star Ironmouse, along with a host of other VTuber virtual talent, will perform at an IRL event in Los Angeles in July.
Fantastic Reality will feature a performance from Ironmouse, a massive virtual streaming and Twitch star, along with performances from virtual talent including Japanese virtual singer KAF and Jakarta’s virtual pop artist JKT48v. Together, these acts have a combined global following of almost 10 million.
But while the talent is virtual, the event will be very real. Fantastic Reality happens at The Vermont Hollywood on July 3 beginning at 7 p.m. For several of the performances, VTuber composer Daryl Vanessa Barnes will direct a live band, with performer and event co-producer Mariya serving as MC for the night, which will also feature music from both virtual and non-virtual DJs.
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Fantastic Reality is part of the VTuber (or “virtual YouTuber”) phenomenon happening in online spaces and featuring virtual artists of all shapes and sounds. These performers, who are not AI, create often anonymous content using real-time motion capture technology. The field typically fuses aesthetics of anime, video games, animation and the internet.
To wit, South Korean virtual boy band PLAVE, whose members’ real-life identities are hidden behind digital avatars but whose commercial performance and ambitions rival K-pop’s biggest human acts, recently became the first entirely virtual Korean act to surpass 1 million units sold, according to Circle Chart.
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Fantastic Reality is pushing the boundaries even further by bringing such virtual acts into an IRL space. The event is being presented by VTuber streaming app IRIAM, with co-producers Kou Mariya, Daryl Vanessa Barnes, ETC, Bulldog DM and Rust.
“Fantastic Reality is doing something that has always been impossible,” Mariya says in a statement. “We’re uniting our community in an intimate IRL space with a cutting-edge live show featuring international luminaries Ironmouse, KAF, JKT48v and more with a live band.”
See the full lineup below:
Courtesy of Fantastic Reality
Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley posed arm in arm on the red carpet for the first time on Saturday (May 24) in Rome, Italy, where the couple attended a dinner event together at the Palazzo Barberini.
Hurley shared a photo from their night out on Instagram, captioning the moment with “Roma” and several pink heart emojis; Cyrus commented on her post with red heart emojis. In pictures from the event, the actress — who wore a hot pink gown with sleeves that draped over her arms like a cape — is seen smiling brightly, with Cyrus by her side.
Also attending the event, which celebrated the opening of the new Valentino Garavani cultural space in Rome, was Hurley’s model son, Damian, who posed with his mom and Cyrus on the red carpet.
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Cyrus and Hurley made their relationship Instagram official in April, when they shared a photo of a kiss on Easter Sunday. Since then, they’ve made more appearances together on social media and have talked about each other in interviews with the media.
Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley are seen arriving at the opening of the new Valentino Garavani space on May 24, 2025 in Rome, Italy.
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The couple were both part of the cast of the 2022 Lionsgate comedy Christmas in Paradise, alongside Kelsey Grammar.
“We did very few scenes together but the couple times we were in the same scene there was a chemistry there,” Cyrus said on Apple Music’s The Ty Bentli Show the week after Easter. “We just laughed, and it was at a time I wasn’t laughing a lot.”
After filming wrapped, they reconnected over text message when Hurley unexpectedly reached out to tell the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer, who was going through a difficult period in his personal life, “You’ve got a friend in your corner.” Cyrus recalled, “Of all the people to reach out to me in that second that maybe I needed most… this friend who made me laugh.”
“She’s so impressively brilliant,” he said of Hurley. “She reminds me a lot of Dolly Parton. She’s a very smart businesswoman. If you can laugh together, you can make it through everything.”
Later in the Apple Music interview, Cyrus shared, “It’s been a long time since I’ve been this happy.”
On May 13, Hurley fielded a question from Entertainment Tonight about the relationship, smiling as she told the outlet, “Billy’s a very, very fabulous person. He’s a very gentle man, very nice. We’re very happy.”
