Music News

07 Jun 2023

Niall Horan Says One Direction Reunion Conversation ‘Hasn’t Happened’ Yet

Ever since One Direction went on hiatus in 2015, fans have been wanting a reunion. In a new interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, Niall Horan gave Directioners a realistic response when asked if the superstar fivesome will reunite for a performance.

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“It’s just like the conversation hasn’t happened,” the 29-year-old singer explained. “It’s a great legacy to have. No, I don’t think [asking about the reunion] sucks the air out the room. It’s more, the answer’s still the same. The conversation hasn’t happened.”

He continued, “We speak regularly, but that conversation hasn’t happened. God knows whether it ends up being — it could be like the Friends reunion, it could be a whole tour. God knows what it is, but no, it hasn’t been spoken about.”

However, Horan assured that he’ll be performing some One Direction songs on upcoming shows in support of his The Show album. “I’ve never been one to hide away from it. They’re great songs,” he said. “There’s so many on there that feel like my kind of stuff as well. And it’s good to make new versions of as well.”

Horan’s third studio album, The Show, will be arriving on June 9. Heartbreak Weather, the crooner’s previous LP, peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 in March 2020.

Watch the full interview below.

07 Jun 2023

ONE N’ ONLY Talk 5th-Anniversary Album ‘Departure’ & Share Heartfelt Message to SWAGs: Interview

ONE N’ ONLY, the Japanese dance and vocal group that blends J-pop and K-pop to create “JK-pop,” released its new album, Departure, on May 17. This album represents the culmination of the “5 N’ 5” project, which began in January to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the group’s formation. Billboard Japan recently spoke with the six members of the group.

You’ve had several releases during your fifth year, but now you’ve capped them off with the release of Departure. It’s a really full album, packed with songs.

HAYATO: It has all the songs we’ve released over the past five months, of course, but it also has a lot of new songs. It’s a special album, and a lot of care went into making it. We didn’t just throw in all our past songs.

So it must have been really tough for you when you were making it.

Everyone: It was so tough! (they laugh)

HAYATO: There were constant release events, and from what I can remember we were always recording material, so we were super busy.

TETTA: I think it’s probably the busiest ONE N’ ONLY has ever been.

EIKU: We met a lot of SWAGs, too (“SWAGs” is the nickname for ONE N’ ONLY fans).

TETTA: We also gave a speech at the premiere of the movie Battle King!! We’ll Rise Again. Our schedules were really packed. We also did a tour of Latin America, took part in EBiDAN THE PARADE (an event put on by their talent agency), and went on a solo tour. When it was all going on, I just had to remind myself that when it was all done, I’d have grown a lot as a person.

The songs on the album are colorful and unconstrained by genre. Which are your personal favorites?

REI: I like “Call me” the most. It’s addictive, and it has elements that will help it go viral on TikTok. It has a reggae feel, and talking to our voice trainer impressed on me just how important it was to have the rhythm in the background. We grew a lot through our work in Latin America, which is what I think put us in the right position to sing the lyrics to “Call me.”

What about you, HAYATO? What’s your favorite song?

HAYATO: I like the first song, “CIRCLE.” JUNE wrote it for us two years ago, and we’ve been keeping it in our pocket till the time was right. I’ve always loved it, so I asked for it to be put on the album. This is our first song to be performed entirely by the rap team, so it holds a special place in my heart.

What about you, rap team members KENSHIN and NAOYA?

KENSHIN: I sang on the song, and it was really hard. The rapping was technical, and there was a lot I had to do in terms of technique, so I broke each part down and analyzed it, one by one.

Like HAYATO said, the song itself was written two years ago, and at the time I couldn’t quite get a good grip on it. But I’ve experienced a lot over the past two years, and it seems like all I’ve learned has really come together. I was happy to be able to sing on “Circle,” and I think it’s a very special song.

NAOYA: This song has an inner strength. It’s not like the sound itself is super powerful, and the song’s hook is laid back, but when I sang on it, I hoped to accent the song with something new. I don’t think that the me of two years ago could have sung that hook. It’s a song that I can sing because of where I am today.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how you perform it live.

HAYATO: It’s probably going to be pretty aggressive. Before we finished recording, we lined the songs all up once. We were talking about the songs, and everyone agreed that “Circle” got them fired up. I think it came out really well.

KENSHIN: I also really like “Set a Fire.” The album has a lot of aggressive songs and a lot of fascinating songs, but “Set a Fire” is a lighter song, in a good way. It’s a party song. When we were thinking about how we could improve ONE N’ ONLY’s live shows, we strongly felt that we needed something that everyone could take part in, that would make them all be like, “ONE N’s shows are so fun!” I think this song adds that kind of spice.

TETTA: It’ll probably get people moving in Latin America. It’d be great to perform outdoors!

NAOYA: I like “10,000 miles,” which is named after the distance between here and Brazil. I personally love the sound of the song, and the fact that we performed in Brazil is what makes us so right to sing this song. Our SWAGs in Latin America are so far away, but we’re always thinking about them, and this song expresses how even though we’re physically far apart, we’re together in spirit.

Wow, looking at the distance as an actual number, that’s really far away.

NAOYA: Yeah. And yet, despite this distance, our fans are out there supporting us. I feel so thankful.

TETTA: I also like “10,000 miles.” It expresses the way we feel, always keeping our SWAGs number one in our hearts. I recommend the song, because it’s got a gentle feel but the sound strikes right at your heart, which I love.

The album is full of bold, rich songs, with both a JK-pop and a Western pop feel.

EIKU: Yeah, it’s a rich album. I like “Reflection,” which I helped write, but I also like “Be Alright,” which is only on the standard version of the album. I played guitar on the recording, and both the melody and the lyrics are wonderful. Even when you’re trying your best every day, there are times when your spirit just crumbles. When that happens, instead of someone trying to encourage you, it feels better to hear “you’re not alone,” “it’ll be alright,” “we’re here for you.” That’s what I wanted to convey when I sang the song.

It sounds like the kind of song that would bring the audience to tears when played live.

EIKU: And us singers, too (laughs). I think that’s the kind of song it’s going to turn out to be.

Do you have a message you’d like to share with the people who are looking forward to this densely packed new album?

HAYATO: Every day has been a really fulfilling one during this fifth year commemorative project, and our new album is the culmination of our series of recent releases. We named it Departure because it’s a starting point, and we want to pick up speed from here. Once we make our spring tour a great success, we’ll use what we learn from the experience going forward, showing off a ONE N’ ONLY that is steadily evolving. I hope everyone can feel how special this album is, a commemoration of our fifth anniversary, and that they experience this boundless emotion together with us. 

—This interview by Kana Yoshida first appeared on Billboard Japan

07 Jun 2023

Here’s How Willie Nelson Reacted to Maren Morris Dressing in Drag As Him

After seeing Maren Morris offer her own interpretation of his iconic style, Willie Nelson has some thoughts.

On Wednesday (June 7), Morris graced the cover of Billboard alongside drag stars Eureka O’Hara, Landon Cider, Sasha Colby and Symone. Surrounded by all kinds of different drag, Morris decided to dress in full Willie Nelson drag, complete with the “Always on My Mind” singer’s signature braids and old-school country look.

Billboard asked Nelson what he thought of Maren’s take on his classic look, and the country icon seemed to offer his personal stamp of approval. “Was wondering where that outfit went,” he wrote in a cheeky comment on Instagram. Morris had her own thoughts on the look, posting a photo of herself to her stories saying she looked like “Willie meets Wednesday,” referring to the lovably misanthropic member of The Addams Family.

In their roundtable conversation, Morris and the drag performers talked at length about the ongoing legislative attacks against the LGBTQ community, and what people can do to fight back. Morris, for one, offered some advice to her fellow country artists on speaking up for what you believe in.

“You’re going to lose fans along the way — that is just part and parcel of being public-facing. But there is a lane that you’re widening,” she said. “I know everyone likes money, but is it worth your biography saying that you never picked a side because both sides pay money to buy a T-shirt?”

Check out Maren Morris’ look and read Willie Nelson’s comment below:

Maren Morris in drag as Willie Nelson photographed on May 9, 2023 in Los Angeles.

Maren Morris in drag as Willie Nelson photographed on May 9, 2023 in Los Angeles. Hair by Laura Polko at PRTNRS. Makeup by Diane Buzzetta at Blended Strategy. Drag Makeup Consulting by Landon Cider. Manicure by Queenie Nguyen at Nailing Hollywood. Styling by Dani Michelle at The Only Agency. Vintage shirt and bolo tie, Our Legacy jeans, Nick Fouquet hat.

Munachi Osegbu

07 Jun 2023

Celebrities Who Have Attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour

From Dua Lipa and Selena Gomez to Frank Ocean and Paul McCartney, here are all the celebrities who have made appearances at Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour stops.

Beyoncé

Beyoncé performs onstage during the opening night of the “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” at Friends Arena on May 10, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood

Beyoncé‘s Renaissance tour is in full swing, and amid the tens of thousands of people the “Alien Superstar” singer performs for every night are a slew of her famous friends and fans who have come to support her.

The Renaissance World Tour kicked off in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 17 with an impressive, three-hour showcase of 37 hits, and is set to continue throughout Europe until July 9, before heading to Toronto for two dates at Rogers Centre. The tour heads to the United States, starting with Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field and making stops in Chicago, East Rutherford, N.J., Atlanta, Houston and more before concluding Sept. 27 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Among the famous faces spotted in the crowd of various tour stops were Sir Paul McCartney, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa, Bey’s Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland and many, many more.

See below for all the celebrities who have made appearances at Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour stops, either in the audience or on stage, which we’ll be updating as the 32-time Grammy winner makes her way across the globe.

07 Jun 2023

Julianne Hough & Skylar Astin to Co-Host ‘The Tony Awards: Act One’

Julianne Hough and Skylar Astin will co-host The Tony Awards: Act One, a live pre-show on Pluto TV, on Sunday June 11 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. ET/3:30-5:00 p.m. PT.

Both stars have found success both on stage and television. Hough, star of last season’s Broadway play Potus, has received three Primetime Emmy nominations for outstanding choreography on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. She won in 2015.

Astin, who originated the role of Georg in the Tony-winning musical Spring Awakening, stars in the CBS sitcom So Help Me Todd.

Viewers can access The Tony Awards: Act One on their smart TV, streaming device, mobile app or online by going to Pluto TV and clicking on the “Pluto TV Celebrity” channel (no payment, registration or sign-in required).

Immediately following the pre-show, The 76th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Ariana DeBose, will air live coast-to-coast from the United Palace in New York City’s Washington Heights, from 8:00-11:00 p.m. ET/5:00-8:00 p.m. PT on CBS and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+.

DeBose, a Tony nominee for Summer: The Donna Summer Musical and an Oscar winner for the reboot of West Side Story, also hosted last year’s Tony broadcast. She’s hosted the Tonys two years running since Neil Patrick Harris hosted three years in a row from 2011-13.

The Tony Awards have been televised since 1967, and have been broadcast on CBS since 1978.

The Tony Awards are produced in collaboration with Tony Award Productions – a joint venture of the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing – and White Cherry Entertainment. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss are executive producers for White Cherry Entertainment. Weiss will serve as director.

07 Jun 2023

Michael Bibi’s Brain Cancer Diagnosis: What Is CNS Lymphoma?

U.K. producer Michael Bibi‘s managers at Prime Culture announced earlier this week that the producer and Solid Grooves label head has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called CNS Lymphoma. They said that Bibi is currently undergoing treatment and will not be playing any live shows “for the foreseeable future.”

What is CNS Lymphoma?

According to Cancer.gov, primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma is “a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lymph tissue of the brain and/or spinal cord.” The lymph system is part of the immune system, which is made up of lymph, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, the spleen, thymus, tonsils and bone marrow.

“Lymphocytes (carried in the lymph) travel in and out of the central nervous system (CNS). It is thought that some of these lymphocytes become malignant and cause lymphoma to form in the CNS,” according to the government agency. “Primary CNS lymphoma can start in the brain, spinal cord, the or meninges (the layers that form the outer covering of the brain).”

Signs of CNS Lymphoma can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, double vision, hearing loss or seizures, with tests of the eyes, brain and spinal cord used to diagnose the disorder. It is a rare disease, with around 1,500 new cases in the U.S. each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

After a diagnosis of CNS Lymphoma, tests are typically done to find out if the cancer has spread within the brain and spinal cord or to the eyes. According to Cancer.gov, typical treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, steroid therapy, targeted therapy, high-dose chemo with stem cell transplant and immunotherapy, though surgery is not typically done to treat primary CNS. The historic prognosis of CNS Lymphoma has overall survival rate of 1.5 months when untreated and a five-year survival rate of 30% for people under 70.

“We are deeply sorry to share the bad news that a week ago Michael Bibi has been diagnosed with CNS Lymphoma, a rare cancer of the brain,” the statement from Bibi’s management read. “Michael is currently undergoing cancer treatment in hospital, supported by his close friends and family. While he is in treatment, he will be unavailable for any shows for the foreseeable future as he takes time away to recover.”

Bibi, 33, has been in the midst of the Solid Grooves residency at DC10 in Ibiza, with the popular DJ scratched from the upcoming scheduled show on Thursday (June 8); he was also scheduled to play upcoming festivals, including the U.K.’s Parklife and Glastonbury and EXIT Festival in Serbia.

07 Jun 2023

Britney Spears Says This Song Is Her New Favorite She’s Ever Released

Britney Spears has declared a new favorite Britney Spears song.

After previously sharing that she was partial to “The Hook Up” from her 2003 album In the Zone, the pop star has revealed that 2007’s “Get Naked (I Got a Plan)” now takes first place in her mind. Sharing an old video of her dancing to the track, Spears wrote in her caption of her post — which she deleted less than 24 hours later — “This is a repost from Maui last year !!! I know it’s not that great BUT the song is my favorite song I’ve ever done !!!”

“It was really weird because my dancers took the stage for this song,” she added. “Oh well !!! I listened to this song today and actually realized it for the first time ?????? !!!”

The “Toxic” singer went on to allude to how her 13-year conservatorship — which was terminated late 2021 — may have prevented her from realizing her love for the The Blackout deep cut sooner. “I guess it was all those rules you know !!!” she continued. “Guess all those rules and not having a voice for 13 years in what I wanted gave a lot of people a thrill ride !!! Oh well !!! Psss no wonder I quit the business JUST SAYING !!!”

Per Spears’ final remark, she hasn’t had a proper solo release since her 2016 record Glory. In 2022, however, she did lend her vocals to Elton John’s “Hold Me Closer” mashup, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 last year.

She has remained active on social media, however, and in recent weeks shared glimpses into her life at home with husband Sam Asghari. In May, for instance, the couple showed off their home garden in a PDA-packed video.

Revisit “Get Naked (I Got a Plan)” from Blackout below:

07 Jun 2023

Slipknot’s Clown Sitting Out Band’s Summer Dates to Support Wife During ‘Health Issues’

On the eve of the kick-off of their summer tour, Slipknot drummer Shawn “Clown” Crahan announced that he will not be joining the band for the time being in order to spend time with his wife as she deals with an undisclosed health issue.

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“Hello to all of our fans, it’s the clown. I would like to take a moment to tell everyone that I’m back home supporting my wife through some health issues, and I’ll be back on the road as soon as I can,” the percussionist wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday morning (June 7). “We’ve been through this before and as always, we appreciate the love and support. See all of you very soon.”

The announcement came just as the masked metalers were slated to kick off their tour at the Nova Rock Festival on Wednesday night in Austria. At press time there was no additional information about how many shows Clown would miss on the tour, which includes a June 8 date at the Rock For People festival in the Czech Republic, followed by a June 10 slot at the Greenfield Festival in Switzerland, the Download Festival on June 11 in the U.K. and additional headlining and festival gigs across Europe through June 30.

Slipknot are hitting the road to support 2022’s The End, So Far album, which, upon its release in October continued the band’s streak of No. 1s on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums charts, debuting atop all three rankings on the chart dated Oct. 15.

See Clown’s post below.

07 Jun 2023

Social Distortion Postpone 2023 N. American Tour Amid Singer Mike Ness’ Tonsil Cancer Treatment

SoCal punk veterans Social Distortion have postponed their planned 2023 North American summer tour in the midst of singer Mike Ness’ treatment for stage-one tonsil cancer. The “I Was Wrong” band announced the news on Wednesday (June 7), revealing that the previously announced tour slated to kick off on June 30 is being pushed back to an as-yet-unannounced date to allow Ness, 61, to recover from a recent surgery to treat the ailment.

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“We think that life is going to go according to our plan, but it has a way of saying ‘I don’t think so!,’” wrote Ness in a statement announcing the postponement. “In the midst of pre-production [on the band’s now-paused eighth studio album], I was diagnosed with stage one tonsil cancer. I was feeling well enough to continue with recording in the studio up until the very day before surgery. The band and I were so inspired and excited to lay down these tracks, which by the way sound f-ing AWESOME!”

Ness said recovery from the surgery is a “day-by-day process,” with radiation scheduled to begin in three weeks, which is the last anticipated treatment. “The team of doctors are certain that once finished with this course, I will be able to start the healing and recovery process,” he said. “We expect a full recovery enabling me to live a long and productive life.”

The singer said it breaks his heart to postpone the tour dates, and the album release, but that he needs this time to heal. He thanked Social D’s loyal fans for their patience. “While it will take a little longer-I promise you that it will be delivered and it will exceed your expectations,” he promised. “I want you all to know that this has opened my eyes to a whole new struggle. I know it’s one that many of you or your loved ones have personally endured, and my heart goes out to you-because I now know what it’s like from this heavy experience… We WILL get through this…”

The tour, with support from the Bell Rays, was originally slated to kick off on June 30 in Canby, Oregon and keep the band on the road through an August 9 show in Tucson, Arizona. The untitled new album is the long-awaited follow-up to 2011’s Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes.

See Ness’ post below.

07 Jun 2023

‘America’s Got Talent’ Winner Michael Grimm Hospitalized, ‘Sedated’ & on a Ventilator

Michael Grimm could use some positive thoughts sent his way. The America’s Got Talent season five winner was recently hospitalized and placed on a ventilator with a severe unknown illness that’s wreaking havoc on his mind and body, according to a video posted by his wife, Lucie Zolcerva-Grimm.

“I know you all love Michael and while I want to protect his privacy and his request to not disclose anything, we’re kind of in a situation,” she began, tearing up at times, in a long update shared Tuesday (June 6) on Michael’s Instagram page. “It’s been an emotional ride.”

“You may have noticed that he was struggling with his health a lot, lacking energy and not being able to fulfill shows,” Lucie continued, revealing that during Memorial Day weekend, her husband’s mystery condition kicked into high gear.

Over the holiday, Lucie said, Michael began looking sickly and had trouble lifting his head or responding to conversation, experiencing tremors and eventually speaking “gibberish.” He was rushed to the ICU and placed on a ventilator, heavily sedated so that he wouldn’t stroke out or flatline.

“The doctors were finally able to remove the ventilator today, and he is breathing on his own,” Lucie said. “However, due to the last week, his body went through a lot. They do still have him sedated so he doesn’t seize or flatline from the fluctuating blood pressure.”

“We don’t know what’s wrong,” she added. “My priority right now is to stand by Michael.”

To fans wanting to help the family, Lucie encouraged people to send supportive letters to Michael and provided information on how to donate money toward his medical expenses. “I’m asking all the fans to be patient, please,” she said. “Keep Michael in their prayers, in their minds and their hearts.”

The 44-year-old singer-guitarist was the fifth ever AGT winner, taking the prize in 2010. At the time, he revealed that it was then-girlfriend Lucie who inspired his winning finale performance of Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman.” One day after winning, Michael proposed to Lucie on Ellen, and they’ve been married since 2011.

Watch Lucie’s video below: