Music News

23 May 2023

Beyoncé’s Dad Wants Destiny’s Child to Reunite for ‘One Last Album’

Baby, can you handle this? It’s been 17 years since Destiny’s Child went on hiatus, but if Mathew Knowles had his way, he’d be all for the pioneering girl group getting back together.

“It’s a decision that the ladies would have to make,” Beyoncé‘s father said to Entertainment Tonight on Monday (May 23). “And I would certainly, certainly support that decision as I still manage Destiny’s Child. I would love to see that as well.”

Of course, the trio have reunited multiple times since the release of their 2004 album Destiny Fulfilled and 2005 greatest hits compilation #1s, including an unforgettable appearance during Beyoncé’s headlining Coachella set in 2018. Over the years, they’ve also teamed up for 2013’s “You Changed” off Kelly Rowland‘s Talk a Good Game and Michelle Williams‘ 2014 gospel single “Say Yes” as well as appearances in the visual album for Bey’s 2015 self-titled studio set Beyoncé.

“I think the fans will be just overjoyed, overwhelmed,” the elder Knowles continued. “And hopefully they do one last time in their career. Hopefully they give us one last album. Who knows? You never know. You never say it can’t happen. Because this is entertainment. A lot of things can happen.”

Of course, any chance for an official reunion would have to wait, considering Beyoncé just kicked off her electric Renaissance World Tour in Stockholm, Sweden earlier this month — though considering she’s included Destiny’s Child single “Cater 2 U” on the setlist, it wouldn’t be completely outside the realm of possibility for fans hope that Michelle and Kelly might make a surprise appearance somewhere along the tour route to perform the slow jam with their bestie and bandmate.

23 May 2023

Joe Jonas Shares a Taylor Swift Relationship Update, 15 Years After Their Breakup

Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas’ relationship was chronicled in several personal songs featured on Swift’s 2008 sophomore album Fearless. In the time since, the two have managed to move on — but what is the true status of their relationship now?

The Jonas Brothers singer gave curious Swifties an update on the Monday episode of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast.

“I’m cool with Taylor,” Jonas told Shepard. “We’re cool.” He added of her very loyal fanbase: “I hope to think they like me … No one f—s with the Swifties, you know?” 

Jonas and Swift dated between July and October of 2008; the pair’s relationship infamously ended when the Disney Channel alum broke up with his ex through a brief phone call — a move Swift publicly shaded during a 2008 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

“When I find that person that is right for me he’ll be wonderful and when I look at that person, I’m not even gonna be able to remember the boy who broke up with me over the phone in 25 seconds when I was 18,” she told the talk-show host at the time.

Fans can now hear Swift’s perspective on the breakup in Fearless‘ “Forever & Always,” which she confirmed was about Jonas following their split, but he insists their drama from then is a relic of the past. “It’s been many, many years removed,” he told Shepard.

Listen to Jonas’ appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast in full below.

23 May 2023

Musicians Who Attended Cannes Film Festival 2023: The Weeknd, Dua Lipa & More

The 76th edition of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival took over the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès from May 16 to 27, where some of the most captivating TV shows and films made their international premieres.

Beyond the actors, directors, producers and more at the event, a number of musical stars also made appearances at the festival’s iconic red carpet. The Weeknd, BLACKPINK‘s Jennie and Troye Sivan all attended The Idol premiere on May 22, as all three star in the HBO show co-created by The Weeknd himself alongside Sam Levinson and Reza Fahim.

Another BLACKPINK member to take on Cannes was Rosé, who attended the premiere of Monster, a drama by Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda that reportedly received a six-minute-long standing ovation from the audience.

Dua Lipa, meanwhile, made her red carpet debut with boyfriend Romain Gavras at the premiere for the film Omar La Fraise (The King of Algiers). “Last night in Cannes with my sweetheart,” Lipa wrote on Instagram alongside snapshots of herself cozying up to Gavras.

See below for our full gallery of musicians at 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

23 May 2023

Kim Kardashian Says She Couldn’t ‘Force Her Beliefs’ on Kanye West

Kim Kardashian is candidly reflecting on her divorce from Kanye West.

The SKIMS founder joined Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast this week, where she revealed that her different beliefs from the controversial rapper proved to be difficult. “You can’t force your beliefs and project that on someone that thinks something totally different,” she told the host of her ex-husband, who has been a vocal supporter of people like former President Donald Trump and even Adolf Hitler. “It’s OK to realize that this life is so short, and you should go and find the people that do align with what you really believe in.” 

While she called her six-year marriage to Ye “beautiful” rather than a “failure,” she shared that she couldn’t “help” someone who doesn’t want to be helped. “You can’t really force things upon other people,” she explained. “You can’t expect them to be where you’re at [and] at your level.”

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Kardashian filed for divorce from West in February 2021 after six years of marriage. Both sides initially said that the split would be amicable, but the relationship between the two superstars has turned increasingly tense in the two years since, especially amid Kardashian’s romance with comedian Pete Davidson in 2022.

“I think I’ll always be a hopeless romantic and always want to be in love and definitely love sharing my life with someone and love creating a life with someone,” Kardashian told Shetty, noting that she hasn’t dated anyone since Davidson.

Listen to the full podcast episode below.

23 May 2023

Cardi B Asks ‘Drag Race’ Stars Violet Chachki & Gottmik to Direct Her Next Music Video

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We don’t know when Cardi B will release new music, but we do know who she wants to be behind the cameras for her next video.

At a private party at The Bungalow in Santa Monica, Calif., on Monday night, Cardi B introduced a new summer-ready lime flavor to her Whipshots boozy whipped-cream line — and she wasn’t alone behind the bar. The superstar rapper invited RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni Violet Chachki (season 7 winner) and Gottmik (season 13 runner-up) to mix some cocktails with her, including a Cardi-rita topped with lime Whipshots.

Cardi B

‘We Just Went Double Platinum’: Cardi B Celebrates Vodka-Infused Whipshots…

Cardi took the opportunity with the queens to do a little business. “Can I ask you guys something?” Cardi said to the pair. “Can you guys direct my music video?”

The pair were definitely game. “Bi—, I would pay you to direct it!” Chachki shot back. “That would be my dream job!”

“Are you kidding me?” Gottmik chimed in, grabbing on to Cardi’s Pucci-bodysuited waist. “The way we’re going to cinch this little waist even smaller!”

“I love you guys,” Cardi added. “You guys are so creative, so amazing. And I really want you to direct my music video.”

“Y’all heard that, right?” Chachki confirmed, making sure the moment was captured on video.

When Cardi first joined the Bungalow crowd, she explained why she decided to team up with Starco Brands on Whipshots, which celebrated selling 2 million cans of the alcoholic whipped cream back in March.

“I remember when we were discussing this product during the pandemic, I just knew it was going to work,” she said. “I mean, who doesn’t like whipped cream? I thought it was sexy and fun like me. I’m just a fun-ass bi—.”

About the new lime flavor, Cardi added: “I hope you guys enjoy this flavor. It’s really cute. It tastes like Fruity Pebbles to me. But it’s strong, don’t get it twisted. This ain’t your f—ing Fruity Pebbles!”

It remains to be seen when Cardi will release her next album — which will be her first since her debut project, 2018’s Invasion of Privacy. Since then, she dropped the four-week Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion in 2020, plus her solo chart-topper “Up” in 2021. She also teamed up with GloRilla on the Hot 100 top 10 “Tomorrow 2” late last year.

Watch Cardi make her way through the Bungalow crowd below:

23 May 2023

Here’s Why Lupita Nyong’o Is ‘Not Surprised’ About Janelle Monae Dating Rumors

No, Lupita Nyong’o isn’t dating Janelle Monáe, but she’s “not surprised” that she’s been linked to the “Lipstick Lover” singer.

“She has magnetism that they were obviously picking up on,” the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress told Rolling Stone about Monáe, who identifies as nonbinary. “She is that enigmatic. People are curious about enigmatic people.”

Nyong’o and Monáe initially met at the 2014 Met Gala, and their immediate closeness ended up sparking dating rumors. “I don’t mind being associated with her in any capacity,” the actress said. “It’s built into her spirit. Her openness creates intimacy onscreen. It’s really cool to see her move from one thing to another and do it with such mastery.”

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While Nyong’o isn’t in a romantic relationship with Monáe, she has been dating television host Selema Masekela for some time, and the duo made their relationship Instagram official in December 2022. In the post, the two share various coordinating outfits with the sweet caption, “We just click!”

Monáe, meanwhile, is gearing up to release her long-awaited album, The Age of Pleasure, out June 9 via Wondaland Arts Society / Atlantic Records. The release will be her first studio album since 2018’s Grammy-nominated Dirty Computer.

The star also opened up to Rolling Stone about shedding expectations of being a queer icon. “I’m not obligated to share my story,” the star said for the cover story of the June 2023 issue. “Nobody’s obligated. But I do think it’s powerful for me to talk and give a name to some of these things.”

“You cannot project onto artists. You have to understand that experiences will be had and people will change and evolve and not be the person you look up to,” she added elsewhere in the interview. “As much as you love and care about me, I’m on my own journey that has nothing to do with music, has nothing to do with art.”

23 May 2023

Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale Opens Up About Her Experience with Anxiety and Impostor Syndrome

In recent years, many people — including musicians — have been silently battling mental health issues. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Sound Mind is back with a new installment of its signature series, Unmasked. 

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On the latest episode, Halestorm’s lead singer Lzzy Hale details her experience with anxiety and impostor syndrome. 

Since co-founding the band in her teens, Hale has quietly cemented herself as a powerhouse vocalist, deft and dynamic guitarist, and influential force at the forefront of a faithful fanbase. To date, the group has logged two back-to-back Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top 200, namely Into The Wild Life (2015) and Vicious (2018). 

In addition to selling out headlining shows worldwide, they’ve shared stages with the likes of Eric Church, Joan Jett, and Alice Cooper. Over the last few years, Lzzy’s reach has expanded to television personality and advocate for women and mental health. In fact, Hale is a member of the GRAMMY® Mental Health Panel. 

“Even though we’ve come a long way in the past few generations to break the stigma that has long shadowed mental health, there are still so many of us having a hard time finding a safe space,” she said. “Personally, I have suffered from depression — feeling like I’m trapped at the bottom of a well watching the world above go by without me — as well as paralyzing anxiety and impostor syndrome. These are battles I still fight daily, and by being honest and vulnerable about my own struggles, I want to give others hope. You are not alone.”

Unmasked offers a series of short-form video portraits exploring mental health issues through the lens of music’s biggest stars, spanning genres like hip-hop, rock, and pop. Each artist opens up about their personal experiences with a diverse array of mental health issues such as substance abuse, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and more. 

This series is particularly important because it reminds music fans that life isn’t perfect for their favorite artist. If we all work together, we can foster a community that removes stigmas, while promoting empathy and understanding around mental health.
Check out the Lzzy Hale in the latest episode of Unmasked and stay tuned for more from Billboard.

23 May 2023

Who Do You Think Should Win Season 23 of ‘The Voice’? Vote!

Another year, another season of The Voice in the books. The NBC singing competition’s 23rd season will wrap on Tuesday night (May 23), as five contestants compete to be crowned as the winner.

The final five in the show are Gina Miles (Team Niall), Grace West and NOIVAS (Team Blake), Sorelle (Team Chance) and D.Smooth (Team Kelly).

On Monday night, the finalists were tasked with performing an uptempo song and a ballad for the audience. Miles went with Taylor Swift’s “Style” and Sinéas O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”; West performed Vicki Lawrence’s “The Lights Went Out in Georgia” and Patsy Cline’s “She’s Got You”; NOIVAS opted for Lenny Kravitz’s “Fly Away” and Chris Stapleton’s “Cold”; Sorelle gave her unique rendition of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No Mountain High” and Lady Gaga’s “Million Reasons”; D.Smooth chose Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do for Love” and Johnny Gill’s “My, My, My.”

Following Monday’s set of solo, live finale performances, each contestant will perform a duet with their respective coaches — Niall Horan, Kelly Clarkson, Chance the Rapper and Blake Shelton.

Tuesday’s finale will also double as a celebration of Shelton’s final episode on the show. The program will feature special appearances and performances from Dolly Parton, Usher, Pharrell, John Legend, Nick Jonas, Camila Cabello, Cee Lo Green, Jennifer Hudson, Maroon 5, and Diplo with Lily Rose.

Who do you think should win season 23 of The Voice? Vote in our poll below.

23 May 2023

2023 MTV Video Music Awards Are Headed Back to New Jersey

The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards will be held at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Tuesday, Sept. 12. It will mark the second year in a row – and the third time in the past five years – that the show has been held at that venue.

This will be the 40th year for the VMAs, which originated as an irreverent, younger-skewing alternative to the Grammy Awards. The VMAs are now as old as the Grammys were in 1998, the year that a performance artist who went by the name Soy Bomb crashed Bob Dylan’s show-capping performance of “Love Sick.”

This will be the first time the show has been held at any one venue two years in a row since 2010-11, when it came from the Nokia Theatre (now Microsoft Theater) in Los Angeles.

This will be the sixth consecutive year that the VMAs has been based on the East Coast. That’s the longest that the traditionally bicoastal show has come from either coast since it was based in Los Angeles seven years in a row from 1987 to 1993. (The 1986 show aired from both coasts – The Palladium in New York and the Universal Amphitheatre in L.A.)

“We’re thrilled to be returning to the Prudential Center in Newark for this year’s VMAs!” Bruce Gillmer, president of music, music talent, programming & events, Paramount and chief content officer, music, Paramount+, said in a statement. “Celebrating one of our biggest nights in music with the Garden State’s incredible fans has been our goal since last year’s highly successful event.”

“The return of the VMAs to the Prudential Center testifies to New Jersey’s enduring standing as a premier venue for large-scale entertainment events,” added the state’s governor, Phil Murphy. “As the home of some of the most internationally renowned names in the music industry, New Jersey is proud to once again partner with Paramount to showcase an array of exciting performances to a global audience.”

Taylor Swift made history at last year’s VMAs, becoming the first artist to win video of the year three times. She won for “All Too Well: The Short Film,” having previously won for “Bad Blood” (with Kendrick Lamar) and “You Need to Calm Down.”

Last year’s show was co-hosted by Jack Harlow, LL Cool J and Nicki Minaj. Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco hosted the show in 2019, its first year at Prudential Center. The show hasn’t had a repeat host since Russell Brand fronted the show in 2008-09.

The VMAs will air across MTV’s global footprint of linear and digital platforms in more than 150 countries and territories, with a potential reach of more than 319 million households, according to MTV’s numbers-crunchers.

23 May 2023

Fletcher, King Princess & More Join the Lineup for L.A.’s Pride in the Park: Exclusive

Fans, rejoice: You’re going to get to see a lot more than just Megan Thee Stallion and Mariah Carey at this year’s L.A. Pride celebrations.

On Thursday (May 18), Christopher Street West Association (the organization that produces L.A. Pride) shared with Billboard the full slate of performers set to take the stage at this year’s Pride in the Park, its annual Pride concert series. Along with Mimi and Meg, artists including Fletcher, King Princess, Drag Race alums Sasha Colby, Symone, Violet Chachki, Gigi Goode and Gottmik, Dorian Electra, VINCINT and G Flip are set to appear throughout the two-day festival.

Pride in the Park first announced Carey and Megan as their headliners for the festival back in March. In a statement, Mariah expressed her excitement at getting to “come together to celebrate love, inclusion, and Pride” with the community, while Megan said in her own statement that she was “honored to perform and have a blast with all of the Hotties in attendance.”

Earlier this week, the organization also announced its official marshals for the annual L.A. Pride Parade. Comedian and actor Margaret Cho will join the annual march as Icon Grand Marshal, while the late actor Leslie Jordan will be honored posthumously as the event’s Legacy Grand Marshal.

Check out the full lineup for both days of L.A.’s Pride in the Park below:

June 9 Artist Lineup

Main Stage:

  • Megan Thee Stallion
  • Fletcher
  • Symone
  • Gigi Goode
  • Dorian Electra
  • The Scarlet Opera
  • G Flip
  • Foudeqush
  • Saturn Risin9
  • The Iconic House of Miyake-Mugler + Friends

All Out Stage:

  • The Party By Ostbahnhof
  • Miki Ratsula
  • Jeffrey Eli
  • Codi Smith
  • Pain Behavior

June 10 Artist Lineup

Main Stage:

  • Mariah Carey
  • King Princess
  • Violet Chachki
  • Gottmik
  • Sasha Colby
  • JENEVIEVE
  • VINCINT
  • Alex Chapman
  • Mad Tsai
  • Minke
  • Ah Mer Ah Su
  • Bobby Newberry
  • The Iconic House of Ninja + Friends

All Out Stage:

  • A Club Called Rhonda
  • Emeryld
  • Neyva
  • Lyle Anthony
  • Chanel Joie
  • Soltera
  • The Mannequins